Damien Harris: 5 things to know about Alabama football's running back

Brooks Holton

USA TODAY Network

Alabama running back Damien Harris (34) greets fans after defeating LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday November 3, 2018.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Alabama senior running back Damien Harris is a fan favorite.

The reasons are obvious, starting with his decision to return to Tuscaloosa for his final collegiate season instead of leaving early for the National Football League.

Harris, from Richmond, Kentucky, led the Crimson Tide in rushing yards for the last three seasons of his college career.

The senior posted 678 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2018 regular season and back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2017 and 2016.

Alabama running back Damien Harris (34) carries against Arkansas State In first half action at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday September 8, 2018.

He's also helped coach Nick Saban win two national titles.

Here are five things you might not know about the Crimson Tide's senior in the backfield.

Damien Harris' glasses have inspired Alabama football fans to up their eyewear game

You won't find Harris sporting the retro, 1950s-inspired spectacles under his helmet, but that hasn't stopped Crimson Tide faithful from following in his footsteps when it comes to picking their next set of frames.

He's always quick to show love to the glasses gang on Twitter, too.

Damien Harris is a huge fan of ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, and vice versa

Scroll through Harris' Twitter profile, and you'll find countless retweets of Jay Bilas' early morning doses of inspirational Young Jeezy lyrics — a longstanding tradition the former Duke basketball standout has kept up for his Twitter followers.

The Tide's star running back tweeted at Bilas on Oct. 5 hoping to meet up when the ESPN college basketball analyst was visiting Tuscaloosa. Unfortunately, Bilas had already left town, but he did give Harris a shout out.

"Real recognize real, DH!" Bilas wrote.

Coming soon to a television broadcast near you: Damien Harris the football analyst

Motivational Young Jeezy lyrics aside, another reason why Harris might be such a big fan of Bilas is because the Communication Studies major has aspirations to become a college football analyst.

You have to imagine Harris will spend some time in the NFL before getting in front of the camera, though.

Any tips, Jay?

Damien Harris: Bruising RB and proud dog dad

Even linebacker-crushing SEC running backs have a soft side.

Damien Harris is a role model for fellow Alabama athletes in the classroom

Before Harris and the Crimson Tide took to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Nov. 24 Iron Bowl against Auburn, Brian Oliu, one of Harris' professors, penned a senior day Twitter thread praising the running back's commitment to academics.

Oliu, a member of Alabama's Department of English since 2009, called Harris "a model student-athlete" who "held some of his younger guys accountable" when others might have coasted by on their athletic abilities.

" ... and as a result, everyone did better," Oliu wrote.