Top recruit Najee Harris chooses Alabama

Antioch High running back Najee Harris, the nation’s No. 1 recruit and the leading rusher in Northern California prep history, will play football at the University of Alabama.

[...] Harris kept his recruitment open and strongly considered Michigan, mostly because of the rapport he developed with head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harris sidestepped several chances to tip his hand during practices last week for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a national high school all-star game played Saturday in San Antonio.

Harris made his nonbinding verbal commitment to Alabama in April 2015, near the end of his sophomore year, during an unofficial campus visit to Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Early enrollment has become an increasingly popular move among top college football recruits, allowing them to participate in spring practice with their new team.

Harris finished his career with 7,948 yards rushing, the fourth-highest total in California history, according to Cal-Hi Sports.

Two weeks later, Alabama assistant coach Tosh Lupoi and then-offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin watched (as did USC running backs coach Tommie Robinson) as Harris gained 175 yards in a lopsided victory over Heritage-Brentwood.

All three of those coaches, like Harbaugh, followed NCAA recruiting guidelines and avoided more than a passing hello to Harris.

[...] Alabama reinforced its interest in early December, when Lupoi and head coach Nick Saban made a home visit to the Antioch apartment where Harris lives with his mother, Tianna Hicks.

The recruiting race took its toll on Harris, who acknowledged his anxiety and stress as his final high school season unfolded.