The most overused word to describe an Alabama football player or any other athlete is ‘freak’. It is trite to the point of almost being meaningless – except when it is accurate.
Basically, all of the college football world is chasing a true athletic freak. His name is Nyckoles Nehemiah Harbor ll, from Washington, DC. That he is a 5-Star recruit is meaningless. A sixth, star category should be added for the young man.
Take a look at the video below and wrap your head around the fact the sprinter with a grown man’s body is only 16 – and fast.
Though his dad played professional soccer, Nyckoles is a football and track guy. As a youth, he tried basketball, but according to Kellyn Soong of the Washington City Paper, basketball did not suit him because he disliked passing the ball.
At 6’6″ and 220 lbs., Harbor is one of the nation’s fastest sprinters. He is also quite a football player. For his high school team, he plays on both sides of the ball as a receiver and as a pass-rushing and tackling machine. Though ranked by 247Sports as an athlete, some college football recruiting experts see him as the best combination outside linebacker/edge rusher in the 2023 class. But the young man is so special, with so much potential, it is easy to see him becoming an All-American tight end or wide receiver.
The NFL is in his future, no doubt as a first-round selection. Professional football is not Harbor’s biggest dream. He wants (make that intends) to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics, as a sprinter.
Check out another blazing track performance by Nyckoles Harbor.
The NFL and the Olympics are two big dreams for a 16-year old. Both appear to be reachable. Harbor has other dreams as well, tied to academics and a career very different from football. According to Soong’s conversation with Nyckoles’ dad, his son intends to become a nurse and later go to medical school. Harbor reportedly has a high school G.P.A. of 4.5, never making below an ‘A’ in any class.
Alabama Football appears to be in solid contention
Alabama was not the first SEC program to offer Harbor. Lane Kiffin got on him first. Over 40 programs have now offered Harbor and it would be more if many others didn’t realize they have no chance.
Travaris Robinson leads the pursuit for the Crimson Tide. Eleven SEC programs hope they are in the hunt, along with many ACC and Big Ten schools.