Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash on Thursday for the second-fastest showing on the first day of field drills at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

But just two years ago, an Alabama linebacker ran a faster 40 at the annual gathering of NFL Draft prospects in Indianapolis when Christian Harris clocked in with a 4.44-second showing.

Harris entered the NFL with the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft. His coach thinks Harris is on the run toward greatness.

“The sky’s the limit for Christian,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said during a press conference at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. “Christian is one of the fastest linebackers that I’ve had a chance to work with. A very explosive, instinctive player, so I’m excited.

“I see last year as Christian’s rookie year. It was his first year, and I’m excited to see him build off of what he did last year.”

The 2023 season was not Harris’ first NFL campaign, but it was his first with Ryans as Houston’s head coach. The former Alabama All-American linebacker took the reins with the Texans after serving as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

In Harris’ rookie season, Houston posted a 3-13-1 record. He played in 12 games and registered 74 tackles.

In his first season with Ryans, Harris played in 16 regular-season games, recorded 101 tackles and led the Texans with 65 solo stops as Houston rose to a 10-7 record.

By winning the AFC South, the Texans qualified for the playoffs. Houston opened the postseason with a 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns before a 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens ended the Texans’ season.

Against the Browns, Harris had eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. When Harris picked off Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco, he ran 36 yards for his first NFL touchdown.

Harris became the seventh player to record a pick-six and a sack in the same playoff game and the first to do so since Texans defensive end J.J Watt in a 31-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 7, 2012.

Harris had seven tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit in the loss to Baltimore.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.