Alabama running back Derrick Henry wants to play for the Dallas Cowboys.
Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry had an amazing junior season which saw him not only win the Heisman Trophy, but also the NCAA National Championship as well. For Henry, he apparently hopes to follow up his remarkable season by hearing his name called by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Oh. RT @WritingWalsh: Given a choice, Derrick Henry would like to be drafted by the Cowboys
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2016
While players often say the “politically correct” thing, it’s refreshing to hear some honesty out of a player and the desire to play for America’s Team makes perfect sense for the bruising back.
Dallas features one of the best young offensive lines in the league and has shown a great commitment to the run over the past two seasons. In 2014, DeMarco Murray led the NFL with 1,845 yards rushing on 392 carries. In 2015, veteran Darren McFadden ran for 1,089 yards with just 10 starts on the year.
The move would make sense for Dallas as well, as their head coach Jason Garrett has long been a fan of the players who learn under ‘Bama coach Nick Saban. The ‘Boys were rumored to have interest in both T.J. Yeldon and Mark Ingram, both former Alabama running backs, as they were entering the NFL.
Henry could also help in the one area McFadden really struggled last season, red zone rushing. Despite his 4.6 yard per carry average, McFadden only rushed for three touchdowns on the year. The Heisman winner, who ran for 2,219 yards was able to plow his way past the goal line an amazing 28 times during his last collegiate season.
The real question will be if Henry is available in the second round, as Dallas most likely will avoid a running back with their first round selection, which is the fourth-overall pick.