Best Alabama football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Derrick Thomas to Tua

If you walked up to Derrick Henry now with the Tennessee Titans or back in his days with the Alabama Crimson Tide, you might think you were talking to a defensive end. Nope — that’s a running back and every defender in college football had a nightmare of a time trying to bring the behemoth of a ball-carrier down in his time under Saban.

When Henry arrived in Tuscaloosa, he did so with a ton of recruiting hype behind him. After all, the big man had set national career rushing records in high school, so his success was expected to continue at the collegiate level. And while he played second-fiddle in the offense in his first two seasons as he got only 209 carries combined (though he did go for 1,372 yards and 14 touchdowns), it was his 2015 season that propelled him to greatness.

Carrying the ball an absurd 395 times in 15 games, Henry couldn’t be stopped. He was the heart of the Alabama offense and that was more than enough for them to keep winning. He rushed for a Crimson Tide single-season record 2,219 yards (sixth-most in FBS history) and record 28 touchdowns. Those absurd numbers were good enough to earn him the 2015 Heisman Trophy.

Electing to leave after that season, Henry finished his college career as Alabama’s all-time leading rusher and tied with Mark Ingram for the most rushing touchdowns in program history, further showcasing just how great he was not just for the Tide but on a national scale.

And if you’re into poetic endings, that Derrick Henry finished his college career by leading his team with 158 rushing yards and three touchdowns to beat Clemson in the National Championship Game should undoubtedly wet your whistle.