Video: Derrick Henry vs. Deshaun Watson
See high school highlights of the two star players before they face off for a national title.It's no surprise that both
Derrick Henry and
DeShaun Watson each have a shot to capture a national title tonight.
They both enjoyed historically great high school football careers.
Henry, the Crimson Tide's bruising running back, was as physically imposing as perhaps any high school football player in recent memory. Playing at
Yulee (Fla.), a small school in north Florida, Henry burst onto the scene as a 6-foot-4, 200-pound ninth-grade running back. In his first game, he nearly rushed for 200 yards, and found the end zone five times.
He did not look back, as Henry topped 2,400 rushing yards in each of his first three seasons. As a senior, he was mechanical, rushing 462 times for 4,261 yards and 55 touchdowns. He capped things off by being named the 2012-13 MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year.
Photos by MaxPreps photographers/Graphic by Ryan Escobar
One year behind Henry in high school was Watson. Though not as intimidating physically, Watson's production was no less stunning. As a ninth-grader, he threw for over 2,000 yards and rushed for another 500 at
Gainesville (Ga.).
Two years later, Watson earned MaxPreps National Junior of the Year honors. He completed 305 of 435 passes for 4,024 yards and 50 touchdowns while rushing 221 times for 1,441 yards and 24 scores that season.
Before he ever played a down as a high school senior, Watson was Georgia's all-time career passing leader. He finished with over 17,000 yards from scrimmage. He threw for a combined 155 touchdowns, rushing for 59.
While both Henry and Watson posted astonishing statistics in high school, one aspect of Watson's career sets him apart: he captured a state title, something the prodigious Henry was never able to accomplish.
