Video: Derrick Henry - Ultimate HighlightThere was talk when
Derrick Henry was at
Yulee (Fla.) that he might not be a running back in college. He was too big, too lumbering, not fast enough.
People love to talk and speculate.
The 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior, recently selected as the Heisman Trophy winner, has put up Alabama-record totals of 359 attempts for 2,061 yards and 25 touchdowns.
The only thing left on his college resume is a national championship, which he and the Tide can attain Monday night with a win over Clemson.
MaxPreps was there the night Henry broke the 59-year national career rushing record of Ken Hall. He rushed a staggering 58 times for 482 yards that night and scored six touchdowns in a 41-26 4A playoff home win over Taylor County.
He finished with 12,124 career high school yards and rushed for 153 career touchdowns.
Besides his bullish strength combined with speed, I'll remember his general good, humble nature and the reaction of people outside of the football program at Yulee. He was beloved not for being a football star, but the right kind of star player.
"He's just a kind, gentle, young man," Yulee school secretary bookkeeper Carol Rose said of Henry. "Before I ever knew him as a football star I knew him as a human being and he's all good and he's never changed. Every day he pokes his head into my office and asks me how my family and I are doing. Kids don't normally do that. He's just a sweetheart."
Said front desk receptionist Gina Powell: "He's just a big teddy bear — a sweetheart of a big kid. We're all proud of him."
Said Lesley Skipper, who was a water girl for the team for two seasons: "He treated us all the same. He's like a big brother to me. He's boosted our school up, he gives us drive. He's someone we really look up to — a great role model."
Monday will likely be his last college game. Wonder what will be said about Henry then.
Derrick Henry the night he broke Ken Hall's national record.
File photo by Gray Quetti
