Alabama Football: Ranking the Top 5 Running Backs in Nick Saban’s Era

2: Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry doesn’t look like your typical running back. He is 6-3 and 242 pounds.

Despite being the size of a linebacker, Henry was made to be a running back. This man can flat out run the ball.

Alabama running backs seem to shine the most in their junior seasons, and well Henry’s no different.

He toted the rock 395 times for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. Henry averaged 5.6 yards a carry.  Saban usually limits his running backs carries, but the more Henry got that year, the stronger he became.

His junior year alone is why he is at the No. 2 spot on this list. It was one of the most complete seasons I have ever seen from a running back. Everything Henry touched seemed to turn to gold. No opponent could figure out how to stop him.

Henry won Alabama’s second Heisman trophy in 2015 after Mark Ingram won it in 2009.

Two Heisman winners in six years, and the only two running backs to win the award since 2000, that is an impressive feat.

He also won the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award and was the Walter Camp Player of the Year. Henry was a unanimous first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC by the coaches and Associated Press. Oh, and he led Alabama to a College Football Playoff Championship.

2015 was a monstrous year for the running back and Henry proved a lot of folks wrong. Some say too big, well Henry said watch this yall. Dynamic is the best way to describe him. I don’t need to explain why because his picture could be under the word as the definition.

His junior campaign almost edged out the next guy on the list, but he did something that Henry couldn’t do.