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Titans counting on Derrick Henry to be best Alabama running back
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Former Alabama RBs Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram, T.J. Yeldon and Eddie Lacy have all been first- or second-round picks in the NFL Draft in the last six years.
This year, the Tennessee Titans made Derrick Henry the latest Crimson Tide runner to be taken in the first two rounds, selecting the Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 45 overall pick.
But, aside from Lacy’s first two years and Ingram’s recent resurgence, Alabama running backs have struggled in the NFL.
Tennessee hopes Henry is able to come in and make an immediate impact alongside young QB Marcus Mariota, according to an article by The Tennessean.
Though Henry had a whopping 395 carries last year while leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship, the Titans don’t seem worried about wear and tear on Henry’s body:
“That was never a concern for us,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “I haven’t seen a guy wear down from running the ball too much. You look back at a guy like Curtis Martin and how many times he carried the ball in his career (over 3,500) and it wasn’t a problem.
“I think if a guy knows how to take care of himself the right way, and if he knows how to recover, then he can play the game a long time and carry the ball a lot.”
Henry will share the Tennessee backfield with a former teammate, FB Jalston Fowler. Fowler said he knows firsthand how much Henry takes care of himself:
“He did a really good job taking care of his body, and that’s why he wasn’t beat up,” Fowler said. “He always used to be in the weight room after practice, just him and (one other teammate). That’s why his body is like a brick.”
Though Henry certainly won’t receive 395 carries in his rookie season, he get plenty of touches alongside the newly-signed DeMarco Murray. Antonio Andrews led the team with 520 rushing yards on 143 carries last year, numbers both Henry and Murray are capable of eclipsing.
If all goes according to plan for the Titans, Henry will follow in Lacy’s footsteps (rather than Richardson’s) and pick up a Rookie of the Year trophy to go with his Heisman.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
