Alabama's Derrick Henry a Heisman finalist
By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer
Tuscaloosa, AL
A dream of a season added another layer and got a little sweeter for Derrick Henry on Monday.
The record-setting University of Alabama junior running back was one of three players named a Heisman Trophy finalist and invited to New York City for the ceremony. Henry will be joined by fellow finalists Deshaun Watson, Clemson's quarterback, and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.
The highest honor in college football will be awarded Saturday at 7 p.m. CT and broadcast live on ESPN.
Alabama has one previous Heisman Trophy winner (running back Mark Ingram, 2009).
Henry has blazed through school and SEC records in 2015, his first season as the primary running back. His 1,986 yards is a SEC and program single-season record and his 23 rushing touchdowns ties Florida' Tim Tebow and Auburn's Tre Mason for most in conference history.
He was named Most Outstanding Player at the team banquet Sunday night and a permanent team captain.
Yet he has brushed aside any Heisman Trophy discussion, saying his only goal in on helping his team win championships.
“My main focus is on finishing and helping this team win,” Henry said. “I'm going to do whatever it takes to help this team win. Whether it's me running the ball, catching the ball, or pass blocking, I just want this team to win.
“It's a team effort. All the success I've had, I credit my teammates and coaches and God, because I couldn't do it without them.”
The SEC record is remarkable in a conference that has produced several great runners through the years, and it's whose record Henry broke that is even more telling. Henry passed Herschel Walker during the SEC Championship Game.
Henry has four 200-yard rushing games and has played his best against the toughest competition, gaining 1,155 yards and 15 touchdowns against top 50 nationally ranked rush defenses with an average of 5.37 yards per carry and 165 yards per game.
His accomplishments is on par with his leadership, UA coach Nick Saban said.
“I don't know that I've coached many players that actually set a better example to affect other people,” Saban said. “He doesn't really do it for himself. He does it for them. That has as much work ethic, that doesn't get frustrated, can overcome adversity, and really sets the best example every day not only on the field and how he practices and what he does, but how he lives his life, how he goes to school, how he does in class.
“He's not afraid to tell somebody else that this is a better way to do it. So he is a really good leader, sets a great example. I don't know that there's any player on the team that the team means more to them than it does to Derrick.”
Henry has been a front-runner for the award since his dominating performance against LSU and has done nothing during the final month of the season to step away from the spotlight. He carried much of the offense during the Auburn and Florida games, recording a total of 460 yards and two touchdowns.
He's also a finalist for the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award and a finalist for the Walter Camp National Player of the Year.