Countdown to kickoff: #2 belongs to the incomparable Derrick Henry

Alabama football has had some exciting players don the number 2 through the years, perhaps most notably David “The Deuce” Palmer and QB Jalen Hurts.

Oh yeah, and there was this guy named Derrick Henry.

Few players can truly be called unique but, like a lot of things, that doesn’t apply to Henry. The man is a 240 lb. physical specimen with the work ethic to match. His exploits in the weight room are legendary, and his body seemingly never wears down. In 2015, his Heisman and national championship season, Derrick carried the ball a whopping 395 times. For some context, workhorse back Najee Harris carried the ball 251 times in 2020, and remember that 2012 team with Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon running behind one of the greatest offensive lines in history?

Those two stud backs combined for 379 carries.

Henry closed out the 2015 season with 146 totes for 693 yards and seven TDs over has last four games, including the SEC Championship and two playoff games. On the season, he amassed over 2300 scrimmage yards and 28 touchdowns. Lest anyone think he was stopping at the college level, in 2020 he added a NFL rushing title to his résumé, as a member of the Tennessee Titans.

Unique, indeed.

We are now two days from kickoff.

Roll Tide.