Alabama running back Derrick Henry wins Heisman

Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey finished second with 1,539 points and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson was third with 1,165 points. While both finished the season strong with fantastic performances in their conference championship games, they could not quite catch Henry, whose campaign took off in November. In the eight subsequent games against SEC competition – all Alabama wins – Henry averaged 32.9 carries.

The younger McCaffrey has 3,496 all- goal yards this season, breaking an NCAA record set by NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders in 1988 with Oklahoma State.

Smith ranked seventh in the nation in passer rating, seventh in touchdown passes and 41st in passing yards per game. He is also second behind LSU’s Leonard Fournette is rushing yards per game. A week later, Henry’s 143 yards on 28 runs included the game-winner with 2:24 left in the 19-14 win over Tennessee.

Although Alabama is a college football powerhouse, Henry is only the second Crimson Tide player to win a Heisman.

Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett should be the Buckeyes starting quarterback from Day 1 and there is a good chance people will start noticing that Oregon’s Royce Freeman is as good as all those stud running backs down South. Henry and the Crimson Tide will play the Spartans at the Cotton Bowl.

“You got God on your side, anything is possible”, Henry said.

Henry played his best games against the best competition, especially after Alabama lost to Ole Miss leaving his team with no margin for error.

“Roll Tide”, Henry said as he wrapped up his speech. He has rushed for over 30 attempts four times and over forty attempts twice. He shattered the Alabama single-season rushing record and the SEC single-season rushing record that was previously held by Walker in 1981.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has led the Tigers to an undefeated season and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Watson completed just under 70% of his passes for 3,512 yards. He finished the season with 1,986 yards on 339 carries and 23 touchdowns. McCaffrey has scored touchdowns as a rusher, receiver, returner, and passer.

Henry became Alabama’s fifth Heisman finalist in the past seven years.

The stiff arm trophy makes Derrick Henry the most decorated player in Alabama history after winning the Walter Camp Award, the Doak Walker Award, and the Maxwell Award as well as being named to the first team all-SEC and all-American teams.