Heisman Trophy: Alabama running back Derrick Henry wins 2015 award

Saban was the head coach at Alabama when Ingram became the school’s first Heisman victor, and said that he couldn’t be happier to see Henry add his name to the list.

Now the rest of college football can enjoy Henry becoming the second Bama running back in seven years to take home the little bronze statue, the bruising runner easily outdistancing Stanford sophomore runner Christian McCaffrey.

Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson also attended the ceremony as finalists.

Watson said building friendships with Henry and McCaffrey were the most memorable takeaway from this experience. He ranks eighth nationally in passer rating, completing 69.2 percent of his passes for 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. And the number of backs who, one week later, in a conference championship game, could carry the ball 44 more times for another 189 yards, is one. “I thought I was about to have a heart attack”. McCaffrey broke an NCAA record set by a legendary Hall of Fame running back, Barry Sanders. With a 293-point advantage, Henry’s win was the closest for the Heisman since Baylor’s Robert Griffin III beat Stanford’s Andrew Luck by 280 points in 2011. In addition to winning the Heisman, Henry won the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards as the nation’s top player and the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. “People really remember how you finish”, Watson said.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson came in third.

After the top three, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was fourth with 334 points and Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds was fifth with 180. I didn’t know what to think, man. It’s just God, man. I pray every night. It was similar to the bruising back’s running style, frank and to the point as the 6-foot-3, 242-pound running back thanked any and everyone who has everyone helped him throughout his life and career.

Henry had an wonderful season, setting the all-time SEC single-season rushing record with 1,986 yards, breaking Herschel Walker’s record set in 1981. This season, he completed 46-of-84 attempts for 964 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing just one pick. Henry is nearly certain to turn pro, which means he’ll be preparing to play in some Sunday or Monday night National Football League game this time next year.

Given Alabama’s long history of success, it was always surprising that the Crimson Tide failed to win a Heisman Trophy until Ingram won in that tight 2009 race. The Tide (12-1) plays Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl on December 31.

Henry has not announced his intentions yet, but a jump to the National Football League seems likely after this season.

Henry’s speech wasn’t flashy or overly emotional.