Heisman Trophy 2015: Why Alabama RB Derrick Henry will win

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry powered his team to a College Football Playoff berth and he should be rewarded with the Heisman Trophy.

On Saturday, three players, Derrick Henry, Deshaun Watson, and Christian McCaffrey will look to join one of the most exclusive fraternities in college football — Heisman Trophy winners.

Each player has a legitimate claim for the trophy, but only one player has the ultimate resume to become a Heisman winner and that’s Henry.

The junior running back has been the offense for Alabama. Henry leads the nation with 1,986 rushing yards, 339 carries and 23 touchdowns.

During the SEC Championship Game against Florida, Henry broke the SEC single-season rushing record, previously held by Herschel Walker during a game he carried the ball 44 times, which came on the heels of him carrying the ball 46 times in the Iron Bowl win against the rival Auburn Tigers.

Imagine how Alabama’s season would be different without the 6-3, 242-pound running back.

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Henry accounted for nearly 40 percent of the team’s offensive output. Imagine the struggles Alabama would have encountered if quarterback Jake Coker had to shoulder a bigger load and Alabama had to rely on their passing game to win the SEC and get in the playoff.

They likely fall short of the playoff and possibly their second straight SEC Championship.

Henry won the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s best running back as well as the Maxwell and the Walter Camp Award, given to the player of the year in college football. The last five Maxwell winners won the Heisman and seven of the last 14 Walter Camp winners won the Heisman.

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It’s no wonder Henry is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman, receiving 1-12 odds, the Heisman is his, Watson and McCaffrey know it but we’ll officially find out on Saturday night on ESPN when the Heisman winner is revealed.

Try to look surprised when it’s Henry.