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30 Best College Football Running Backs: Derrick Henry joins list

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) carries the ball past Clemson Tigers safety Jayron Kearse (1) on a 50 yard touchdown run during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) carries the ball past Clemson Tigers safety Jayron Kearse (1) on a 50 yard touchdown run during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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After carrying the load for national champion Alabama in 2015, Heisman winner Derrick Henry joins the 30 best college football running backs of all-time.

Alabama running back Derrick Henry ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns against Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, which was likely his last game as a member of the Crimson Tide.

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Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, gave the Tide a 7-0 lead when he broke out for a 50-yard TD that provided a perfect example of his blend of power and speed – stiff-arming a Tigers defender and then running away from the defense to the end zone. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior later added a pair of one-yard scores, including one on what will probably be his last collegiate carry that proved to be the game-winner in Alabama’s 45-40 victory.

Though he played his first two seasons behind T.J. Yeldon on the running back depth chart, Henry’s 2,219 yards in 2015 helped him surpass Shaun Alexander to become the all-time leading rusher at Alabama with a grand total of 3,591 career rushing yards. It was also the fifth best single-season performance in FBS history.

Henry scored, at least, one touchdown in each of his team’s 15 games this season, had multiple TDs in nine games, including four in which he scored three times. He also finished his career with at least one touchdown in 21 consecutive games, which set another school record.

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The 28 rushing touchdowns Henry amassed in 2015 rank No. 8 on the all-time FBS single-season list and pushed Henry’s career total to 42, which ties him atop the Alabama career list with Mark Ingram.

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