Former Alabama star Derrick Henry recalls fighting teammates before the 2016 Natty game: "It was crazy"
Former Alabama Crimson Tide star Derrick Henry is one of the greatest running backs to have ever played for the program. His college football career was wrapped up in a bow in 2015 when he led Alabama to the CFP national championship.
During an episode of the "Punchline Pod," Henry said that on their way to the national championship game against coach Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers, which the Crimson Tide won 45-40, emotions ran hot in the Alabama locker room.
"We had a fight before the national championship game. All suited and booted," Henry said. "In suits and everything and they were throwing haymakers like boom! And we went out there and won a national championship. That's just how Bama was. We had boxing, everyone in a circle, boxing."
"It was crazy," he added.
The Alabama career of Derrick Henry explored
Derrick Henry had a productive Alabama Crimson Tide career. He capped it off with a historic 2,219 rushing yards on 395 carries for 28 touchdowns in 2015 that culminated in the CFP national championship win.
He broke the program's single-season and career rushing yard records while tallying the most rushing yards in a single season among former Alabama players in the NFL.
During an episode of "The Pivot," Henry spoke on being perhaps the Crimson Tide's best-ever running back, giving credit to other players instead of himself.
"I felt like Shaun (Alexander), he laid the foundation for running backs," Henry said. "Even Bobby Humphrey. I could go on and on all about the Alabama running backs. I always say Shaun’s the greatest because of his body of work and what he did, and he didn’t have what we had at Bama in that whole era with Coach (Nick) Saban, and the guys he brought in -- first-round picks. It’s just crazy. So I’ll always say Shaun is the greatest Alabama running back of all time." [AL.com]
Henry won the 2015 Heisman Trophy for his efforts during a historic season, becoming the rushing yards leader in the program's history (3,591 yards).
Finally, Derrick Henry said who he thinks is Alabama's greatest running back during the Saban era.
“And Mark (Ingram) is the best in the Saban era because he started it. That’s who it started off with. He was the first one to win the Heisman and really set it off for the running backs, and so I’ll just say I made my mark and let the people decide," Henry said.
Undoubtedly, Derrick Henry is fondly remembered by Alabama fans as one of the greatest players in the glorious Nick Saban era in one of the best-ever Crimson Tide teams.