Alabama notes: Tide's Derrick Henry passes Herschel Walker
Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker. When ranking the best running backs in the SEC history, the list usually starts and ends with those two. But from a statistical standpoint at least, Alabama running back Derrick Henry has put him in the conversation with those legends.
Henry rushed for 189 yards and now has 1,986 yards for his career to set the SEC’s all-time single-season mark for rushing yards. He passed Herschel Walker’s previous record of 1,891 (385 carries) that he set during the 1981 season. Henry broke the record on carry number 323.
“It’s a blessing, and God is good,” Henry said of the achievement. “I’m still going to give credit to my teammates and coaches because without them it wouldn’t be possible. But they are like my heroes, my football heroes. Growing up and hearing their name and just watching what they did is incredible. For my name to be mentioned with theirs, it’s an honor and a blessing.”
Henry is considered as the Heisman trophy favorite in many circles. Coach Nick Saban made the case for his star player after the game.
“I don’t know that I’ve coached many players that actually set a better example to affect other people,” Saban said when asked about Henry’s character. “He doesn't really do it for himself. He does it for them.”
Saban campaigns for playoff berth
Saban believes Alabama should definitely be in the College Football Playoff.
Following the Crimson Tide’s 29-15 SEC Championship Game victory over Florida, Saban was asked if he think the Tide should be a “lock” for the final four.
“I certainly think that this team deserves being SEC champions -- they were No. 2. I don’t know what they did out there tonight that would dispel their opportunity to play in a playoff,” Saban said. “Our league is a tough league, and we beat each other up. And then people say, well, you don't have that many ranked teams this year. Well, that's because we beat each other up. When we played a lot of teams this year, they were ranked in the top 15 or the top 10. Maybe they’re not now because we all have to play each other.”
Alabama has been in the top-four of the selection committee's rankings since the initial release this season. After opening at No. 4 in the rankings, the Tide jumped to No. 2 following their win over LSU in Tuscaloosa. Saban said if a team wins the SEC, “you should deserve the opportunity to be in a playoff.”
“Other than one game where we played poorly and turned the ball over five times, this team has shown a lot of consistency,” Saban said. “Now, I'm sure there are a lot of other coaches out there who are going to lobby for their team being in it, but I would be surprised if anybody has a lot of doubt about whether we should or shouldn’t be in the playoff.”
The final rankings will be released Sunday at 1 p.m.
Drake plays
After being listed as day-to-day and a game-time decision throughout the week, Alabama running back Kenyan Drake played and started in the SEC title game.
Drake broke his arm at Mississippi State and had surgery to repair the fracture.
Because of leg injury last season, Drake didn’t play in last year’s championship game. So the senior said this one was special.
“It just feels great to be a part of this team,” Drake said. “We have a lot of players who’ve gone through similar adversity, and to see them push through the same adversity that I do pushes you to be a better teammate and a better player. It’s just good to be back on the field and be a contributor to a team like this.”
On offense, Drake had seven touches for 30 yards. He also returned a kickoff for 22 yards.
Drake said his arm should be fine going forward.
Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett@annistonstar.com. On Twitter: @Marq_Burnett.
This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 11:33 PM with the headline "Alabama notes: Tide's Derrick Henry passes Herschel Walker."