As 49ers.com runs down the list of top prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, we continue our "Meet the Prospect" series with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Alabama running back Derrick Henry.The Basics
No college football player had a better 2015 season than Henry. Alabama's talented runner led the nation with 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. Henry carried the Crimson Tide offense all season and finished the year with a win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. More on that performance in a bit.
Henry is one of the more fascinating prospects in this year's class. He's as good an athlete as you'll find at the running back position. In addition to his monstrous size at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, Henry also posted an impressive 4.54-second 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical and a 130-inch broad jump. Most draft experts have Henry as their second-ranked running back behind Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott.Measurables
Height: 6-3
Weight: 247
Arm length: 33 inches
Hand Size: 8 3/4 inchesNFL.com Pro Comparison
Former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.Best College Game
Picking a "best game" is difficult for Henry. The ball-carrier scored at least one touchdown in all 15 games in 2015 and ran for more than 200 yards on four occasions. Henry's 158-yard, three-touchdown performance in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Clemson tops the list. Henry opened the scoring with a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Henry's final touchdown came on a 1-yard run to ice the game for the Crimson Tide.Combine Statistics
40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical jump: 37 inches
Broad jump: 130 inches
3 cone drill: 7.20 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.38 seconds
60-yard shuttle: 11.50 secondsMock Draft Connections
NFL Media's Chad Reuter – No. 34 overall pick (Dallas Cowboys)
ESPN's Mel Kiper – No. 44 overall pick (Oakland Raiders)
ESPN's Todd McShay – No. 56 overall pick (Seattle Seahawks)What the Media is Saying…
"Powerful, yet graceful north-south athlete who can fit through tight spaces, using patience and instincts to gash defenses. Moves like a runaway train who is tough to slow down once he gets going and his final carry in the game is as strong as his first carry, getting better as the game progresses." – CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler
"One of the biggest running backs you will ever see. Can be a violent runner without even trying. Pummels tacklers with forward lean and dynamite behind his pads. Gives run-support cornerbacks bad dreams. Rare top-end speed for a runner his size." – NFL.com’s Lance ZierleinFun Fact
Statistically speaking, Henry was the best high school running back of all-time. Henry broke Ken Hall's 51-year-old national high school rushing record with 12,124 career rushing yards. The former Yulee High School star in Yulee, Fla., ran for 4,261 yards (327.77 yards per game) and 55 touchdowns as a senior in 2012. Henry scored a ridiculous 153 total touchdowns during his prep career. His highlights are worth watching.Must-see Video
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