Derrick Henry’s Underrated Football Career

Derrick Henry may have the greatest total football career of any player ever and it never gets talked about.

In high school, he rushed for 12,124 yards (most by a high school player ever) and 153 rushing TDs (5th most ever, which is crazy to imagine 4 guys have scored more than that). He did all this playing high school football in Florida no less, one of the best football states in the country. His senior year, he set a state-record 4,261 yards and 55 touchdowns. In four years, he averaged 252.6 YPG, 8.7 YPA, and never rushed for fewer than 100 yards in a game. He was a High School All-American, a 5 Star recruit, and ranked the No. 1 athlete in the nation in 2013.

He went on to play for the Nick Saban coached Alabama Crimson Tide, which is the greatest college football dynasty of all-time. As a junior, he set the SEC rushing yards and TDs record and led the country in rushing yards and TDs. He won the Heisman Trophy, the Doak Walker award (best running back), the Maxwell Award (best player), Walter Camp Award (also best player), was a unanimous All-American, SEC OPOY, and led the Tide to the National Championship. He ranks 2nd all time in rushing yards and TDs in Bama history.

His NFL career is still going, but so far he’s rushed for 1,000+ yards 5 times, 2000 yards once, 10+ TDs 6 times, and led the league in rushing yards and TDs twice. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler, 2-time All-Pro, and was the 2020 OPOY. He is 13th all-time in rushing TDs and has the most career games with 200+ rushing yards.

He is one of the few players to be a high school All-American, college All-American, and NFL All-Pro. He is the only player to have 2,000 yard rushing seasons in high school, college, and the NFL. Any way you cut it, he has had an absolutely insane career and I can’t think of a football player who has utterly dominated from high school to the pros as much as he has.

NFL Week 1 and CFB Week 2 Reaction

CFB

3 Alabama vs 11 Texas

Jalen Milroe is not a QB Alabama can rely on. He consistently did not make good decisions and is not a good enough passer to throw Bama back into games they are losing. On the flip side, Quinn Ewers played like a 1st round pick. He made big throws and made plays in big moments to lead Texas to victory.

Is this the end of the Alabama dynasty? Texas has much better skill position players than Bama and it showed Saturday. It is no coincidence that two of the biggest opponents to the transfer portal and/or NIL have been Saban and Dabo Sweeney and their programs have fallen off somewhat the past couple years. The transfer portal and NIL have started a new era of college football. Schools and coaches must either adapt or die.

22 Colorado vs Nebraska

Colorado keeps giving us reasons to think they’re legit. They didn’t even play that well and still beat a Nebraska team with a good defense 36-14. They should beat Colorado St. next week and have two straight tough tests with Oregon and USC back to back.

Nebraska QB Jeff Simms is hurting his team. Simms was responsible for FOUR fumbles (3 of which were lost) and threw an awful pick. If he doesn’t play that bad, Nebraska would’ve had a chance.

NFL

Patriots vs. Eagles

The Pats got off to such a shitty start and were not dynamic enough on offense to comeback. Mac Jones showed why he isn’t elite by squandering good field position multiple times when his team needed him. However, it was still a promising game as their defense played great and their offense looked way better than last year. If they can play like they did the last 3 quarters, they can fight for a playoff spot.

Eagles DT Jalen Carter was said to be the most talented player in the draft and he showed why Sunday. He had the most pressures of any player and looks like a force to be reckoned with.

Loved seeing Brady getting honored. Seems like there will be multiple honors for him, including inducting him into the Patriots HOF on 6/12/2024 (6 for the 6 Super Bowls he won with the Pats, 12 for his number). Of course, there will be his jersey retirement and statue unveiling too. Seeing all the fans and former teammates there shows how great of a player and person he was. Makes me realize how good us Pats fans had it and wish I appreciated it more.

Jets vs. Bills

The pregame ceremony was absolutely awesome. Seeing Aaron Rodgers run out with the American Flag was great and there was no better stadium to the host Sunday and Monday night games.

As a Pats fan, I genuinely feel bad for Jets fans. You never want to see a great player go down, especially when they just joined a new team. Here’s to hoping Rodgers makes a speedy recovery and comes back in full force next year.

Both the Jets and Bills have such great defenses, along with the Patriots. Putting up points against AFC East teams is going to be tough this year.

Josh Allen NEEDS to stop taking hits. He is a superstar quarterback, but if he keeps taking all these unnecessary hits, he is going to have a short career. His reckless play was evident in his 4 turnovers and general carelessness with the ball. He is amazing but needs to stop trying to be Superman.

Breece Hall is a great player and Zach Wilson still is not. The Jets will compete with their talent, but they will not make the playoffs with Wilson.

Overall

Picks: 2-2 (6-5 Overall)

Spread: 3-1 (8-3)

O/U: 1-2-1 (3-7-1)