Interfuse

2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry

The 2015 Heisman Trophy Ceremony took place on December 12, 2015 in New York City at the Best Buy Theater. The Ceremony was broadcast live on ESPN, hosted by personality Chris Fowler. The event highlighted the excellence of the 2015 college football season by selecting the most outstanding player of the season. The finalists on hand were Deshaun Watson, Christian McCaffrey and the 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry.

Entering the 2015 season, all three finalists from the 2014 Heisman Trophy Ceremony entered the NFL draft in the offseason- Amari Cooper, Melvin Gordon, and winner Marcus Mariota. Las Vegas oddsmakers had their work cut out for them as no returning finalists were available. Notable players on the preseason Heisman watch were TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin, Ohio State had three players listed- running back Ezekiel Elliot, and quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Georgia running back Nick Chubb, and Mississippi State Quarterback Dak Prescott.

2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derick Henry

Derrick Henry attended Yulee High School and was a three sport athlete. The eventual 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry excelled at track, basketball, and football. In his high school football career, he was a four year starter at running back and had a total of 1,397 rushing attempts for 12,124 yards and 153 touchdowns which is the high school career rushing record and his senior season set the national mark for the most rushing yards in a season with 462 attempts for 4,261 yards and 55 touchdowns.

Henry was ranked either a 4 or 5 star athlete by most recruiting outlets. He initially committed to play for the Georgia Bulldogs before he de-committed and decided to sign with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Derrick Henry also had offers for USC, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson. Henry was also selected to play for the East team of the 2013 US Army All American Bowl. [1]

2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry at Alabama

In Derrick Henry’s freshman season in 2013, he was a reserve player behind standouts T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake, and saw the field sparingly. He appeared in 10 games and carried the ball 35 times for 382 yards and 3 touchdowns including an 80 yard touchdown against Arkansas. Entering the 2014 season, Henry would see an increase in playing time by splitting time with Yeldon. Henry had 172 carries for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns.

2015 Heisman Trophy Season

Entering the 2015 season, with T.J. Yeldon exiting the team, Derrick Henry became the unrivaled starter. In the season, Henry would ultimately have 395 carries for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. Henry would become the first player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a single season in the Southeastern Conference. Henry began the season with 147 yards and 3 touchdowns against Wisconsin. From there Alabama had a win over Middle Tennessee State before a shocking loss to Ole Miss 43-37 where Henry had 127 yards and a touchdown as well as 5 receptions for 39 yards. From there the team would recover and finish out the regular season with wins over Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State, Charleston Southern, and Auburn. [2]

Alabama would win the SEC West and face Florida in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Alabama would win the SEC Championship, defeating Florida 29-15 behind Derrick Henry’s amazing performance of 44 carries for 189 yards and a touchdown. Following the win Alabama would receive the #2 spot in the 2015 College Football Playoffs, where they would beat #3 Michigan State 38-0 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Alabama would play in the College Football National Championship Game against #1 Clemson.

The game which was called an instant classic saw Alabama win the National Championship defeating Clemson 45-40. Henry had 38 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns, including the final one to put the game out of reach. Following the game, the 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry would declare for the NFL Draft deciding to forego his senior season at Alabama.

For the 2015 college football season, Derrick Henry also won the Maxwell Award, the Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous All-American and First Team All SEC.

2015 Heisman Trophy 1st Place Voting Breakdown

  • Derrick Henry- 378
  • Christian McCaffrey- 290
  • Deshaun Watson- 148
  • Baker Mayfield- 34
  • Keenan Reynolds- 20
  • Leonard Fournette- 10

2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry in the NFL Draft

In the 2016 NFL Draft, the 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry was selected in the 2nd round at the 45th overall pick to the Tennessee Titans.

2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry Unique Distinction

In 2020 with the Tennessee Titans, Henry rushed for 2,027 yards which made him the only player in the history of American football to rush for 2,000 yards in a season in high school, college, and the NFL. [3]

Other Alabama Heisman Trophy Winners

  • Mark Ingram II- 2009
  • Devonta Smith- 2020
  • Bryce Young- 2021

Related-topics

References

  1. ESPN [ Alabamas Derrick Henry Recruiting ] September 28, 2012
  2. NFL [ Alabamas Derrick Henry wins 2015 Heisman Trophy ] December 12, 2015
  3. NFL Analysis [ Titans’ Derrick Henry Is Only Running Back In Football History To Do This ] August 3, 2023

Contributors

Last Modified: December 31, 2024