Derrick Henry and Jerry Jeudy were game changers for the University of Alabama at their positions.
Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, helped the Crimson Tide capture a College Football Playoff National Championship as a running back in 2015. He became the first player in school history to record a 2,000+ yard rushing season (2,219) with 28 touchdowns.
Henry, a former five-star recruit in Alabama’s 2013 signing class from Florida, became a legend for the Tennessee Titans after being selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He earned the nickname, “King Henry,” through eight seasons in Tennessee — including five 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. He was the eighth running back in league history to post a 2,000-yard rushing campaign. Henry achieved it in 2020, totaling 2,027 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns for the Titans.
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The two-time NFL rushing champion (2019, 2020), four-time Pro Bowl selection, first-team NFL All-Pro selection (2020), and NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2020) is now with the Baltimore Ravens. He signed a two-year contract with the AFC North team as a free agent and will wear No. 22. Henry now gets an opportunity to truly compete for a Super Bowl ring in the NFL.
Derrick Henry is sticking with #22 in Baltimore 👑
(📸via @Ravens) pic.twitter.com/PLfLE61bi9
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 14, 2024
Jeudy, a South Florida native, captured the Fred Biletnikoff Award at Alabama in 2018.
He was on the Crimson Tide’s 2017 CFP National Championship team as a true freshman. Jeudy was a two-time 1,000-yard receiver in 2018 and 2019, earning two-time first-team All-SEC honors in 2018 and 2019.
The former five-star received Consensus All-American honors in 2018. He was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos; however, things did not pan out well.
He grew up idolizing former Tide receiver, Amari Cooper, and now he gets a chance to play alongside another South Florida native with the Cleveland Browns. Jeudy will wear No. 3 for the Browns in his first season.
Jerry Jeudy will wear #3 for the Browns 🔥
(📸via @Browns) pic.twitter.com/hxGSvg9gi8
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 14, 2024
Alabama fans are looking forward to seeing the production from Henry and Jeudy.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
