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Titans scoop up Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in 2nd round

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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A smash-mouth running game is taking shape in Tennessee.

The Titans landed running back Derrick Henry out of Alabama in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, 45th overall.

Henry adds an element of physicality to the offensive backfield, and he'll presumably be deployed in a complementary role alongside offseason trade acquisition DeMarco Murray.

With Marcus Mariota finally giving the club a potential franchise quarterback, and a clear focus on establishing a dominant running game, Tennessee suddenly has the potential for a potent offensive attack.

Henry makes the jump to the NFL coming off a 2015 season in which he was awarded the Heisman Trophy after racking up an impressive 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Derrick Henry Bio

Position: RB
School: Alabama
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 245 lbs.

Strengths

  • Strong, powerful runner who's tough to bring down once he gets going.
  • Fights for extra yards. Seventy percent of his rushing yards in 2015 came after contact.
  • Impressive combination of size, speed, and raw athleticism. Built almost identically to Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller.
  • Mean stiff arm and rarely shies from contact.
  • Shows patience in allowing blocks to develop.
  • Has the stamina and endurance to serve as a workhorse back.

Weaknesses

  • Will need to develop more as a pass-catcher at the NFL level.
  • Below-average lateral quickness and burst.
  • Top-heavy frame and long legs make him easy to knock off balance.
  • Benefited from playing behind a dominant offensive line at Alabama that opened huge holes for him, which may not be the case at the NFL level.
  • Will sometimes get too cute in the backfield, making him susceptible to tackles for a loss.

Combine Results

Event Result
40-yd Dash 4.54 sec
Bench Press 22 reps
Vertical Jump 37 inches
Broad Jump 130 inches
3-Cone Drill 7.20 sec
20-yd Shuttle 4.38 sec

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