Scouting Profile: Heisman winner Derrick Henry could be worthy of 1st-round pick

Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class leading up to the NFL draft, which takes place April 28-30 in Chicago.

Derrick Henry

Position: RB
School: Alabama
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 245 lbs.
Age: 21

NFL player comparison: Brandon Jacobs

Henry has drawn comparisons to Steven Jackson, LeGarrette Blount, Eddie Lacy, and even Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (their combine results were nearly identical). The best comparison, though, might be former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who possessed similar size and downhill running style.

Draft Projection: Round 1-2

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.
• 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