Henry, Drake expected to take larger roles in Tide's offense
Marq Burnett
TUSCALOOSA – Derrick Henry is adding a new skill to his Alabama resume.
Already a talented player, Henry is now taking on a leadership in the Crimson Tide's backfield and in the offense with T.J. Yeldon gone.
"I just want to make everybody better around me and just get them to push themselves because I'm going to give it my all every time I'm out there and just try to make the team better," Henry said Wednesday. "Just putting a lot of pressure on myself being that leader. When I go out there, I've got to work and not play and be about what I say I'm going to do."
For Henry, the first step of the process was leading the team through offseason workouts and conditioning. Since Henry arrived at Alabama, Tide coach Nick Saban and teammates have praised him for his work ethic during the Fourth Quarter program and other offseason training. That praise continued on Wednesday.
"I love Derrick Henry. He's one of the hardest workers on our team," Saban said. "If you were going to give a most valuable player in the offseason program for just finishing, running hard, winning every race, finishing the drill, he'd have probably got it or been in the top three at least.
"I think that he has a real burning desire to be a really really good player and works really hard at it."
Tide defensive end Jonathan Allen used the word "relentless" multiple times when asked about Henry.
"First in everything he does," Allen said. "First in the runs. First off the field, on the field, everything. He just has that drive.
"He's been the same guy since he got here. He hasn't changed a bit since Day 1 when he got here. That's one of the things I've always admired about Derrick Henry."
With Yeldon entering the NFL draft, Henry is now the top dog, but he needs a running mate. Rising senior Kenyan Drake, who broke his leg last season, projects to be the No. 2 back. Henry can relate to Drake's injury. During his first spring on campus, Henry suffered a similar compound fracture in his leg that slowed his development as a player.
"I told him there's going to be adversity, but he's worked hard to get to where he's at now," Henry said of Drake. "He's still working so he can still get better further in the spring.
"I wasn't surprised at all (at how fast he came back) because I knew how tough of a person he is. He's going to work hard because he loves the game, he loves playing the game, and he missed being out there. I knew he'd do anything and work hard to get back out there."
With Drake's ability to split out wide, there's also the possibility of seeing both on the field at the same time.
"With me in the backfield and him at receiver, you really wouldn't know what's coming or who's getting the ball," Henry said. "Kenyan has great hands, and I try to do a little bit out of the backfield, too. But I just think that's great to have us both out there trying to make a play for the team."
Henry and Drake are the Tide's top two returning playmakers. Henry led the team with 990 rushing yards to go with 11 touchdowns. And despite only playing four games, Drake had six total touchdowns, which is the most for any returner not named Henry. Replacing Yeldon in pass protection won't be easy, but Saban believes Henry and Drake are capable.
"Derrick Henry has improved in all aspects of the game where he doesn't have the ball — which includes blocking, which includes being a better receiver, understanding pass protections, when you need to get out, when you can't," Saban said. "Kenyan Drake I think has a better understanding — not quite as big and as physical as Derrick —but I trust both those guys to be able to do a good job in that regard. They've definitely made a lot of progress. But they also have the capability of making a lot of plays, so we definitely want them on the field as much as possible."