Derrick Henry still climbing up draft boards

Oct 24, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) carries for a touchdown against Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Sure, the NFL is a passing league but running the ball and playing defense is still the most dependable way to win. The challege there is finding a running back you can lean on consistently to win games with. And in the 2016 NFL Draft, there are two such running backs and Alabama’s Derrick Henry is one of them.

In a close, physical game against rival Tennessee, Henry put the team on his back and brought in home. On the day, Henry had 143 yards on 28 carries with touchdown runs of 20 and 14 yards. His 14-yarder came with a little over two minutes left to put Alabama ahead for the defense to put the game on ice.

That’s what winning games by running the ball and playing defense is all about. Saturday’s performance has put Henry over the 1,000-yard mark with 1,044, a 5.8 per carry average and 14 TDs. And with four games left in the regular season, there is plenty of damage for him left to do.

Lately, every game he plays, he looks more and more like a 1st-round pick and an immediate star. To go with his 6’3″, 240-pound size, he has power, patience, burst, vision and the speed to take it the distance. This kid looks like he can be special so I’m sure a team looking to build there running game will indeed take him in the first round.

Next: 2016-nfl-mock-draft-two-rounds-week-7