As Alabama junior running back Derrick Henry passed by the portraits of past Heisman Trophy winners prior to Saturday night’s ceremony, he snapped a photo of a single victor of college football’s most prestigious honor: former Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram, who claimed Bama’s first Heisman in 2009.
“He just told me to embrace it and enjoy it,” Henry said of Ingram’s weeklong advice to him upon arriving in New York City as a finalist.
Now the rest of college football can enjoy Henry becoming the second Bama running back in seven years to take home the little bronze statue, the bruising runner easily outdistancing Stanford sophomore runner Christian McCaffrey. Henry won with 1,832 points to 1,532 for the Cardinal. Clemson sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson finished third with 1,265 points.
It was the 20th closest race ever and caused Henry to tell McCaffrey and Watson, “I’m sure I’ll see you back here next year.”
That’s not likely, of course. Henry is almost certain to turn pro, which means he’ll be preparing to play in some Sunday or Monday night National Football League game this time next year.