Fournette-Henry showdown this Saturday will be one to watch

The good news for football coaches in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference this season is that they’re guaranteed to make at least $4 million.

Among the bad news is that they have to face Alabama tailback Derrick Henry and LSU tailback Leonard Fournette. The two superstars will be on the same field this Saturday night, when Fournette’s nationally fourth-ranked Tigers take on Henry’s No. 7 Crimson Tide in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

That leaves the rest of the West eager to see the show.

“Both of them are superior talents and guys who have gotten better,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. “We haven’t played Leonard yet, but Derrick was much improved from a year ago. They’ve got good players around them, and they can change the game in an instant.

“They thrive on the big moment and are good with ball security. They’re everything you want.”

Fournette is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, having rushed 176 times for 1,352 yards (7.7 per carry) entering the stretch run of his sophomore season. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder already has surpassed 200 yards in a game three times, building off a freshman year in which he ran for 1,034 yards.

Henry has compiled 1,044 yards on 180 rushes (5.8 per carry) as the workhorse for the Tide. The 6-3, 242-pounder rushed for 990 yards last season, when he split time with T.J. Yeldon.

“I’ve faced Leonard more so far than I’ve faced Derrick, but both have unbelievable talent and potential with size and speed and running ability,” said Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. “I think they’re doing a nice job of developing along in their careers. Both were five-star guys, but just because you’re a five-star in high school doesn’t mean you’re going to be a five-star in college.

“You still have to develop and work.”

Henry signed with Alabama in 2013 after rushing for 4,261 yards as a Yulee (Fla.) High senior, which included a 510-yard performance. Fournette signed with LSU a year later after rushing for 7,619 yards and 88 touchdowns during his four-year career at St. Augustine High in New Orleans.

Fournette picked the Tigers over the Crimson Tide.

“We thought Leonard was absolutely one of the best backs we had ever seen,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said, “and he certainly hasn’t done anything to disappoint anyone in terms of what he’s been able to accomplish as a college player.”

They have lived up to the hype and then some, but how do they differ?

“Derrick is a bigger guy who’s a downhill runner,” Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin said, “and you’ve got to remember that Leonard last year was returning kickoffs, too, so that tells you what kind of open-field speed that he has. He may have a step or two on Derrick, but both are outstanding running backs who are really physical.”

Saban describes Henry as a “taller, longer” version of Fournette, adding that both players are incredibly competitive. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze feels for defensive backs who have to deal with either tailback in the open field.

There is no secret in how to stop Henry and Fournette, but it’s easier said than done.

“The idea with bigger backs is to make them go east and west at the line of scrimmage instead of straight downhill,” Sumlin said, “because that’s when they become really explosive. If you can make them make cuts at the line of scrimmage, then you can get population to the football and try to gang-tackle them.

“That’s what you try to do, but they’re the cream of the crop in the country.”

Tide tidbits

Alabama senior linebacker Reggie Ragland was named Monday among the 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award. Crimson Tide safety Eddie Jackson (knee sprain) practiced Monday and is expected to play Saturday, but safety Ronnie Harrison (ankle) and right tackle Dominick Jackson (ankle) are being evaluated and are considered questionable.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.