NASHVILLE – Thanks to his last-minute, 75-yard touchdown run all but guaranteeing the Tennessee Titans’ 24-13 win over AFC South brother Houston on Sunday afternoon, Derrick Henry had plenty of pro football stuff to talk about inside the home team’s locker room.
Only this was also the day the College Football Playoff invitations came out. So while he was clearly excited with the Titans’ big victory, the last words out Henry’s mouth concerned his alma mater.
Thrilled with Alabama’s inclusion for the fourth time in the CFP’s four seasons of existence, Henry let out a loud “Roll Tide, everybody!” as he headed home for the night.
If nothing else, the Tide’s inclusion – which wasn’t known until approximately 30 minutes before the Texans-Titans game began – seemed to inspire Henry, who finished with 109 rushing yards and that clinching touchdown.
“I was pretty nervous,” said Henry, who won the Heisman Trophy while leading the Tide to the national title in the 2015 season. “As soon as I heard we were in, I was like, ‘Let’s go!’ That was the spark I needed.”