Alabama’s star running back almost never suited up for the Crimson Tide.

Derrick Henry leads the SEC and college football with six rushing touchdowns through two weeks, and he just looks like a different caliber player than everyone else on the field in the first two games.

But did you know, according to ESPN, Henry nearly transferred from Alabama as a freshman? Here’s an excerpt from the article:

Around the kitchen table, they were frank: You can’t leave Alabama.

Henry, then a freshman, was unhappy. He was homesick for Yulee, adrift without his support system. At Alabama, coaches cursed at him on the practice field for the first time in his life. It wasn’t enough that he was a five-star recruit with a once-in-a-lifetime ability to run the football; he needed to learn how to read the defense, catch the football and block. With three running backs ahead of him on the depth chart, he’d managed just 28 carries during the regular season. His dream of 1,500 yards as a true freshman had turned into a nightmare of self-doubt.

“His first instinct was, ‘I want to leave, I don’t want to be here,'” said his mother, Stacey.

Henry’s mother picked up the phone and called Nick Saban, who was very surprised that Henry was even upset. Obviously, Saban and the coaching staff worked things out with Henry. He also rushed 36 times for 382 yards and three touchdowns that season.

Frankly, Henry’s obviously not the first star high school player who has had immediate transfer thoughts, and he certainly won’t be the last.

Several teams around the country recruited Henry out of high school as a defensive player or athlete, but he wanted to play running back.

Alabama promised they’d give him that option, and I’d say everyone is happy with the result.

Be sure and checkout ESPN’s feature on Henry here.