In 2016, the Tennessee Titans selected Derrick Henry in the second round of the NFL Draft. The NFL’s rushing leader recently named two running backs he feels shouldn’t fall out of the first round.

One of those is fellow Alabama alum, Najee Harris.

“(Najee) definitely deserves to be a first-round pick, and hopefully he gets the opportunity,” Henry told the Titans’ team website this week. “The things he did this year, it was just unbelievable. He’s great at running the ball, great at catching the ball. He is the full package. It’s what you want from a guy coming in and being a day one starter at the running back position.”

Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns on 251 carries, adding 43 catches for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns in Alabama’s 2020 title campaign.

Henry shared that he also sees former Clemson standout Travis Etienne as a first-round talent.

“I think Travis Etienne is definitely well deserving of going in the first round,” Henry said. “I know that they try to devalue us backs and say that running backs, you can get a running back in the second round. But Najee and Etienne deserve to go in the first round – they have earned it. You have seen it week in and week out, what they did this year, the type of players they are, it shows on film.”

We’ll see if Henry’s lobbying helps the two standout ball-carriers go in the first 32 picks or if one will try to be the “next Henry” as a second-rounder.