WATCH: Derrick Henry discusses being an NFL backup, waiting for his time to shine
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Former Alabama star RB Derrick Henry has been solid for the Tennessee Titans in his two NFL seasons, but he hasn’t produced at the level he did when he won the Heisman Trophy in 2015.
That’s because he’s currently behind starter DeMarco Murray on the Titans’ depth chart, giving Tennessee one of the best running back duos in the NFL.
This week, Henry sat down with Titans announcer Mike Keith to discuss some of the things he’s learned while waiting for his turn to be the feature back, as you can see in the video below, shared by the Titans on YouTube:
“Patience is a virtue,” Henry said. “When I first got to Alabama, I had to learn that as well. But I was a kid, so I was just hard-headed, not understanding the main thing of patience. Everything’s going to happen the way it’s going to happen. You’ve just got to trust the process. Whenever that happened, everything worked out at Alabama.
“But just being here, it’s your job now. You’re not at school, you don’t have classes or anything like that. So it’s your job; you’ve got to take it serious. I’d say just patience and just learning. Being here with guys who have been to the Pro Bowls, who’ve had a lot of experience, coaches who’ve had a lot of experience, learning from those guys, soaking it all in while they’re here, and then just use every tool that you’ve got from those guys whenever you get your opportunity.”
Even as Henry waits for his opportunity to start, he’s putting up big numbers. He’s already rushed for 668 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games this season, surpassing his yardage total from last year.
As the Titans try to hold onto a playoff spot, Henry will likely play a big role in his team’s next two games.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
