Derrick Henry Wins 2015 Maxwell Award: Latest Comments, Reaction

The 2015 Maxwell Award winner was announced Thursday evening at the Home Depot College Football Awards, and Alabama's Derrick Henry took home the hardware handed out annually to the Maxwell Football Club's player of the year. 

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson were the other two finalists. 

ESPN College Football on Twitter posted confirmation of Henry's achievement: 

During a season dominated by high-profile running backs, Henry was easily the most dominant. Although Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott and McCaffrey all had their time in the spotlight, Henry was the nation's most durable, consistent and bruising runner. 

En route to Alabama's SEC title triumph, Henry rushed 339 times for an NCAA-leading 1,986 yards. Beyond leading the nation in rushing, Henry also broke Herschel Walker's single-season rushing record.  

While Henry already boasted a stellar resume entering the home stretch of Alabama's season, his final two performances prior to the College Football Playoff vaulted him into elite territory.

In the Crimson Tide's Iron Bowl win over Auburn, Henry rushed 46 times for 271 yards and a touchdown before toting the rock 44 times for 189 yards and a score in the SEC title game against Florida. 

"My hat is off to him as a competitor, and he really inspires everybody on our team in the way he competes, plays and the toughness that he runs with," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said, according to Sporting News' Ken Bradley. "What a spirit."

The junior ran like a warrior all season long, and his ability to stabilize the Alabama offense drive after drive has put him in the running for seemingly every big award. 

A Heisman Trophy acceptance speech may very well be on the horizon, and it would be hard to argue with such a turn of events based on the way Henry helped propel Alabama into contention for a national title. 

"I don't know that there's any player on the team that the team means more to them than it does to Derrick," Saban said, per the Associated Press' John Zenor (via NCAA.com). 

Following a regular season filled with statistical outbursts, expect more of the same from Henry in the College Football Playoff. 

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.