Derrick Henry NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Titans Rookie

POSITIVES

The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, Derrick Henry was a true workhorse for Alabama during the stretch run to another national title. With his hulking size and surprising pull-away speed, Henry ranks as one of the most polarizing players in this year's class.

A 4.54-second 40-yard dash at 247 pounds is jaw-dropping. Henry shows that speed on film when he gets an opening, as he'll accelerate away from defenders down the field. Henry had 28 runs of 15-plus yards on the year, showing his ability to beat defenders at the first and second level.

Henry's power can be impressive. He runs with a natural body lean and a big back's mindset. He will look for and deliver contact. As a true one-cut, downhill runner, he's at his best when he can build up a big head of steam and truck defenders in space. Henry is a bully with a mean stiff arm and the thick, tree-trunk legs to drive through tacklers.

The Alabama offense did not ask Henry to be a factor in the passing game, but that doesn't mean he can't contribute on third down. Henry's pro day workout showed soft hands and a natural ability to adjust to the ball in the air. He has the size to be a factor as a blocking back, but his output there has been inconsistent.

NEGATIVES

The Alabama workload was not easy, and already NFL teams are talking quietly about head coach Nick Saban running his players into the ground in pursuit of national titles. The belief is that this leaves players beat up upon entering the NFL and would explain Alabama pro players' early injury issues. In the last two games prior to the College Football Playoff, Henry carried the rock 90 times, which is an unbelievable number in a day and age of spread offenses. With 395 carries on the year, Henry led the nation.

He is a two-gear player. He has his initial burst—which ranks as average—and he has his open-field speed. He doesn't vary or change up his speed, and he doesn't show a true second gear in space. As a tall, upright runner, Henry takes hits in the backfield and doesn't break tackles at the rate you would expect.

Vision has been an issue for Alabama backs, and when watching Henry you see some of the same concerns. He needs the offensive line to create an opening for him—much like Melvin Gordon at Wisconsin—before he can do damage. If a crease is there, Henry will attack with power and urgency, but if there is no hole, he tends to stand up in the backfield and lower his head, which limits his ability to find a secondary rushing lane.

Power is expected to be a big strength for Henry, but when charting his junior season, we counted just seven broken tackles. That crushes the perception he's this unstoppable force once he gets going and backs up the observation he can be stopped in the backfield by first contact.

Henry is a top-tier athlete who has been successful at every level of football, but for him to succeed in the NFL, he will have to break modern ideas of what a running back is. He's not quick, and he doesn't have a creative runner's ability to find creases and cutback lanes. Henry is almost too big, turning one of his strengths into a weakness when you realize how his size limits his movement ability.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'"

Weight: 247 lbs

40 Time:  4.54s

3-Cone: 7.20s

Short Shuttle: 4.38s

PRO COMPARISON: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders
FINAL GRADE: 6.40/9.00 (Rounds 2-3—Rotational Player)