Derrick Henry
The only player to rush for at least 2,000 yards at the high school, college, and professional levels.
Derrick Lamar Henry Jr., known as 'King Henry', is an American professional football running back for the Baltimore Ravens. Born January 4, 1994, in Yulee, Florida, he stands out for his imposing style and larger build than the average running back. Henry holds a unique distinction: he is the only player to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season at the high school, college, and professional levels. He also led the SEC in rushing yards and touchdowns in college, and set national high school records in both categories. After eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans—where he earned four Pro Bowl selections and led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in both 2019 and 2020—he signed with Baltimore in 2024. In his first season with the Ravens, he set multiple franchise records. As of the 2024 season, Henry remains the NFL's active leader in career rushing yards and touchdowns.
Quick Facts
- Current team
- Baltimore Ravens
- Position
- Running back
- Born
- 4 January 1994
- Birthplace
- Yulee, Florida, U.S.
- High school
- Yulee
- College
- Alabama (2013–2015)
- Draft year
- 2016
- Draft round
- 2
Lore & Background
Henry's dominance began early. As a child in Yulee, he ran from his aunt with a football as if she were a tackler, showing instinctive power even at age two. By middle school, he was so dominant that opposing coaches created the unofficial 'Shocka Henry Rule,' pulling him when his team led by three touchdowns. At Yulee High School, he shattered Ken Hall's nearly 60-year-old national high school rushing record with 12,124 career yards and 153 touchdowns.
As a senior in 2012, he averaged 9.2 yards per carry, rushed for 4,261 yards, and scored 55 touchdowns. His college journey at Alabama saw him break Herschel Walker's single-season SEC rushing record during his junior year (2015). That same season, Henry won the Heisman Trophy, the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award, while helping Alabama win the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. Spanish-language broadcaster Pablo Viruega dubbed him 'El Tractorcito' during the 2015 season, inspired by his powerful gait.
Reader's Guide
He excels at breaking tackles and sustaining momentum through contact, a trait that earned him the nickname 'Shocka' from his grandmother, Gladys, who raised him after his father was frequently absent. At Yulee, he played up an age level throughout grade school due to his size, often needing his birth certificate shown to officials to prove his eligibility. His versatility shone in track as well; at the 2012 Nike SPARQ Combine, he posted a 4.58-second 40-yard dash and a vertical jump over 40 inches, earning the highest score among 1,300 athletes. He holds several playoff records and is the NFL's active leader in postseason rushing yards (seventh all-time). His contributions were vital to Titans' playoff wins in 2017–18 and 2019–20, as well as the Ravens' 2024–25 playoff victory.
Did You Know?
- In a Little League baseball game, Henry hit a ball over two fences, smashing it into a school bus.
- His grandmother Gladys nicknamed him 'Shocka' because he was born with a shock of hair.
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