Nick Saban Shares Hilarious Story About Derrick Henry’s Early Struggles with Pass Blocking
In a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, legendary coach Nick Saban shared a hilarious and relatable story about former Alabama running back Derrick Henry’s early struggles with pass blocking. Henry, who won the 2015 Heisman Trophy and national championship with the Crimson Tide, is now one of the best running backs in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.
Saban recalled a team pass drill during Henry’s freshman year, where the young running back was clearly out of his depth. “He don’t know his ass from a handful of sand about pass protection, pass blocking, none of this stuff,” Saban said. The offensive coordinator was getting on Henry’s case for not picking up the right blocker, and Saban felt sorry for him.
As Saban approached Henry to offer some encouragement, the young running back looked up at him and said, “Coach, I don’t know anything about any of this stuff. All they did in high school was turn around and toss me the ball and tell me to run with it. That’s all I know about football. So can you all have a little patience?”
Saban’s story is a reminder that even the greatest players start somewhere. Henry’s humility and willingness to learn are a testament to his character and work ethic. Despite his early struggles, Henry went on to have an incredible college career, winning the Heisman, Maxwell, and national championship.
Saban’s six national championships at Alabama are a testament to his coaching prowess, and stories like this one humanize the legendary coach. It’s clear that Saban has a soft spot for his players, even when they’re struggling.
Henry’s journey from a clueless freshman to a national champion and NFL star is an inspiration to anyone who’s ever struggled to learn something new. With hard work, determination, and a willingness to learn, anything is possible.
As Saban’s story about Derrick Henry shows, even the greatest athletes start somewhere, and it’s okay to not know everything at first. With patience, practice, and dedication, anyone can achieve greatness.
