The 2015 Heisman Trophy vote was one of the closest races in recent history, as Alabama's Derrick Henry took just a 293-point victory over Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, who broke Barry Sanders' record for most all-purpose yards in one season this year. This, of course, worked up quite a few people who disagreed with the pick wholeheartedly. But Henry more than deserved the Heisman this year, and here are five key reasons why he did more than McCaffrey and all the others.
5. Didn't Have Much Help From Passing Game
The first-year starter Jake Coker didn't have a bad season by any means. However, he didn't carry the offense and wasn't trusted until about halfway through the year entirely by the team or coaching staff.
In 13 games, Coker has thrown 338 passes -- about 26 attempts per game. Henry, on the other hand, has 339 carries by himself. He accounted for 38.8 percent of their plays, whether a run or a pass, and exactly half of their offensive touchdowns.
As for McCaffrey, it is true that he accounted for more of Stanford's offense by way of a run or reception, but by less than three percent at 41.2. And he only accounted for 20.3 percent of the Cardinal's offensive scores (and only one return touchdown despite 50 total returns).
My next point puts this in even greater perspective.
4. SEC Defenses Way Tougher Than Pac-12's
Not including Alabama -- who had the No. 1 rush defense in the nation -- eight other SEC schools finished in the top 50 in run defense. Seven of those schools allowed 4.02 yards per carry or fewer on the year, a stout mark in college football. Bama played six of those teams, and also non-conference games against Wisconsin (No. 4 run defense in 2015) and Middle Tennessee (No. 35). In those eight games, Henry was held under 100 yards rushing just twice, but still had 95 and 96, respectively, with four rushing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Pac-12 had, minus Stanford (No. 44 rush defense), just four top-50 run-stopping units. Of those four teams, the Cardinal played only two; granted, they played USC twice, but USC was the worst of those defenses, ranking No. 45. The best run defense they played was Northwestern's in Week 1 of the season where they lost 16-6. McCaffrey had just 89 total yards of offense on 17 touches and no touchdowns in that game.
3. 10 More Touchdowns Than McCaffrey
As I've already talked about, Henry's scoring ability has been astronomically more impressive than that of McCaffrey's. Now sure, Stanford's record-breaking back wasn't the goal-line guy.
But that's just it.
Henry had to be everything for Alabama's offense. This wasn't some by-committee backfield -- it was Henry who made them go. It was Henry who was relied upon to keep drives alive as well as finish them.
2. Broke Herschel Walker's 34-Year SEC Rushing Yards Record
What's even more impressive than Sanders' all-purpose yards record? Herschel Walker's SEC rushing record that was set all the way back in 1981. Against a historically-stiff defensed conference, running for nearly 2,000 yards in 13 games is quite the feat, especially when it's compared to the other record. McCaffrey had over 1,100 yards just on returns (22.2 yards per return); ultimately, those yards don't mean much other than you're well conditioned. Congrats.
Henry has had as special a year as any running back in college football history. To say that others deserved it way more simply doesn't compute.
1. Carried Alabama to No. 2 Seed in College Football Playoffs
Finally, what else has Henry done that McCaffrey could not?
Carry his team to the College Football Playoffs. Bama is back in the playoffs for the second time in as many years as it's existed, and that's not something to be taken lightly. Yes, the Crimson Tide are a more complete team than the Cardinal, but as already talked about, Henry was their offense and did it against a tough run defense on nearly a weekly basis.
Odds are, their national championship aspirations also rest on the shoulders of the 6-foot-3, 240-pound running back.
But hey, that's what is expected of Heisman Trophy winners.
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