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Alabama Running Back Derrick Henry To Enter 2016 NFL Draft

By Zach Ragan

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) breaks away from Clemson Tigers safety Jayron Kearse (1) to score a touchdown in the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) breaks away from Clemson Tigers safety Jayron Kearse (1) to score a touchdown in the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee’s potential 2016 championship run got a little easier on Thursday with the announcement that Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry will enter the 2016 NFL Draft.

Henry, who was held under 100 rushing yards only five times in 2015 (two of those times, against Louisiana-Monroe and Charleston Southern, were due to light workloads), rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama’s win against the Vols this past season.

The 2015 Heisman trophy winner rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns in the Tide’s win against Clemson in the national championship game earlier this week.

Alabama will obviously still be a force in 2016, but removing a player like Henry from the equation certainly makes a daunting task a little more doable.

Henry, the 2015 SEC rushing leader, isn’t the only top tier SEC running back declaring for the NFL Draft. Arkansas running back Alex Collins also announced this week that he will be making the jump to the NFL.

With Henry and Collins out of the picture, Vols running back Jalen Hurd should be among the top two running backs in the SEC next season.

Leonard Fournette, who will undoubtedly declare for the NFL draft after the 2016 season, will, barring injury, lead the SEC in rushing once again.

Hurd finished fourth in the SEC in rushing this past season, despite sharing the rushing workload with uber-talented running back Alvin Kamara.

Kamara, who finished third in the SEC in yards per carry this past season (6.52 yards per carry), is eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft, but he has yet to announce whether or not he will return to Tennessee.

Even if Kamara returns (and Vol fans certainly hope he does), Hurd will still be among the top two running backs in the SEC in 2015.

With an improved and experienced offensive line returning for the Volunteers, it’s entirely plausible that Tennessee could finish the 2016 season with two running backs in the top five in rushing yards (Kamara finished 13th in the SEC in 2015).

Next: Cam Sutton Returning To Vols For Senior Season

The Vols definitely have a potent offense returning in 2016 and they should absolutely be considered the favorites in the SEC East and a potential national championship contender.

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