Darrell Henderson doesn’t have a single rushing yard yet in the NFL, but he joins the Los Angeles Rams with quite the list of past accolades. He was an explosive playmaker at Memphis, averaging 8.2 yards per carry in his career with 3,545 yards rushing in three seasons.
Those numbers and his big-play ability helped him get drafted 70th overall despite being undersized for the position. His 8.2 yards per carry is the highest mark in NCAA history, while Henderson also ranks second on Memphis’ all-time rushing list behind only DeAngelo Williams (6,026 yards).
His record-setting ways began well before college, too. He was a standout in little league and high school before getting to Memphis.
“Well, I played Pee Wee ball and little league, and broke records in little league,” Henderson told Myles Simmons of the Rams’ official site. “Then I got to high school — I broke records in high school. Then I went to Memphis and I got records there. And it’s just been a humbling experience, and it just goes to show that hard work pays off.”
It’s impossible for someone not to be proud of feats like the ones Henderson has accomplished, but he’s not going to let it get to his head. He’s entering the NFL with a clean slate and no ego whatsoever.
After all, the NFL is filled with players who stood out in high school and college.
“I mean, it’s good. It’s a special opportunity, and it’s a great opportunity,” Henderson said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve flushed everything and try to stay focused because it’s easy to get big-headed and start messing up, and lose all the opportunities that you could have.”
As a rookie, Henderson will back up Todd Gurley and compete with Malcolm Brown and John Kelly for snaps at running back.
