Alabama stars in the NFL are not a rare sight, neither is seeing two former Crimson Tide players on the same team, as shown with Julio Jones and Clavin Ridley on the Falcons, Tua Tagovailoa and Raekwon Davis on the Dolphins or Kenyan Drake and Deionte Thompson on the Cardinals.
However, one duo that often gets overlooked is Derrick Henry and Rashaan Evans on the Tennessee Titans.
Henry, the 2015 Heisman-winning running back was the No. 45 overall selection in the 2016 NFL draft. He’s also the star of the Titans offense and is credited with being the driving force behind the teams 2019 run to the AFC Championship game.
Evans has flown under the NFL national spotlight since being the No. 22 overall selection by the Titans in 2018.
Both players are key pieces on their respective sides of the ball, but because one is a defensive star and the other an offensive juggernaut, we rarely see the two face off.
In a report from the Tennessean’s Erik Bacharach, The two went head-to-head during on-field drills.
“The Titans began Monday’s practice with some open-field drills,” writes Bacharach. “At the end of the period, Derrick Henry lined up opposite Rashaan Evans in what would have been one of the most exciting potential matchups among Titans players.
The running back and inside linebacker ran full speed at each other before coming to a screeching halt just before they made contact as Titans coach Mike Vrabel blew the whistle.
Laughs from onlookers ensued.”
While it was all in good fun, the two Crimson Tide products will work hard to ensure the Titans 2019 success is not seen as a one-hit-wonder. Another trip to the playoffs will help secure Tennessee’s reputation as a legitimate contender in the NFL.