Despite being named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Week and the FedEx Ground Player of the Week, Tennessee Titans players don’t seem fazed by Derrick Henry’s growing list of accomplishments anymore.
“I don’t think there’s any amazement,” Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said on Wednesday. “He’s proven what he can do, and he goes out and does it. It’s awesome to see what he can do, but I don’t think there’s any amazement because that’s just what Derrick does.”
Henry’s football career has been littered with accolades, including winning the Heisman Trophy at the University of Alabama.
Prior to arriving in Tuscaloosa, the Yulee, Florida native also set the state high school rushing record for most yards in a single game with 502.
Most expected that record never to be broken, but Baker High School junior running back Kayleb Wagner dethroned Henry last Friday, rushing for 535 yards and six touchdowns.
Henry spoke with the Titans media about his record being broken and noted that he’s been in touch with Wagner.
“I think it is incredible,” Henry said. “I thought it was really cool. I got to talk to him a little bit on Instagram and hopefully he breaks some more. That was really cool, definitely an inspiration to me and I am sure he is an inspiration to his team and everybody over there in that community. It was definitely cool to see and hopefully, I can do something for him these upcoming weeks.”
Wagner was born without a left hand and part of his forearm, which makes the feat even more amazing. And, like Henry, Wagner is off to a red-hot start this year.
Before Friday’s record-breaking game, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound back rushed for 267 yards on only four carries, and had four touchdowns in Baker High School’s season opener.
His 535-yard performance is sure to attract a lot of national attention.
“We went back and forth for five minutes or so,” Wagner said of his social media exchange with Henry. “He congratulated me, said he would send me a pair of his cleats and game gloves. It was very, very cool. I think it really hit me then that I had the record.”
As for Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher in back-to-back seasons will prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, a team he’s averaged nearly six yards per carry against in 10 career games.
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