CHICAGO – Heisman Trophy winner and Yulee native Derrick Henry is headed to Tennessee to start his pro career.
The Titans picked Henry with the 14th pick in the second round (No. 45 overall) on Friday night in Chicago.
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"You have to be able to run the football to win games," Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said.
The 6-3, 247-pound running back rewrote the record books during his junior season at Alabama. He rushed for an SEC record 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The Titans used their first two of three selections in the second round Friday night on defense, taking Clemson linebacker Kevin Dodd at No. 33 and Penn State defensive tackle Austin Johnson at No. 43. That gave coordinator Dick LeBeau some pieces to add to his improving defense.
Then the Titans capped their second round by selecting Henry, joining 2014 Heisman winner quarterback Marcus Mariota in the Titans' backfield.
And it will be a crowded backfield.
The Titans traded for DeMarco Murray in March, bringing the NFL's 2014 rushing leader to town to boost a run game that ranked 25th last season averaging just 92.8 yards per game.