Five-star running back Emmanuel Henderson is Alabama-bound. The Hartford (Ala.) Geneva County product committed to the Crimson Tide over Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and others on Saturday. Henderson is Nick Saban and company’s second five-star commitment in the last two weeks.
“It feels like home there,” Henderson said of Alabama in the past. “The facilities, the school, it’s wonderful there.”
Oftentimes Henderson has pointed to the “program as a whole” when reflecting on what stands out about UA.
Bama built strong inroads with Henderson and his family, led by his area recruiter in Charles Kelly. Running backs coach Charles Huff was also heavily involved before leaving for the head coaching job at Marshall. It’s been a seamless transition to new running backs coach Robert Gillespie in the weeks to follow.
At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Henderson is rated the No. 2 running back and the No. 28 overall prospect in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.
With Alabama, however, it’s more of an athlete role that the program has pursued Henderson for.
“I can always move around because I’m an athlete,” Henderson said. “I can play special teams, I can play slot receiver, wherever they need me.”
Henderson is commitment No. 5 for Alabama in the class of 2022, moving UA’s class to No. 14 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.
Here’s 247Sports’ evaluation of the new Tide pledge:
“Taller, longer-framed running back with lean, athletic build that should foster ample bulk addition in college. Three-sport high school athlete who plays basketball and runs track. Ran an 11.40 100 as a sophomore. Dominant in football and hoops vs. Alabama small-school competition. Longer-striding runner who shows good initial burst and downhill juice. Flashes dangerous cutback ability. Will stack cuts on the same run. Always looking for as many extra yards as possible. Impressively strings moves together at the second level considering longer, high-cut build. Simultaneously fluid and violent as a runner. Displays good core strength and contact balance to extend runs. Finishes runs consistently. Played snaps at running back, receiver, quarterback, and outside linebacker as a junior. Natural pass-catcher in limited opportunities. Adequate top-end speed but still room to improve. Potential in that category should be high given frame/gait. Gets bounce-happy at times, which is likely at least in part to individual dominance vs. small-school competition. One of the nation’s top backs in the 2022 class. Should become a high-major impact player with long-term NFL Draft early-round ceiling.”
As a junior, Henderson rushed for 1,449 yards and 20 touchdowns.
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