5-Star Emmanuel Henderson, Nation’s Top RB, Signs with Alabama
Emmanuel Henderson, a composite 5-star recruit and the nation's top-ranked running back according to 247Sports's Composite Rankings, has officially signed his national letter of intent to join the Alabama Crimson Tide program. Henderson committed to Alabama in March.
The 6-foot-1, 185lbs tailback rushed for over 5,000 yards in his high school football career with the Geneva County Bulldogs in Hartford, Alabama. He was a three-sport athlete lettering in football, basketball and track. On top of that, playing at the 2A level in Alabama, he saw snaps at multiple positions, including quarterback and wide receiver.
247Sports's Gabe Brooks described his running style as "simultaneously fluid and violent" as Henderson displays equal parts speed and grit making for a balanced back. As a natural pass-catcher, there's not much Henderson wasn't asked to do for the Bulldogs. He'll be expected to do much of the same at Alabama as the history of the position in Tuscaloosa commands.
Henderson joins a running back room in Tuscaloosa filled with 5-star athletes vying to be the next great back at Alabama. Trey Sanders may top the pecking order as the veteran of the group while rising juniors Roydell Williams and Jase McClellan return from season-ending knee injuries. Camar Wheaton stands at the rear of the depth chart but will be expected to take the next step in year two despite a lingering injury that made him unavailable for nearly the entire 2021 season.
Henderson will no doubt be given his fair shot, but needed to gain size and fine-tune his abilities, it's fairly safe to say he won't see the field much in his first season.
Jamarion Miller, a 4-star running back from Tyler, Texas, is also committed to the Crimson Tide in the 2022 class.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Henderson is the top-ranked running back, the second-ranked player in Alabama (behind Jeremiah Alexander) and 30th prospect overall in the country. He was primarily recruited by safeties coach Charles Kelly.