3 Best NFL Running Backs to Ever Come Out of Alabama

Historically speaking, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program has been driven by elite running backs and while those backs have dominated their competition at the collegiate level, they very few have been able to replicate their success at the NFL level. However, there are a select few 'Bama products who have seen a considerable amount of success after turning pro.

With that in mind, here are three of the best NFL running backs ever to come out of Alabama.

3. Derrick Henry (2016-Present)

Derrick Henry is Alabama's all-time leading rusher by yards with 3,591. / Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Derrick Henry has only been in the NFL for four years now, but he's already established himself as one of the best Alabama running backs to grace the NFL. The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner has already racked up 3,833 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns, good for fourth- and third-most among Alabama running backs to play professionally, respectively. Additionally, due to a dominant 2019 season (1,540 rushing yards, 16 TDs), Henry is one of just two Alabama running backs (Shaun Alexander) to lead the league in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in the same season.

2. Mark Ingram II (2011-Present)

Mark Ingram rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 15 total TDs in his first season with the Baltimore Ravens last year. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Mark Ingram has had to split carries with another back in almost every professional season he's played so far, but even with the limited amount of work he's received, he's still one of the best NFL running backs the Crimson Tide have produced. As of now, the three-time Pro Bowler ranks second among Alabama running backs to play in the NFL by total rushing yards (7,025) and rushing touchdowns (60). Additionally, Ingram has recorded the second-most double-digit TD seasons among Alabama running backs, accomplishing the feat three times in his career.

1. Shaun Alexander (2000-2008)

Shaun Alexander is Alabama's all-time program leader in touchdowns with 49. / Suzi Pratt/Getty Images

Who else would you expect to top this list? He may have lasted nine seasons in the league, but Shaun Alexander was easily the most dominant NFL running back that Alabama ever produced at the next level. A three-time Pro Bowler in his career, Alexander was at his most dominant during the the 2005 season, racking up 1,880 rushing yards and a then-record 27 rushing touchdowns for the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. The 2005 First-Team All-Pro selection would never be the same after that season of a workload that gave him 385 touches, but he went on to finish his illustrious career with 9,453 rushing yards (No. 36 in NFL history), and he is one of just nine running backs in league history to finish their career with 100 rushing touchdowns.

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Mike Esposito is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Mike Esposito also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username espo6891. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.