Every year there's someone who knocks off terrific workout numbers and starts vaulting through mock drafts faster than you cay Mike Mamula. This year that someone is University of Arizona running back Chris Henry, and, just to make sure we have it straight, no, he's not to be confused with that Chris Henry.
"Don't know him," he said of the Cincinnati Bengals receiver.
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| Chris Henry sat most of his career at the University of Arizona. (US Presswire) |
In four years at Arizona, the junior ran for 892 yards, had one 100-yard game and produced an underwhelming average of 3.3 yards a carry.
But the NFL Draft is not all about the past. It's about projecting into the future, too, and that's where Chris Henry excels. After a marvelous NFL scouting combine where he ran a 4.41-second 40, benched 225 pounds 26 times, broad jumped 10 feet, 7 inches and had a 36-inch vertical leap, Henry's value started to soar.
That was back in February when one publication listed him as the 26th back in this year's draft. Now some people have him as high as fourth, and Henry's spate of visits -- with 11 clubs hosting him in three weeks -- speak to an interest that wasn't there months ago.
"Slowly but surely," he said, "I've been climbing my way up and showing how competitive I am. Once teams actually take a close look at my film they can see I'm one of the best backs in the draft."
He has that right. I spoke to a scout with a club Henry visited, and he raved about the guy. He talked about how hard Henry ran; how hard he hit; how impressed he was with his hands; and, of course, how impressed he was with his speed.
When you talk about Chris Henry you always talk about his speed. He won the 100 in the 2003 California high school track and field meet and tied Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson for the fastest 40 among running backs at the NFL combine.
"Running is second nature to me," he said. "It's what I do."
NFL clubs love speed, but they especially love it when it comes in a 5-feet-11, 230-pound package of energy. Quick, now, tell me how many backs that size peel off a 100 in 10.56 seconds. I can't think of one, either, and apparently neither could teammates who called Henry "the mutant."
"Chris Henry has tons of ability," one scout said. "This is not just a guy. This is a very good back. There is nothing wrong with him. The only question you have is: Why didn't he play more at Arizona? Then you notice they changed their running backs coach. That tells you something."
Henry sat on the bench his first three years, backing up Mike Bell and Gilbert Harris. Then, in 2006, he did nothing until the last four games when he erupted for 380 yards and seven TDs -- including 191 yards rushing and three scores against Oregon.
