Derrick Henry knows what championship culture looks like. He lived it.
Back in 2015, he was the engine behind Alabama’s national title run, bulldozing defenses and carrying the Crimson Tide to the top of the college football world. So when Henry speaks on what it takes to get Alabama back to that level, it’s worth listening.
And unlike some former players who’ve been quick to criticize the early stages of the Kalen DeBoer era, Henry is taking a more grounded, realistic view. During an appearance on CBS Radio during Super Bowl week, the former Heisman winner acknowledged the challenges that come with following a legend like Nick Saban - and made it clear that growing pains are part of the process.
“You going to have growing pains,” Henry said. “You know, Coach Saban had his growing pains. Coach DeBoer will have his.”
That’s not just a throwaway line. It’s a reminder that even the greats don’t build dynasties overnight.
Saban’s first few years in Tuscaloosa weren’t flawless, but the foundation he laid turned into one of the most dominant runs in college football history. Now, DeBoer is tasked with building on that legacy - and doing it his way.
But Henry didn’t stop at understanding. He also laid out what it’s going to take for Alabama to truly be Alabama again.
And it’s not just about NIL money or Transfer Portal moves. It’s about mindset.
“At some point, you got to address it and just make it happen,” Henry said. “If you care about it, if it means something to you - not just the money, the market stuff and all that.
I mean, that’s a given. It’s already in college football.
But as far as you as a man and your integrity, what are you willing to do to get that program to where it once was?”
That’s a challenge to the current generation of players. Henry talked about the pride his team took in building their own legacy, not just riding the coattails of the legends who came before them. It’s that level of buy-in - that commitment to something bigger than yourself - that he believes will bring Alabama back to the mountaintop.
“I know kids, if you don’t play, you can go to another program,” Henry said. “But when we were there, we were working, and we wanted to build our own legacy.
We heard about the ones that came before us. But what’re you going to do with your time there?
And I feel like the only way we going to get back is if you lock into that and go do that. And I feel like they will.”
That kind of belief matters - especially when it’s backed by what DeBoer and Alabama general manager Courtney Morgan have already been doing behind the scenes. Their approach to roster building has been methodical and intentional.
The top priority? Retention.
While the Transfer Portal has become a central piece of the college football landscape, Alabama is still focused on growing its roster the old-fashioned way - through high school recruiting. That remains priority No.
- The portal is there to fill gaps, not to build the foundation.
And so far, that strategy is paying off. The biggest reason for optimism in Tuscaloosa isn’t just about the names on the roster - it’s about who’s staying.
Only one player from Alabama’s highly touted 2025 recruiting class transferred out this offseason. That kind of continuity is rare in today’s college football world, and it speaks volumes about the culture DeBoer and Morgan are trying to establish.
Sure, Indiana just won a national title with a roster full of transfers. And Ohio State did it the year before with a similar approach. But Alabama is betting on something different: a return to the kind of internal development and program pride that defined the Saban era.
The formula isn’t complicated. Players who want to be at Alabama because it’s Alabama - not just because of a paycheck or a platform - will be the ones to lead the next wave. And if Henry’s words are any indication, the belief in that blueprint is still strong among those who’ve worn the jersey and lifted the trophy.