Former Memphis RB Darrell Henderson reflects on winning Super Bowl with Los Angeles Rams

When Darrell Henderson Jr. left Memphis after the 2018 season, he did so as an All-American. Now 3 1/2 years later, he returned as a Super Bowl champion.

It was something Henderson still couldn't believe as the Los Angeles Rams running back signed autographs at TNC Sports in Bartlett. He also greeted fans along with old friends who brought jerseys to sign.

"It felt amazing. I was still shocked and the next day I woke up like wow, 'I'm a Super Bowl champion in my third year,' " Henderson said Saturday. "It takes some people their whole career to get it, so I got to give thanks to God and also my amazing team and coaching staff."

Henderson had 50 all-purpose yards -- 43 receiving, seven rushing -- in the game, which was his postseason debut after being injured in December. He celebrated by spending time back home in Batesville, Mississippi, as well as California.

At TNC Sports, Henderson had at least a dozen family members present who took pictures and joked with him after the event. Several wore T-Shirts with pictures from his youth days to his Rams career.

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It reminded Henderson how important family has been through his journey. When former Tigers coach Mike Norvell was hired in 2015, Henderson's relatives encouraged him to stay instead of transfer after being recruited by previous coach Justin Fuente.

The decision paid off. Henderson had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and set single-season program records with 2,328 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns in his final season.

"It's always a good thing when you get to go back home and spend time with your family," said Henderson, a third-round selection in 2019. "See your childhood friends and they see you living out your dreams. Just an amazing feeling."

He was just as happy seeing his fellow Memphis running backs thrive in the NFL. Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders) finished sixth overall in 1,037 rushing yards (1,037) while Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys) was ninth with 1,545 all-purpose yards.

With Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) and Patrick Taylor (Green Bay Packers) making their debuts last season, it showed how deep the talent was in 2018 when all five were on the roster. Gainwell redshirted that season, and Gibson was a little-used receiver yet both wound up drafted just like Pollard and Henderson.

"RBU, baby. What else we got to prove?" said Henderson, referring to Memphis as running back university. "I'm proud of all them doing their thing. They're balling and taking advantage of their opportunity they're getting."

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Next season will be pivotal for Henderson as he enters the final year of his contract. He already expected a busy summer to compete for reps with Cam Akers and rookie Kyren Williams.

But being in Memphis was a reminder of how fast things changed for him. He arrived as a player overlooked by his hometown schools because of his size and he returned as the latest Tigers player to call himself a world champion.

"You got people from everywhere in the NFL. Everybody ain't from the SEC. Not everybody's from the ACC, Pac-12 or Big Ten," Henderson said. "If you put your mind to it, anybody can get there, but you got to work hard and be diligent."

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: LA Rams, former Memphis RB Darrell Henderson reflects on Super Bowl win