Despite the Baltimore Ravens' struggles to start the 2025 season, Derrick Henry has continued to make his way up the NFL rushing record books.
Henry also maintains an eye-popping national high school record, but he's rooting for it to be broken. Knox High (Indiana) senior running back Myles McLaughlin is closing in on Henry's astounding Yulee High (Florida) career record of 12,124 yards, and the five-time Pro Bowler hopes the kid shatters it.
"Go break it man," Henry told Kay Adams on the "Up and Adams Show" this week. "That's what meant records meant, they meant to be broken. I've had it for 10-plus years, man, go get it, go break the record. I hope you win the state championship with it."
McLaughlin currently sits at 11,004 career yards, needing 1,121 yards to pass him with a potential four games remaining in his season.
In four ridiculous seasons for Yulee, Henry, from 2009-2012, rushed for more than 2,400 yards in each year, culminating with a senior campaign in which he posted more than 4,200 yards.
McLaughlin will need to average 280.25 yards per game, which seems like an improbable number, but he's coming off a 400-yard-plus showing in his previous game. Of most importance is that McLaughlin and Knox are in the Indiana 3A State Tournament, meaning they have one more game guaranteed on Friday and potentially four to go. So as long as Knox keeps on winning and McLaughlin keeps on churning out yards, he's got a chance.
"Running tough, breaking tackles, he's a beast," Henry said of McLaughlin.
Interestingly enough, Henry might well surpass his high school yardage mark this week against the Minnesota Vikings. He currently sits at 12,052 career yards (regular-season only, unlike his HS tally).
In a Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins, fittingly in his native Florida, Henry became just the 17th player in NFL history to rush for 12,000 yards. Along with that, Henry has surpassed Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Walter Payton on the all-time TD list this season, as he now stands in fifth place with 112 career rushing touchdowns.
As Henry has surpassed legends who played before him, he's cheering on McLaughlin can do the same. Similarly, Henry remains in search of his first Super Bowl with the Ravens attempting to rally from a 1-5 start.
So, Henry's hoping McLaughlin can finish a stellar senior season -- and high school career -- by passing him up and winning it all, in the process.
"I hope he rides off in the sunset," Henry said, "with the record and the championship."
