If you start at the beginning and his 148-yard performance against Wisconsin in Alabama's nationally televised season-opener, then it officially took Derrick Henry 90 days to acknowledge the existence of the Heisman Trophy.

Alabama's star running back didn't want anything to do with it for the longest time. Bringing it up felt taboo. When asked about the possibility of winning the most prestigious award in college football, he'd simply shake his head.

"Nope," Henry said, two days after racking up 247 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M in mid-October. "No, no, no, no."

"We're not focusing on that," he added. "That's not our goal. Our goal is to get a team win every Saturday and go from there. We're not worried about the Heisman."

Ever the soldier, ever the follower of coach Nick Saban's "process," Henry hasn't dared step out of line this season. It has been a dream of his to win the Heisman since he was a child, but a dream that's remained largely unspoken.

In fact, with more rushing yards and touchdowns than anyone in college football, Henry hasn't had to say much.

But if you're looking for the backstory on the kid from Yulee, Florida, and how the junior has became one of three Heisman Trophy finalists this year, just ask his teammates. They'll gladly tell you.

First impressions are everything

Before Henry arrived at Alabama, there were those who questioned whether running back was the right position for him. At 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, he seemed not to fit the standard dimensions. But the five-star prospect listed by ESPN as an athlete quickly answered all doubters.

O.J. Howard, tight end, Signing Day 2013: He's just a freak. He's my roommate, and he scares me sometimes just walking around. ... He gets up at night and does pushups.

C.J. Mosley, linebacker, spring 2013: We were talking about it on the sideline, me and a couple of the players, how Henry looked like a bigger version of Trent Richardson.

Alphonse Taylor, guard: Seeing him as a freshman was something different. I had never seen a back that big that can move that fast. That was different for me being around T.J. [Yeldon], a little, shifty guy, where Derrick was one cut and he's gone.

Derrick Henry has been running away from the competition all year long. Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Ragland, linebacker: When you get on the field and try to take an angle on him, you have to run faster than you normally do because Derrick's pretty fast. He's very hard to hit. When you meet him in the hole, you better bring everything you've got."

Ross Pierschbacher, guard: He could be a big ol' linebacker. I went to The Opening going into my junior year and he was there for his senior year, and I saw him and said, 'That's a pretty big guy right there.' "

'What are you going to do to stop this guy?'

By now, everyone has seen the images of Henry flipping tractor tires and pulling pickup trucks while training during the offseason.

And it clearly has paid off.

Ragland: When it's crunch time, it's eating time. That's how he feels. Derrick doesn't get tired.

During a run of 10 consecutive carries against Auburn, even Saban questioned how much more Henry had left in the tank.

Saban: He was asking to stay in. And I asked him every time he came to the sidelines, 'Are you OK? Because we'll put somebody else in there.' He says, 'Coach, I'm good. I'm gonna win this game.' . . . It just seems he gets stronger as the game goes on.

Bo Scarbrough, running back: It's full-speed, downhill, under his shoulder pads, north and south.

Richard Mullaney, wide receiver: I remember going down to make a block on the safety (in the Wisconsin game), the next thing I know, I look forward, I guess, and he was already in the end zone. I was like, 'Wow.' He's really fast.

Cam Robinson, left tackle: I see him do it every day. I don't want to say I expected it, but I knew he was capable of it. I know what he's able to do, especially when he gets in the open field and gets up on DBs.

Jake Coker, quarterback: When you see a guy run -- how many times, 46 times? -- and he could still play, not slow down, not hurt at all. It's like playing with the biggest guy on the playground, like, 'What are you going to do to stop this guy?' It's just about impossible. The guy is crazy.

The Heisman campaign

He had more consecutive games with a rushing touchdown than Tim Tebow and he broke Herschel Walker's single-season SEC rushing yards record. With more rushing yards (1,986) and more rushing touchdowns (23) than anyone in college football, Henry was an easy choice to become one of three Heisman finalists.

Jonathan Allen, defensive lineman: You get what you deserve and I feel like he's been deserving this for a while now.

He's definitely a relentless competitor. He won't take no for an answer. We feel like that's a big part of his success here, along with the team. We've all kind of adopted that mentality that we won't be denied what we want.

When did they think he could win a Heisman?

Ryan Kelly, center: Game 1, we played Wisconsin. I don't know how many yards he had that game, but I think he had a couple of touchdowns. And then you knew from that moment on it was going to be a special season. Every game he plays, he is more deserving of it each week.

Pierschbacher: I just think he's really stepped up this year. I could see the progression from him throughout the summer, just him taking that leadership role and how he's handled all of this. He could have gotten a big head and all of that, people saying he's run away with the Heisman or whatever. But he hasn't mentioned that at all. We'll hear it on the news when we're all around him and he's not saying anything.

When it comes to stating his case for the Heisman, Henry lets his play do the talking. If you want to know how valuable he is, just ask his QB.

Coker: It's awesome because when I screw up, he picks me up.

When asked after the LSU game if Henry was the best running back in college football, Coker was emphatic.

Coker: Yeah. You're damn right he is.