Running back Derrick Henry made an impression on Tennessee center Ben Jones long before the Titans drafted the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama on April 29.

A former Bibb County prep standout, Jones was visiting his brother, Clay Jones, a former Alabama baseball player who was on the strength and conditioning staff for the Crimson Tide, when he first saw Henry.

"I saw him like his first day of camp at Alabama," Jones told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. "My brother's the strength coach there. So I was up talking to him, and I was like 'Who is this linebacker here?' I think he was like 17 at the time, and I was like, 'Goodness gracious. We got a grown man.' And I'm happy he's on our team."

After seeing Henry again this week when the rookie reported to the Titans, Jones said: "He looks the same -- a big guy."

Henry measured 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, and his size has made an impression on his new NFL teammates, even ones such as Jones, who is listed on the Titans' roster as 6-3 and 308 pounds.

Tennessee outside linebacker Kevin Dodd knows about Henry's size even better than Jones.

Dodd joined the Titans as a Clemson defensive end. His Tigers squared off against Henry's Crimson Tide in the CFP national championship game - the final contest of the 2015 collegiate season. Henry ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries in Alabama's 45-40 victory. Dodd had five tackles for loss, including three sacks, in the game.

"It was difficult, man," Dodd told reporters during a press conference at the Titans' Saint Thomas Sports Park on Wednesday when asked about tackling Henry. "He's a big back, and you have to wrap that man up by his legs to take him down. He is a really good back, and I'm glad he's on my team."

Dodd said he'd gotten to know Henry since the championship game. The Titans chose Dodd in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft 10 picks before they selected Henry.

"We've actually been working out together and got along pretty good," Dodd said. "I didn't think we would at first because of the national championship game. But we got along pretty good, and I'm glad he's my teammate."

FOR MORE OF AL.COM'S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Delanie Walker, Tennessee's standout tight end, normally doesn't have much time for rookies, but he's made an exception after seeing Henry.

"I have been sizing up Henry, man," Walker said. "He's a big dude. ... I feel like he's going to be a monster for this team. I usually don't talk to the rookies until they make the team, but he's one of the guys I think can help this team out. ... He's probably one of the biggest running backs I've seen."

Henry's attention-drawing size has Tennessee safety Rashad Johnson predicting the Titans will have not a thunder-and-lightning offensive attack, but a thunder-and-thunder freight train with 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray also available in the backfield.

"Derrick is going to be a great back in the league," the former Sulligent and Alabama standout told the Tennessean. "If you watch him, he's a physical guy, he's got great feet, it's hard to bring him down one-on-one. And this league is going to be great for him, because you design plays a lot of times where you have to make one-on-one tackles, one-on-one plays, and anybody going against this guy one-on-one is going to be on the rough end of it. I think he's going to win a lot of those one-on-one battles, so him and DeMarco Murray going back and forth, it's going to be a nice thunder-and-thunder combination."

The Titans start their rookie minicamp on Friday. Henry reported to Tennessee headquarters on Monday, when he signed his contract. NFL.com reported Henry's four-year deal is worth $5.4 million, including a $2.13 million signing bonus and $3.3 million in guaranteed money.

"I just want to prove myself and earn respect now that I am here," Henry told Jim Wyatt, senior writer/editor for TitansOnline.com. "It's a fresh start. I have to come from the bottom and work my way up."