Harper's Henderson joins E. Michigan
Harper College tight end/defensive lineman Devin Henderson has signed a national letter of intent with Eastern Michigan.
As a high school senior, Henderson earned all-state honors. He chose the Eagles over two other Mid-American Conference schools, Akron and Bowling Green.
"It was a place I could call home," Henderson said of Eastern Michigan.
Several football championship series schools also made contact with Henderson before backing off late in the recruiting process. Eastern Michigan sent 1997 Glenbrook South graduate and current Eagles offensive line coach Kurt Anderson to recruit Henderson, and it sounds like he'll quickly fit into the team's plans.
"They expect me to be playing (this fall)," Henderson said.
Henderson was a starter in 2008 for the Hawks but suffered a torn MCL late in the season. He redshirted the 2009 season for academic reasons.
"Devin really struggled academically his freshman year in 2008, but he really focused on his academics and got back on track," Harper coach Eric Waldstein explained via e-mail.
Henderson now carries a 2.9 GPA and called his stint as an inactive player a "growing-up period that made me more attentive to my school work."
"Thanks to my family and the (Harper) coaching staff and anyone who stood behind me," Henderson said.
Last fall, Henderson played on both sides of the ball for Harper.
"Devin's ability is unlimited," Waldstein said.
The Eagles recruited Henderson to be a pass-rushing specialist at defensive end in their 4-3 scheme.
"I'm a team player anything that helps the team, I'm going to do," Henderson said.
Ron English will make his head-coaching debut at Eastern Michigan in the fall. He'd been the defensive coordinator at Louisville since 2008. Eastern Michigan finished sixth in the MAC West last season at 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the division.
Waldstein thinks Henderson is the kind of player who could help turns things around for the Eagles.
"I think he will be a dominant player in the MAC," Waldstein said.