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Joe Henderson (photo via Rivals.com)
Tennessee is enjoying a 2-0 record heading into this weekends tilt with Oregon in Eugene and they also are enjoying a top five recruiting class.
One recruit eager to get his career started at “Rocky Top” is Joe Henderson. The 6’-3’, 225-pound defensive end, linebacker from Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland is a 3-star recruit according to ESPN Recruiting Nation.
“I feel very comfortable with Tennessee,” Henderson said. “ Cincinnati was my first scholarship offer and I just have a comfort level with Coach Jones, Coach [Mike] Elder, Coach [Steve] Strip(ling) and the rest of the coaches that I didn’t have with anyone else.
“When it came time to commit, I told my parents that I wanted to talk to my coach. I had gone to Tennessee on an unofficial visit and it just felt like a home away from home.
“When I first saw Neyland Stadium and the facilities, I was blown away. I knew Tennessee was the place for me.”
Henderson has been driven and goal-orientated since his freshman year in high school.
“I knew I wanted to play D-1 football,” Henderson explained.
“I’ve seen some bad stuff in my life and I don’t take anything for granted. I’m grateful to the University of Tennessee for my full-ride scholarship. I plan on majoring in broadcast journalism.
“I know I’ve been blessed and I know that I’m in the spotlight. I watch who I surround myself with and most of my free time is spent playing hoops with my little brother and listening to music.”
Henderson and his Shaker Heights teammates head into this weekend’s game with Cleveland Central Catholic with a 2-0 record.
“I’ve had a great year so far and I’m working hard every day to get better.” Henderson said.
“I’m playing tight-end and linebacker. I’m getting some catches, some pancake blocks, tackles and punt blocks. I’m focused on making my senior year, my best year.”
Joe also had scholarship offers from the likes of Nebraska, Arkansas, Louisville and Michigan State. Most prep prospects in Ohio dream of the Buckeye Scholarship offer. Henderson wasn’t one of them.
“I don’t worry about not getting the Ohio State offer,” said Henderson.
“You’d be surprised about how many people are happy for me and you’d be surprised at how many people don’t like O-State up here. I’m a Vol. That’s where my focus is right now.”
Henderson says he’s well aware of how well Tennessee is doing in recruiting this year and he’s in touch with all fellow commits.
“I talk to everyone. [Todd] Kelly, Jalen Hurd, Dominique Booth and the rest of the guys. A bunch of us will be in Knoxville for the Georgia game.”
I asked Henderson if he hand any funny or interesting stories he wanted to share with VolNation.
“Oh yea. Early in the process I received a letter from Ohio State giving me words of encouragement. I opened the letter and it was addressed to another recruit, Dorian Baker. I thought that was pretty funny.”
Henderson told me he hasn’t set his official visit to Tennessee yet but hasn’t ruled out the Georgia game as being his official visit weekend.
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