When there is a Henderson at linebacker for the University of Maryland, big things are expected. E.J. Henderson set the bar during his senior season in 2002 when the current Minnesota Viking linebacker won the Butkus Award, given to the nation?s top linebacker, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation?s best defensive player.
Five years later, Henderson?s younger brother, Erin, is approaching his junior year with the Terps and there is much hype surrounding the player who led Maryland in tackling in 2006.
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The Football Writers Association of America named Henderson as one of 49 student-athletes on the watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the top defensive player in college football annually.
“It is still early,” Henderson said of the Nagurski watch list. “It is a honor to be included in that, but it is a long way down the road until I need to worry about that.”
The first accolade that Henderson has earned for the 2007 season was being named to the 51st Playboy All-America team. He was the first Terps player named to the team since his brother in 2002. He was in Phoenix last month for the taping of Playboy?s “College Football Preview” and the full All-America team will be announced in the magazine?s September issue.
“It was a feeling of disbelief that it was really happening,” Henderson said. “But going into theseason it is still just all hype.”
The Terps linebacker led the team with 8.8 tackles a game (114 total) and was 31st nationally. He also had two fumble recoveries and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
The sophomore season was a breakout year for Henderson, who was returning from ACL surgery. He assessed his level of health at 80 percent for 2006 and is currently at about 95 percent. With his improved health he also has a year of experience playing in big games on the college level.
“In coaching [E.J. and Erin],” Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said, “one trait they both have is an instinct to find the football. His leg is stronger than it was last year and potentially his best football is still ahead of him.”
