Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 34 Days (Thomas Henderson)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Written By T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#34

Hang in there everybody…there are only 34 days until the 2017 college football season kicks off and the Indiana Hoosiers take the field at Memorial Stadium to battle the Ohio State Buckeyes! Today’s Hoosier Huddle Countdown article focuses on a walk-on defensive back that stood out on the practice squad before making his collegiate debut in 2016: Thomas Henderson.

Thomas Henderson (Redshirt Sophomore)

-Height: 5’9”

-Weight: 170 lbs.

-Hometown: Bloomington, IN/Bloomington South High School

-Position: DB

Indiana University and the city of Bloomington are intricately woven together. The city is made better by the university in the heart of it and the university is made better by the city surrounding its beautiful campus. The two local high schools, Bloomington South and Bloomington North, have produced countless athletes that have stayed “home” and gone on to star at IU. While Thomas Henderson won’t reach the level of stardom achieved by the likes of Jared Jeffries or even Ben Chappell, the redshirt sophomore defensive back is working hard and there is reason to believe people will know his name before his career is over.

Henderson played defensive back for Mo Moriarity at Bloomington South, captaining the Panthers to sectional and regional titles during his senior season. He was a two-time all-area player and a one-time all-conference honoree. He finished his career with nearly 150 tackles and eight interceptions along with a pair of defensive touchdowns. Henderson chose to walk-on at IU prior to the 2015 season. During his redshirt season, he was named the scout team player of the week a remarkable four separate times, by far the most on the squad. He was also on the scout team during the 2016 season and he yet again impressed the coaches, earning two scout team player of the week honors. His hard work paid off as he was given his collegiate debut in the Foster Farms Bowl against Utah. While he didn’t get on the stat sheet, it is telling that Tom Allen gave him an appearance in his first game as IU’s head coach.

The Hoosiers have recruited very well in the secondary and they enter 2017 with perhaps the best assembly of talent they’ve had there since at least the Bill Mallory heydays. However, Thomas Henderson has repeatedly impressed coaches and Tom Allen liked him enough to have him see the field in his only game at the helm thus far. I don’t expect for Henderson to be a regular member of the cornerback rotation in 2017 but it would not surprise me at all to see him get some occasional snaps while he continues to develop on the scout team.