Photo: Mark Henderson, WR, 6-0/160, Senior, New Orleans, LA Riverdale HS
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Nobody appreciates being a Southern wide receiver more than Mark Henderson.
He’s made that journey from the bottom to a place where he’s counted on to be a contributor. Twice.
This is the power of wanting it. And this is the power of doing what it takes to make that want come true.
Henderson was a skinny walk-on in 2005. Try 150 or so pounds stretched over a 6-foot-1 frame.
These days, he’s a lean, strong 170-175 pounds thanks to intense workouts at school and at a local YMCA and is starting to put polish to his game, as the starter at the “Z” position, where he can use his speed.
What needs to be realized is Southern U. is usually stacked, as the Jaguars are again this season, with plenty of scholarship receivers.
Walk-ons don’t make this kind of climb often.
“He’s one of those exceptions, but he’s a kid that wants it,” said wide receivers coach Eric Dooley, who said Kentrell Plain, who started in 2001 and ’02, compares. “When you want something and you go after it, the sky is the limit. It’s a tribute to his work ethic.”
Henderson had seven catches for 56 yards in the first four games last season and then had his breakthrough, five catches for 74 yards in the Bayou Classic.
That was supposed to be the start of big things, right?
Well, no and then yes.
No, because Henderson was held out of spring practice by the coaching staff.
Yes, because Henderson re-doubled his efforts in the wake of the situation.
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Henderson said. “For that to happen, I think it was a good thing because it made me a better player and a better person and made me understand more real-life situations.”
Back at the bottom, he attacked summer workouts, getting stronger and faster.
“Just coming out every day in the summer, building that bond I used to have, and those guys talking up for me, trying to get me back on the team,” Henderson said. “It was all them, me working hard and the Lord blessing me. And I’m fortunate enough to be here.”
Henderson also had the memory of that Bayou Classic to push him.
“That was amazing,” Henderson said of the game that turned him from a player who thought he could do it to a player who had done it. “I knew that helped me, as far as coming back to the team, and out here.”
Earlier this preseason camp, SU head coach Pete Richardson said how pleased he was with Henderson.
“He had an incident in the spring and he worked his way out of that,” Richardson said Tuesday. “He’s an overachiever. He’s going to give you everything he has.”
Henderson, who said he’s a junior in eligibility, has developed a mantra along the way: “Always have faith and work hard.”
“I think it’s true,” Henderson said. “I’m just very fortunate, for everything, to be honest.”
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