BAMBERG -- Justin Henderson vividly remembers the trips he took with his father to Williams-Brice Stadium as a young boy.

Allen Henderson played defensive tackle for Wofford College in the late 80s, and he wanted his son to have the same type opportunity. Only, Allen wanted better for Justin.

“It was his dream for me to play college football,” Justin Henderson said. “I remember sitting up in the stands for the Carolina games and watching the teams play and just wishing I could be out there so bad.”

Justin Henderson’s wish was a longshot four years ago when he made his way into the weight room at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. At the time, he was a 190-pound kid who could barely bench the bar. But, the wish was also Henderson’s drive, so he kept coming back to the weight room. As his senior season quickly approaches, Henderson is a 6-4, 240 pound defensive end with a bench press of around 350 pounds. He was also the first commitment in the University of Kentucky’s 2010 Recruiting Class.

“It never could have happened anywhere else,” Henderson said. “Coach (Corey) Crosby pushed me to the limit. He is always on me. He calls me at night time and does every single thing possible. He has made me better. He calls me and A.J. (Cann) to come lift weights on off days. I don’t see any way possible if I was at another school that I would be where I’m at now.”

To clarify, where Henderson is at is right in the middle of the time of his life. As a freshman scout team player, he watched in awe as Bamberg-Ehrhardt teammate and current Clemson star Da’Quan Bowers bullied fellow Red Raiders in practice. In fact, Henderson was the victim of a few Bowers’ blows, it seemed, everyday. Now, he is in the midst of continuing the proud tradition, following Bowers and current Clemson star Ricky Sapp, as big-time defensive ends from B-E.

“It’s an honor to be mentioned even close to the same way they were with the great things they have done in Bamberg and Clemson,” he said. “It makes me proud of the great things I’ve accomplished. I’m thankful my coaches put me out there where I’m at.”

But, even after a junior season in which he posted 64 tackles, 17 for loss and 10 sacks, it didn’t hit Henderson that he may have similar opportunities as the “Bamgberg Bookends” until December.

“Coach (Kevin) Crosby called me into his office and he was like, ‘I want you to make a list of 10 teams you would be interested in,” he said. “I was like, ‘D1 teams?’” I didn’t have much confidence and he was like, ‘yeah, D1 teams.’ So, I made out a list of teams. Clemson and Carolina were two of them and Kentucky was on my list. (Crosby) sent out my film and they just started jumping on me.”

Kentucky wanted Henderson badly. So did Colorado and Vanderbilt. In the end,

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the SEC,” he said. “Kentucky and Vanderbilt were my only two SEC offers, and I have family (an aunt, uncle and a cousin) that lives 10 minutes away from (Kentuck). So, I have places to go. I didn’t have in-state offers so that was out. I like the coaching staff a lot. Joker Phillips was my recruiting coach and he is the head coach in waiting. That’s always a good thing when the guy that recruits you is in line to be the next head coach.”

A week ago, Henderson and his family took a trip to the Kentucky campus.

The young man is not afraid to say that he doesn’t “come from the richest of families,” and that without a scholarship, college would have been tough. But, because of those father-son trips years ago, the wish created a desire that has helped make college and college football a reality for Justin Henderson.

“We got off the airplane and went straight to the University Kentucky and met with coach Phillips,” he said. “I got to take my whole family around and show them the campus. They just got to meet all the coaches. The rest of the trip was good. We got to see a little bit around Kentucky.

“This is like a dream come true,” he added. “I worked so hard. It’s like everyday, in and out of the weight room and practicing hard ... the coaches had a lot to do with this. It was crazy to hear coach (Kevin) Crosby say there were some teams looking at me. Then, it seemed like the next day, I had three offers and it all just escalated from there.”

n T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

 

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