Catching up with Under Armour All-America DE K.J. Henry
September 28, 2017
South Carolina recruiting efforts
As he’s done with the other top targets on South Carolina’s 2018 recruiting board, Muschamp has taken the reins on the recruitment of 5-star defensive end K.J. Henry.
During the Under Armour All-America tour stop Wednesday at West Forsyth High School (Clemmons, N.C.), Henry told SEC Country that Muschamp is recruiting him hard.
“That’s definitely been a guy, whenever I want to talk to someone there, he’s the one I’m calling, so I think our relationship is very well,” Henry said. “To have that relationship with the head coach, that speaks volumes.”
Henry added, “Just the mere fact of keeping in contact with me. There’s not a lot of times where you see the head coach that wants to be so involved in the recruit’s life, so I know that he’s a very busy man, and so for him to take time out of his day — just to check in on me as much as he does, that speaks a lot.”
So far, Muschamp is the only coach who’s stopped by to see him play this season.
“That’s a prime example, like I said. It was just him. He was on the sideline. He definitely watched me. He stayed the whole game,” Henry said. “If I remember correctly, it might have been a blowout, I’m not sure, but that speaks to it, just him being the only one, being a head coach and knowing he has a busy schedule, to come and watch me means a lot.”
Mom’s take
Before her son emerged as a highly touted high school football recruit, Nicole Henry was already familiar with the college football recruiting process, at least one side of it.
Her husband, Keith Henry, who’s now the running backs coach at Charlotte, has made several stops since breaking into the business in 1990, including Gardner-Webb; Charleston Southern; North Carolina A&T; Ohio, where K.J. was born; Wake Forest and Catawba.
“With a college football-coaching husband, to see the recruiting process, being on that side of the fence, it’s always been interesting,” Nicole said. “But I guess I never really saw the in-depth [part] of it until they really starting recruiting K.J. The magnitude of mail and the attention when we go to games and stuff, that’s been a little different, so it’s been interesting, to say the least. And now that we’re on recruiting trips, not the one hosting recruiting trips, it’s always a little different.”
Muschamp, she added, has been “phenomenal.”
“He’s probably the No. 1 coach who has been recruiting K.J. himself,” Nicole said. “Is that a plus or a minus? Definitely a plus, but the fact that he has taken it upon himself to lead the campaign, that’s definitely a difference.
“They are building some phenomenal facilities, as is everyone. … South Carolina is not too far from home as well and really like the staff there.”
Coachspeak
Adrian Snow has coached two defensive linemen at West Forsyth High School who have gone on to play for Power 5 programs.
Jalen Dalton, a former Under Armour All-American, is a junior at North Carolina. Alex McCalister, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, signed to play for Muschamp at Florida.
“[Muschamp has] done a good job and he’ll continue to do so,” Snow said. “If they just leave him alone, let him get things straight, he’ll do it there and he’ll be special there, too.”
September 28, 2017
South Carolina recruiting efforts
As he’s done with the other top targets on South Carolina’s 2018 recruiting board, Muschamp has taken the reins on the recruitment of 5-star defensive end K.J. Henry.
During the Under Armour All-America tour stop Wednesday at West Forsyth High School (Clemmons, N.C.), Henry told SEC Country that Muschamp is recruiting him hard.
“That’s definitely been a guy, whenever I want to talk to someone there, he’s the one I’m calling, so I think our relationship is very well,” Henry said. “To have that relationship with the head coach, that speaks volumes.”
Henry added, “Just the mere fact of keeping in contact with me. There’s not a lot of times where you see the head coach that wants to be so involved in the recruit’s life, so I know that he’s a very busy man, and so for him to take time out of his day — just to check in on me as much as he does, that speaks a lot.”
So far, Muschamp is the only coach who’s stopped by to see him play this season.
“That’s a prime example, like I said. It was just him. He was on the sideline. He definitely watched me. He stayed the whole game,” Henry said. “If I remember correctly, it might have been a blowout, I’m not sure, but that speaks to it, just him being the only one, being a head coach and knowing he has a busy schedule, to come and watch me means a lot.”
Mom’s take
Before her son emerged as a highly touted high school football recruit, Nicole Henry was already familiar with the college football recruiting process, at least one side of it.
Her husband, Keith Henry, who’s now the running backs coach at Charlotte, has made several stops since breaking into the business in 1990, including Gardner-Webb; Charleston Southern; North Carolina A&T; Ohio, where K.J. was born; Wake Forest and Catawba.
“With a college football-coaching husband, to see the recruiting process, being on that side of the fence, it’s always been interesting,” Nicole said. “But I guess I never really saw the in-depth [part] of it until they really starting recruiting K.J. The magnitude of mail and the attention when we go to games and stuff, that’s been a little different, so it’s been interesting, to say the least. And now that we’re on recruiting trips, not the one hosting recruiting trips, it’s always a little different.”
Muschamp, she added, has been “phenomenal.”
“He’s probably the No. 1 coach who has been recruiting K.J. himself,” Nicole said. “Is that a plus or a minus? Definitely a plus, but the fact that he has taken it upon himself to lead the campaign, that’s definitely a difference.
“They are building some phenomenal facilities, as is everyone. … South Carolina is not too far from home as well and really like the staff there.”
Coachspeak
Adrian Snow has coached two defensive linemen at West Forsyth High School who have gone on to play for Power 5 programs.
Jalen Dalton, a former Under Armour All-American, is a junior at North Carolina. Alex McCalister, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, signed to play for Muschamp at Florida.
“[Muschamp has] done a good job and he’ll continue to do so,” Snow said. “If they just leave him alone, let him get things straight, he’ll do it there and he’ll be special there, too.”