Introduction by Lee Brecheen
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| Michael Henry (photo property of Louisiana Football Magazine) |
May 5, 2011 - One of the most skilled kids in the state over 200 pounds is Michael Henry (6-1, 215 pounds) from Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge. Michael is more athletic than former Episcopal Knight, Van Hiles, who played at Kentucky at 6-0, 185 pounds as a Defensive Back. I put him up there with another former Episcopal player as far as skills overall, and that’s Defensive Back Jimmy Williams who went on to play for Vanderbilt in the SEC and was a high draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers. The only difference is that they’re just different types of players. What makes Michael even more interesting as a recruit is Jimmy Williams and Van Hiles, two of the most skilled players to ever come out of Episcopal, where both under 190 pounds when they signed out of high school and ran in the 4.41 range. But you look at Michael Henry and he’s 6-1, 215, and lean, and runs in the 4.7 range for the forty being some 25 pounds heavier, but can run in the 4.6 range, and looks 4.5 on a football field in full pads.
Michael plays FB, LB, and TE for the team. He starts both sides of the ball, and could make All State on either side in 2011. In the 2010 football season Michael had 93 tackles, 2 Interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 11 tackles for losses. On offense Michael was a devastating blocker and runner as a RB and a great blocker as a Tight End. I don’t have his rushing total stats, but it was very impressive considering he was the third back in the offense and when this kid got the ball (wow). He was impressive running with his speed and frame.
How many kids do you know that can throw the shot put 45 feet, discus 125 feet, and make All State in the Triple Jump at 215 pounds? Michael did that in track at a light 215 pounds for the shot put and discus, also considered heavy at 215 pounds for the Triple Jump making All State.
In the class room there are no worries, where Michael Henry has a 3.4 GPA and an ACT score of a 28. This kid is a joy to watch in person and on film. I saw this kid in 7 games in 2010 and every time I watched him play it was 100 percent effort, and the athletic ability he has to go with the effort is truly that of a DI player. He is not getting national attention yet media wise, but I don’t care. The colleges know who he is right now, and more of them will follow suit later in the season.
My prediction for a position in college would be Outside Linebacker, because of how he runs and reads and reacts as a high school player, and he’s very tough. Michael could very easily be in the 230 pound range running a 4.65, forty in two years at a college. This is the type of kid colleges look for to play the outside Linebacker position. It’s scary to know how good his stats would be on defense if he did not have to play offense the whole game and Defense for the team. There are kids who look the part as a big time football player and then there are kids who play like a football player and that’s Michael Henry.
I hope you enjoy the interview below with talented writer Taylor Williams.
Interview by Taylor Williams
LAFM: You’re listed as an athlete; so what all positions do you play?
MH: Running back, middle linebacker, and tight end.
LAFM: And of those, which do you think you’ll be primarily recruited for?
MH: Probably middle linebacker. As far as playing running back and middle linebacker, I enjoy them both, but as far as the team goes, I help the team more as a linebacker. But it’s possible I could be doing a little running back play too.
LAFM: When did you start playing, and what do you liked most about it?
MH: I was six years old when I started playing; there’s so much I’ve always liked about it. Everything from running the ball to tackling people to the fans, the team bond that we have; all that combined.
LAFM: Has football always been a big part of your family?
MH: Yes, my dad’s a big football fan; he played in high school. My uncle went to East Carolina to play football and he’s a big fan; everybody from my mom to my grandpa in my family is a football fan.
LAFM: That’s a little ways away. Does your family hail from Louisiana?
MH: I was born in South Carolina, then moved to Tennessee, and then New York, but I’ve been here since I was about three years old.
LAFM: What teams did you grow up rooting for?
MH: The Cowboys have always been my favorite football team, Emmitt Smith; you know he’s my favorite player. And LSU has always been my favorite college team.
LAFM: How important is it to stay close to home?
MH: I would definitely be willing to sacrifice it to go out of state. The closer is obviously the better cause family and friends can come watch me play, but as far as it being a main priority, it’s not at the top.
LAFM: What would you cite as your biggest strengths and weaknesses on the field?
MH: My biggest strength is my ability to recognize a play and react to it. I play real aggressive and real fast and react as quickly as I can. As far as my weaknesses, I would probably say it’s my speed; I’m not slow but I could be a lot faster.
LAFM: So what is your most recent forty time?
MH: Most recent would be 4.71.
LAFM: And your height and weight?
MH: 6-1, 215.
LAFM: Can you identify some goals for both yourself and the team next year?
MH: Next season my personal goal, because I’m an upcoming senior, is to take control and be a leader of the team, and be that leader that the rest of my teammates can look up to. As far as team goals, we’re losing 17 seniors, so a lot of people would think that’s it’s a rebuilding year, but for us, we think we can be the same if not better than last year when we lost in the second round.
LAFM: Is that the furthest your team has made it in your career?
MH: Yes, in my years at Episcopal we’ve made it to the second round twice, once last year losing to Winnfield and my freshman year losing to St. James.
LAFM: And even though you’re losing a lot of players, you still have the goal of getting to the Dome?
MH: Always.
LAFM: Can you talk a little about what its been liking playing for your head coach?
MH: The thing I like most about Coach Bourgeois is he’s convinced me that it’s the off-the-filed things that count. He’s always pushing us to make the right decision when we’re not on the field or in the locker room; he puts a big emphasis on the little things. I know most coaches try to say that little things help you in the game, and he’s taught me that when you run every sprint hard and don’t take breaks, stuff like that, it really pays off in the end.
LAFM: What are some memorable games or moments at this point in your career?
MH: My favorite I’d have to say was the University High game this year; they’re our biggest rival and it had been a 16-year drought since we’d beaten them. We went to their place, it was a defensive battle but they got two field goals from good field position off turnovers. Then we had the ball in the fourth quarter and our running back Jared Rogers made one of the best moves I’ve ever seen and scored to put is up 7-6. And the next play I caught the game-sealing interception.
LAFM: What are some schools you’ve visited and been recruited by at this point?
MH: Louisiana Tech, I just went to their junior day yesterday [April 2], ULL has invited me to their junior day, and so has Rice and Mississippi State.
LAFM: And which of those is your top choice?
MH: Well right now I’d have to say Louisiana Tech cause I went there and I really liked what they had to offer. And I really liked the coaches there.
LAFM: Have you though about what you might study in college?
MH: Actually yes, I’m big on engineering, chemical engineering. I’ve heard it’s tough, but chemistry always been one of my favorite subjects; I’m taking A.P. level in school now. LA Tech is a really good engineering school one of the top in the nation, so that’s another reason I’m really interested in that.
LAFM: Do you play any other sports, and are you being recruited for them?
MH: I play basketball to work on agility and athleticism, and I run track for conditioning and speed training. Both of them have really helped me with football.
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