Maryville, Tenn. (WATE) Saturday marks both Senior Day and the regular-season finale for the Maryville College football team. For one senior in particular, the moment represents the culmination of a college career that has reshaped him on and off the field, turning him into one of the most accomplished players ever to wear the Scots orange and garnet.
Grant Henderson, a fifth-year senior, arrived in East Tennessee in 2021. Undersized and under-recruited, he joined Maryville after serving primarily as a special teams player at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, one of the nations top prep football programs.
Being from Miami, we see football a little different, Henderson said. I came out here with an aggressive attitude, like, yeah, Im going to make this mine.
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He did exactly that. Henderson earned a starting job as a freshman and emerged as one of the defenses leaders during his sophomore season as a lockdown cornerback. Heading into his junior year, he appeared poised to become one of the best players in the conference, until tragedy struck.
I lost my sister, my niece and nephew in a car accident, Henderson said. That kind of opened my eyes to life. Id never seen death that close.
Six months later, football, his escape, was taken away from him as well. He tore his ACL on the first day of fall camp.
I went through two major heartbreaks, he said. I could have easily gone home. Nobody would have said anything because those were valid excuses.
But Henderson didnt make excuses. Instead, he committed himself to recovery, using his lost junior season as fuel to return stronger than ever.
I put in so much work for this, he said. I was on the field working out, tears falling from my eyes and I didnt even know why. To see my hard work pay off, it made me feel good.
His work paid off. Hendersons comeback season defied expectations. The 58 cornerback played far bigger than his frame, delivering one of the best individual performances in program history.
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Maryville finished 9-2, with their first NCAA playoff win ever, and Henderson was named a First-Team All-American.
Weve not had a whole lot of consensus First-Team All-Americans, and he was one, said head coach Ben Fox said. Hes had another great year this year. Hes a special player.
I never thought All-American would be something I accomplished, Henderson added. I never even thought about it until it happened. Even after the season, I didnt think about All-American until the coaches came up to me to let me know.
Now, in his final season with the Scots, his 51 tackles leads the team through nine games. Still, hes pushing himself every day.
I dont want to get stuck in the moment, he said. I want to keep going and see if I can get another All-American.
Henderson hopes to continue his football career after college, but as he prepares for what could be his final game as a Scot, one thing is certain: hell leave everything he has on the field.
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Maryville will host Trinity University (TX) with a noon kickoff on Saturday, November 15.
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