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4-star EDGE Trenton Henderson transfers to Pine Forest (Fla.)

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo07/25/25Andy_Villamarzo
4-star Edge Trenton Henderson
EJ Holland/On3

When it comes to seeing big name high school football transfers out of the state of Florida, you tend to think about the southern regions more so than the north.

On Thursday, a big shakeup in the Florida Panhandle took place that may shift the balance of power, at least defensively.

Pine Forest (Fla.) High School head football coach Kerry McDowell confirmed with Rivals late Thursday night that 2026 4-star EDGE Trenton Henderson has transferred to the Eagles from Pensacola Catholic. Henderson, an LSU commitment, is the country’s No. 6 edge rusher and No. 5 overall in the Sunshine State, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

Henderson, who stands 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, is certainly in a class of his own when it comes to blue chip defensive end prospects out of the Florida Panhandle region. Last season with the Crusaders, Henderson compiled 50 total tackles, 18 went for a loss, 10 sacks, six passes batted away, a fumble recovery and fumble recovery.

The explosive defender joins a Pine Forest team that went 5-6 last season, losing in the opening round of the FHSAA’s Class 4A playoffs, 26-13 to Jacksonville Ed White.

The Eagles are a team in transition as they parted ways with Tony Carter during the off-season after two seasons. Carter went 11-11 in two years as Pine Forest’s head coach.

Pine Forest hired McDowell, who was the the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator previously at Pensacola Catholic coaching Henderson.

“The identity of this team is toughness. That’s the identity. Big, physical, and can run around you and over you. … Whether we’re in a 4-2-5, a 4-3 or a 3-3, you name it, we’re coming after you. Offensively, we won’t be vanilla, that’s for sure,” McDowell said via the Pensacola News Journal back in December.

“There are so many returning players, and it’s exciting to know what kind of players you have. Having to play against this team over the years, there’s always a true respect for anything can happen with any moment with the tremendous ability of the players who have played here. The thought that those players are now going to be in my program, it’s very exciting.”