Tennessee's John Henderson to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

The University of Tennessee has another letterman going into the College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation announced on Wednesday that Nashville native John Henderson is the newest Vol to be inducted into the hall of fame. 

Henderson played his prep career at Pearl-Coach High School in Nashville. Henderson excelled in basketball and helped the Firebirds win back to back football state title playing both defensive end and tight end. 

Henderson signed with the Vols and arrived on campus in 1998 but was not immediately eligible as a partial qualifier. Henderson’s first action came in 1999 where he had 40 tackles, 4 TFL’s and 4 sacks. 

In 2000, Henderson had a breakout campaign with 71 tackles, 12 TFL’s and 10 sacks winning the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best lineman. Henderson helped Tennessee’s defense hold opponents to just 817 yards rushing.

In 2001, a nagging ankle injury limited Henderson but he still was a finally for the Outland Trophy and a Lombardi Trophy semifinalist. 

Despite the ankle injury, Henderson had 54 tackles, 5 TFL’s and 5.5 sacks earning him all-American honors for the second straight year. 

Henderson was drafted in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars who made him the overall 9th pick in the 2002 draft. Henderson played 8 seasons with the Jaguars where he made the pro bowl twice. He played his last two seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

While Henderson enjoyed and appreciated his time in the National Football League, he has always admitted playing at Tennessee was just something different. 

“The whole time there (in Knoxville) was special,” said Henderson. “It was great to be there. I just loved the fans. They open that ‘T’ and those fans, they have 102,000 there you can’t find that in the NFL. I looked at all the NFL stadiums and there’s no comparison to Tennessee. College football is something else. It’s so fun.”

Henderson will be the 27th Tennessee member in the College Football Hall of Fame and the 24th players. Henderson joins recent inductees Eric Berry and Al Wilson.