Reebok Top 25 Most Dynamic Athletes: Cole Henderson

A defensive specialist with great speed, Cole Henderson was a good enough basketball player as a freshman to play for the sophomore team at Pekin (Ill.).

However, his entire football and track career took a huge leap forward when he gave up basketball after ninth grade. That enabled him to lift weights the past two years and gain much-needed weight and strength during the months that he previously had devoted to basketball.

Football coach Doug Nutter told MaxPreps, "Going into his sophomore year, he didn't have a lot of weight on him - 145 or 150 pounds - so we didn't throw him in until the third game. From then on he was making plays right and left for us."

Henderson, a safety and wide receiver, left his mark in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs when he led the Dragons with 12 tackles in a victory over Moline, which had a talented 230-pound fullback. He estimates that he brought the big guy down at least five times.



Following a junior year in which he amassed 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns while making 67 tackles and three interceptions, he still was a lightweight. So he hit the weights extra hard and gained 20 pounds of muscle, putting him at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds entering the track season.

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Henderson recalled, "At the end of weight lifting, coach Nutter talked to me about goals. I told him I was really scared that I wasn't going to be as fast, be real sluggish at the beginning of track season. I started off panicked."

However, the Pekin star had nothing to fear because he won indoor state titles in the 60- and 200-meter dashes and lost the long jump crown by a mere one-quarter of an inch. Outdoors, he captured three Class 3A state titles, scoring all 31 of the Dragons' points for a third-place team finish.

"It definitely opened up my eyes," Henderson said.

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Hometown: Pekin, Ill.

School: Pekin High School (enrollment 2,000)



Class: 2014

Sports: Football and track

College plans: Has offers from Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Northern Illinois and University of Illinois (track only). The University of Florida also is interested.

Favorite athlete: "Usain Bolt, because he's the fastest man in the world. His work ethic is really good," Henderson said.

Coach speak: "He's got explosiveness with speed. He also has unbelievable jumping ability and soft hands, just like glue. He's a great character kid, a leader. He has a great personality. The kid works hard - everything he does is 100 percent. He's put himself in a situation where he can choose (between two sports). We may see him on TV later on down the road."
- Head football coach Doug Nutter
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Asked how he developed his speed as a youngster, Henderson replied, "I come from a big family with a lot of brothers. They made me run around and get stuff. If a ball went over the fence, I had to go get it."

Some of his other football exploits include:

* He has become famous for one-handed receptions and even made a one-handed interception when the opponent attempted to throw a pass out of bounds.



* He runs 40 yards in a very quick 4.35 seconds, has a 36-inch vertical jump and bench presses 285 pounds.

* As a junior he caught 42 passes for 715 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 46 solo and 21 assisted tackles, three interceptions and three recovered fumbles.

* Henderson calls his many superstitions "routines." In the locker room before football games, coach Nutter related, "I always ask the players how they slept the night before. The whole team knows we have to call on him first." Henderson claims, "I can always detail how I slept."
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The Pekin star was somewhat shocked this spring when a parent introduced him to his 6-year-old son, who had been watching him closely during a track meet. "That never happened to me before," he admitted. "I never thought that what I was doing could fire up kids. It started to make me think. Since I've always had a positive attitude, I'll try to help out little kids (as a role model)."

His track accolades include:

* He won five Class 3A (largest class) state championships as a junior: indoor 60- and 200-meter dashes; outdoor 100-, and 200-meter dashes plus the long jump.

* He holds or shares nine school records: indoor 60 (6.85), 200 (22.55) and long jump (23-2 1/4), outdoor 100 (10.51), 200 (21.50), 400 (48.72) and long jump (23-11 1/4) plus 4x100 (42.47) and 4x200 (1:30.64) relays.



* He scored all 31 points in state meet during the spring, enabling the Dragons to place third and win their first track team trophy. He was rewarded by being asked to throw out the first pitch for a recent Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball game.

* He found out he could overcome his superstitious nature. Good friend Mathew McClanahan was not allowed to hold his blocks due to state rules (the holder had to be appointed), which Henderson termed "definitely Earth-shattering." Still, he won three championships.

* Because he finished ninth in the 400, Henderson is more determined than ever to leave his mark on the 2014 state meet. He explained, "It gives me the motivation to come back next year and win four events."

Coach speak: "He struggled through a nagging injury (lower back muscle spasm) in the middle of the season and ended up peaking at the right time. He's so smooth, glides and is so effortless. What sets him apart is that he doesn't gloat or showboat. He's probably the best all-around athlete to ever come out of Pekin, Ill. Our sprint coach (Eric McCann) says this kid can make a living out of running."
- Track coach Marshall Tucker
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