Drew Henson highlights

Submitted by WolverineHistorian on

Soooo...I got a request from a fan to make a tribute video to Henson.  And there was a surprisingly large amount of footage to use considering how little he played his first two years, no senior year and the fact that he missed the first 3 1/2 games his junior year because of injury. 

I have to be honest.  His laser like passes were breathtaking to watch.  And it's painful to think what he would have done had he come back in 2001.  So I apologize in advance if this is like rubbing salt to the wound.  Whether you're interested to watch or you want to send me some hate mail, I'll understand either way.

Embed after the bump:

EDIT:  On a sidenote, my old VHS tape doesn't do the game justice but that 2000 Wisconsin game at the big house has got to be one of the loudest non-rivalry games we've played at home in recent memory.  It's a low scoring game but the crowd is pumped and extremely loud from the beginning to end.  

dipshit moron

November 11th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^

those teams had so much talent you wonder how they ever lost. brady and henson on the same team? hard to believe.

In reply to by dipshit moron

mjv

November 11th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^

Henson was fantastic.  A-Train and the receivers were excellent.  But the strength of that team was the offensive line

LT  Jeff Backus
LG  Steve Hutchinson
C  David Brandt
RG  Jonathan Goodwin
RT  Maurice Williams

I think everyone other than Brandt played as rookies in the NFL the next season.

UofM-StL

November 11th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^

Started too, for the Redskins I believe. He was undrafted, made a name for himself as a rookie, and retired after a year or two to teach kids with learning disabilities if I remember correctly. The only one of those 5 starters who didn't start in the NFL the very next year was Goodwin, because he was a junior and came back to Michigan for his last season. Greatest collegiate offensive line ever assembled, no question.

TrueMaize

November 11th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^

Watching him throw such a tight ball on a rope time after time... With perfect placement. Ahhhh the good old days when receivers were hit deep in stride. Don't get me wrong I'm most grateful to have had Rudock this year... But man, I can't wait to have that again every Saturday.

mjv

November 11th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^

This one is right there with the Wheatley and Woodson tributes for me.  The kid was flat-out special.  A once-in-a-generation type of talent at QB.

Swayze Howell Sheen

November 11th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^

don't remember much from the 2000 season (first kid was born then) but wow do I remember that gutsy 4th and goal naked bootleg to clinch the game against osu. Carr had some guts to make that call, and how beautifully executed it was...

KC Wolve

November 11th, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^

That was fun to watch. I remember being a Freshman at KSU around the time the SI article came out. He was awesome and could have been a monster had he stayed. I mean seriously. Michigan had this kid and Tom fucking Brady to choose from. What an awesome time.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

BlueinLansing

November 11th, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^

still holds several MHSAA baseball records.  Incredible athlete.

 

Drew is still the career leader in all these categories

Hits 258

Doubles 68

Homeruns 70  (next closest is 47)

Grand Slams 10  (next closest is 4)

RBI's 290  (next closest 203)

walks drawn  129

 

He hit .527 for his career, at the time of his graduation in 1998 that was 2nd in the state.  He also recorded 40 wins as a pitcher which was 3rd most at the time.

BlueinLansing

November 11th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^

ran cross country and played basketball

 

Jeter's high school stats

 

Jeter really blossomed after his Sophomore year, Henson was really good even as a Freshmen.  This writeup from Baseball America really shows Henson's legend began with the first pitch he saw in high school

https://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/henson0125.html

CoverZero

November 11th, 2015 at 3:14 PM ^

Henson's dad wanted to be an agent, and was very involved in Drew making the decision to go to baseball.  I read somewhere recently that their relationship has been strained in the years since then.  I thought the decision to leave Michigan was a very bad one at the time.  Had he stayed and been a Heisman candidate and certain NFL 1st rounder...., he could have had even more leverage with the Yankees.   Had he stayed, he could have named his price with Steinbrenner, or go to the NFL and name his price there.  He could have even chosen where he wanted to play, like Eli did.  By leaving, he blew both of those opportunities.

He was only out of football for 3 years, but when he tried to come back with the Cowboys in 03-04ish, he was a very different QB.  Rusty, unsure of himself, not as mobile and not as accurate.  His football skills had diminished quickly.  It did not help that he had to deal with Bill Parcells in addition.

All those highlights....Brady was still the better of the two QBs in Drews first 2 years.

mjv

November 11th, 2015 at 5:33 PM ^

Navarre was a throw in recruit.  It also hurt that he was thrown into the mix as a RS Soph.  The losses to Oregon and Washington hurt his legacy early.  

And he was a clear step down from what had been there before him.  That is what really hurt him.  The QBs leading up to Navarre:

Grbac --> Collins --> Griese --> Brady --> Henson

The first four of those guys had meaningful NFL careers.  And Henson was the best of the five.  Navarre was such a downgrade that he was doomed before his first snap.  The mentality of those Carr era teams was to try to run the ball and then rely upon a future Pro Bowl QB to bail out the drive.  It wasn't a recipe that Navarre was going to succeed in.

CoverZero

November 11th, 2015 at 9:16 PM ^

Navarre does not get enough credit for the good things he did do.  He improved a lot and by his senior season was considered pretty good.  He even played in a few games in the NFL for the Cardinals, including one game where he started against the Lions. 

gutsnglue

November 11th, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^

The pass to Marquise Walker (6:15 mark) against Wisconsin was right on the money over two defenders. Throws like that is why he would've been the #1 overall pick in the NFL.

Mgodiscgolfer

November 11th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^

Beating OSU like they were a bump on the way of the Rose Bowl.  Having tall recievers who could get deep in a hurry. A NFL QB throwing the passes to these NFL tall recievers who would get open and could catch the ball in a crowd. Marcus Knight, David Terrell on the same team, are you kidding me? Sure made 4 plays and a cloud of dust like back in Bo's day seem prehistoric. Michigan was a passing threat and could win games without running the ball effectively but that would'nt  be Michigan style without a run game so they had guards like Hutchinson, tackles like Maurice Williams, and centers like David Brant. Tailbacks yeah that was a loaded position also, you seen the A-train picking up blitzes hitting them so hard it could  make the linebacker think twice about the next blitz..........Those were the days lets see what tomorrow can bring....Go Blue! 

Edit : Marquise Walker and David Terrell on the same team

OC Alum91

November 11th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^

great clips.

With some of these old videos, you look at the big shoulder pads, the players look slow....you wonder if the older players could play with today's players in today's game.

With Henson's tape, the tight spiral passes are so lazer sharp, you just know he would do well with today's game.  Especially with his size and mobility.

Also, Michigan stadium not known for being loud, but some of those clips the stadium noise rocks.

Michigan4Harbaugh

November 11th, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^

Henson. Wow, I forgot how good that guy was. Lots of good memories from that video. Would have loved to see what he could have done in 2001 if he came back.

Mr. Flood

November 11th, 2015 at 11:45 PM ^

for my annual pilgrimage back to Michigan from California. I always went with my father. I remember Henson's TD pass to Terrell (at 7:40 in the tribute). Henson running to the right and throwing back across his body to Terrell in the end zone was amazing. I always thought that was one of the strongest throws I ever saw.