Memphis Tigers head coach Ryan Silverfield was busy on national signing day as the Tigers brought in the 3rd best high school recruiting class in the AAC. This class was headlined by Keonde Henry, a four star wide receiver from Lake Henry, Texas. Henry, the fifth best Tiger recruit of all time, is the 293rd player and 47th receiver in the 2024 class according to 247Sports composite rankings. Here’s the rundown on Henry.
Why Signing Henry is Important
The best recruit of the Silverfield era is important not just because what he will bring to the field, but because it shows Memphis can compete off the field. Henry was sought after by an SEC school, an ACC school, a Big 12 school, and three big 10 schools. If Silverfield can make stealing recruits from power four programs the standard, the future is bright in Memphis.
Scouting Report:
Sophomore Year: 24 catches, 432 yards, 4 touchdowns
Junior Year: 30 catches, 626 yards, 5 touchdowns
Senior Year: 56 catches, 970 yards, 10 touchdowns
After scouring Hudl for a couple of Henry’s highlight reels, here is what stuck out to me on tape.
-Track Speed, Henry posted an impressive 11.21 100 meter sprint and it shows on the gridiron. His speed creates an instant vertical threat with his ability to get behind the defense
–Pro Frame, Listed at 6’3, 185, Henry has good size with room to gain 10-30 pounds in the weight room. His long, lanky arms allow him to meet the ball before smaller defenders.
–Deep Ball Ability, Often times in high school when a quarterback has a stud receiver, targets come at a premium for anyone besides said wideout. This was no different for Lake Dallas last year. This aggressive mentality from Henry’s QB Cade Bortnem gave great opportunities for Henry to showcase his bag of tricks when it came to the deep ball. It starts with his excellent ball tracking ability and ends with his competitiveness at the catch. Henry routinely made big plays highlighted by him high pointing the ball.
–Run After Catch, Henry’s quick feet make him dangerous in space. He turns simple screen and curl routes into big gains but is especially dangerous on crossing routes due to him already having built up speed.
–High IQ, Henry’s ability to settle into a zone on a sit down route is excellent. My favorite plays of his are when he finds the soft spot between the linebacker and safety and settles in for an easy first down.
The Concern With Henry
According to 247Sports, Henry committed to Texas Tech in December of 2022. In June of 2023 he Committed to Boston College, soon decommitted, and later committed to Purdue just to decommit. Luckily, come national signing day Henry’s heart was set on Memphis. In the era of the transfer portal, players often jump ship at the first sight of adversity. For someone so indecisive in his high school recruitment, let’s hope that trend does not continue for Keonde Henry
