Chas Henry
Encyclopedia
Chas Henry is an American football
punter for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He played college football
for the University of Florida
, and was recognized as the best college punter as a senior. The Eagles signed Henry as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
. He attended East Paulding High School
in Dallas, and he played high school football
for the East Paulding Raiders. Henry holds the school records for longest punt (66 yards) and longest field goal (52 yards), and led the Raiders to the state semi-finals as quarterback by throwing for seventeen touchdowns and more than 1,700 yards.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Urban Meyer
's Florida Gators football
team from 2007
to 2010
. As a sophomore in 2008
, Henry was a member of the Gators' BCS National Championship
team.
During his senior season in 2010, Henry punted fifty times for 2,253 yards (a 45.1-yard average), including his season-best punt of seventy-five yards. Sixteen of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line and only thirteen were fair caught. Memorably, Henry also assumed place-kicking duties when starting place kicker Caleb Sturgis was injured, and kicked the 37-yard, game-winning field goal in the Gators' 34–31 overtime victory over the rival Georgia Bulldogs
while several Bulldog assistant coaches attempted to distract him from the sideline.
Following the 2010 regular season, Henry won the Ray Guy Award
, recognizing the best punter in college football. He was one of three finalists for the award in 2009, and one of ten semifinalists in 2008.
, Henry signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles
. He opened the 2011 NFL season
as the Eagles' starting punter.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and was recognized as the best college punter as a senior. The Eagles signed Henry as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Early years
Henry was born in Dallas, GeorgiaDallas, Georgia
Dallas is a city in and the county seat of Paulding County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,544. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-History:...
. He attended East Paulding High School
East Paulding High School
East Paulding High School is a public secondary school located in Dallas, Georgia, U.S.EPHS was established in 1991 and is nestled in one of the country's fastest growing counties...
in Dallas, and he played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the East Paulding Raiders. Henry holds the school records for longest punt (66 yards) and longest field goal (52 yards), and led the Raiders to the state semi-finals as quarterback by throwing for seventeen touchdowns and more than 1,700 yards.
College career
Henry received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
's Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 2007
2007 Florida Gators football team
The 2007 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2007 college football season...
to 2010
2010 Florida Gators football team
The 2010 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2010 college football season...
. As a sophomore in 2008
2008 Florida Gators football team
The 2008 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2008 college football season...
, Henry was a member of the Gators' BCS National Championship
2009 BCS National Championship Game
The 2009 BCS National Championship Game, sponsored by FedEx, was an American football game played at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 8, 2009. It was the national championship game for the 2008 college football season, and featured the second-ranked Florida Gators against the...
team.
During his senior season in 2010, Henry punted fifty times for 2,253 yards (a 45.1-yard average), including his season-best punt of seventy-five yards. Sixteen of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line and only thirteen were fair caught. Memorably, Henry also assumed place-kicking duties when starting place kicker Caleb Sturgis was injured, and kicked the 37-yard, game-winning field goal in the Gators' 34–31 overtime victory over the rival Georgia Bulldogs
2010 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2010 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the University of Georgia in 2010. The Bulldogs competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference . This was the Georgia Bulldogs' tenth season for head coach Mark Richt...
while several Bulldog assistant coaches attempted to distract him from the sideline.
Following the 2010 regular season, Henry won the Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
, recognizing the best punter in college football. He was one of three finalists for the award in 2009, and one of ten semifinalists in 2008.
Philadelphia Eagles
After going undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
, Henry signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He opened the 2011 NFL season
2011 NFL season
The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on...
as the Eagles' starting punter.
See also
- 2008 Florida Gators football team2008 Florida Gators football teamThe 2008 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2008 college football season...
- 2010 College Football All-America Team2010 College Football All-America TeamThe College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original All-America team was the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and Walter Camp...
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of University of Florida alumni