Erin Henderson
Encyclopedia
Erin Henderson is an American football
linebacker
for the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Maryland
.
in Harford County, Maryland
and won the first state football championship in school history.
.
Henderson entered his redshirt sophomore year at Maryland and started 12 of 13 games at linebacker. He earned second team all-ACC honors while finishing 2nd in the conference in total tackles.
Henderson recorded 133 tackles, a forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries, and was a semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus Award
, which went to James Laurinaitis
of Ohio State
. He led a 6–6 Maryland squad to the 2007 Emerald Bowl
, where they lost to Oregon State
.
Henderson played in two regular season games for the Vikings in 2009, recording four tackles. He was suspended four games by the NFL on December 15, 2009 for violation of league's banned substances policy. Henderson won the starting job at weak-side linebacker at the start of the 2011 season and has been a valuable player on the Viking's defense.
. They both played college football
at Maryland
.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
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...
. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. 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...
at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Early years
Henderson was born and raised in Aberdeen, Maryland. He played quarterback and linebacker for Aberdeen High SchoolAberdeen High School (Aberdeen, Maryland)
Aberdeen High School is a public high school in Aberdeen, Maryland.The school is a part of the Harford County Public Schools.-Science and Mathematics Academy:...
in Harford County, Maryland
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
and won the first state football championship in school history.
College career
After redshirting his freshman year with the Terrapins, Henderson missed the entire 2005 season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligamentAnterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
.
Henderson entered his redshirt sophomore year at Maryland and started 12 of 13 games at linebacker. He earned second team all-ACC honors while finishing 2nd in the conference in total tackles.
Henderson recorded 133 tackles, a forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries, and was a semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus Award
Dick Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
, which went to James Laurinaitis
James Laurinaitis
-St. Louis Rams:Laurinaitis was drafted in the 2nd round 35th overall by the St. Louis Rams. On July 29, 2009, he signed a four-year, $5.1 million contract. The deal contained $3.3 million guaranteed...
of Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. He led a 6–6 Maryland squad to the 2007 Emerald Bowl
2007 Emerald Bowl
The 2007 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, with the Atlantic Coast Conference represented by the Maryland Terrapins against the Oregon State Beavers, representing the Pacific-10...
, where they lost to Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
.
Minnesota Vikings
During his rookie year, he played in 10 games and finished with 15 tackles. He mostly played on special teams and saw limited time on defense.Henderson played in two regular season games for the Vikings in 2009, recording four tackles. He was suspended four games by the NFL on December 15, 2009 for violation of league's banned substances policy. Henderson won the starting job at weak-side linebacker at the start of the 2011 season and has been a valuable player on the Viking's defense.
Personal life
He is the younger brother of fellow Vikings linebacker E. J. HendersonE. J. Henderson
Eric N. "E.J." Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland....
. They both 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...
at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.