John Henderson enshrined into College Football Hall of Fame

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Former Tennessee football player John Henderson was enshrined into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday at Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Henderson, a native of Nashville, Tennessee and graduate of Pearl-Cohn High School, was one of 18 First-Team All-America players and four coaches enshrined.

“Today was the day it really set in,” Henderson said. “Seeing coach ( Phillip Fulmer), Al (Wilson) and just reminiscing over how it all began, that 1998 squad really gave me all the tools to be who I am today. I love the game of football but playing it with my teammates was everything. Everything I learned in football, I bring to life.”

Henderson is the 27th Vol to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame and the third in the last five years. Of the 27 inductees, 23 were enshrined as players and four were inducted as coaches. 23 players represent the second-most among SEC programs and the seventh-most nationally.

A two-time consensus First-Team All-American (2000-01), Henderson won the 2000 Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in the nation, while finishing as a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive player.

He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2001 and a two-time First-Team All-SEC (2000-01) performer and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.

Henderson helped lead the Vols to the 2001 SEC championship game. Tennessee compiled a 28-9 record during his career. Henderson totaled 12 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss in 2000.

Henderson recorded 162 tackles, 38.5 tackles for a loss, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and seven pass breakups at Tennessee. He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Former Vol enshrined into College Football Hall of Fame

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