As Calumet senior lineman Jeremiah Henderson gets more settled in his second season in the program, his presence becomes more unsettling for opposing teams.
The 6-foot-1, 270-pound Henderson, who attended Hobart for his first two years of high school, is stronger, faster and better prepared.
“I’m way more comfortable because I know what I’m getting into,” he said. “I had the whole offseason — the spring, the summer — to get used to everything.”
Henderson had no such luxury last season, when his first practice with Calumet came on the first day of school. He completed the requisite number of sessions to be able to play in the second game of the season.
Henderson made an immediate impression.
“He was such a big body, and all of the kids came up running to me, saying, ‘Coach, coach, coach, we have to get this guy to play football,’” second-year Calumet coach Charles Salary said. “He came out for the team, and instantly when he was available to play, he started for us. He’s a very destructive player.”
Henderson played football at Hobart during his freshman year and eventually earned some time on the junior varsity team. But he didn’t play as a sophomore, when he moved during the second semester and finished out the school year at Hobart. Henderson continued to practice with the Brickies over the summer before further communication resulted in him landing at Calumet.
In his first season for the Warriors, Henderson made 28 tackles as an interior defensive lineman. He also filled in on the offensive line.
“We have a way better idea what to do this year,” Henderson said. “Year 1, it’s new faces, and you’re trying to introduce everybody and feel everything out. It also was my first year here being a Warrior, so I was trying to learn the system. But this year is definitely better. We spent more time on team bonding, family bonding, and activities to get better.”
Henderson, who had three tackles during Calumet’s season-opening win against Osceola Grace, also transformed his body during the offseason. He said he weighed 280 pounds last season, “fluctuated” to as much as 300 and then lost weight during wrestling season.
“He gained it all back in muscle,” Salary said. “He’s very hardworking in the weight room. He’s a very driven kid.”
Henderson explained his formula was relatively simple.
“I really wasn’t taking care of my body last season,” he said. “This season, I’m really watching what I eat, trying to hydrate better.”
Henderson is seeing results.
“I’m definitely getting off the ball faster because I lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle,” he said. “I’m definitely more flexible and faster, have better stamina. I switched positions, moved from defensive tackle to defensive end, because I’m not as big anymore as I was last year.
“I’m getting off the ball, and my awareness is better. Last year, I didn’t have that big of awareness where I recognized the play. Or if I did recognize the play, I would overshoot my gap and miss the tackle. I have better awareness.”
Salary described the difference as “night and day” for Henderson.
“His hands are faster,” Salary said. “He’s faster off the ball. He’s more in shape, so he can play longer. He can really get a push against the O-line. He’s a guy we can move inside and outside. He’s really the anchor of our D-line.”
Henderson has impressed Calumet senior lineman Nick Latham.
“He’s an amazing D-lineman,” Latham said. “You won’t find another defensive lineman like him around here, at least in this conference.
“The speed at his size, you just don’t see that, and he’s not afraid to hit or even dive at somebody.”
Salary believes Henderson has just started to tap into his potential.
“He was very raw, but he’s put a lot of time in, and the coaches have invested a lot of time in him,” Salary said. “He’s really developed to be a great football player. He’s definitely a kid who can play on Saturdays.
“His size is remarkable. You look at him, and you’re like, ‘This dude is huge in pads.’ So he has all the raw talent, and we’re developing him, and I’m sure a college will be able to get their hands on him and develop him even more. Who knows what he can do after that? I have nothing but great things to say about Jeremiah.”
Henderson would like to play football in college but also balance his academic pursuits. He intends to study marine biology.
Salary expressed confidence in Henderson no matter what path he chooses.
“He’s a great young man,” Salary said. “He’s quiet, but he’s coming out of his shell now. It’s great to be around him.”