HOG FUTURES HUNTER HENRY

A family affair

Uncertainty did not alter Henry’s vow

Pulaski Academy graduate Hunter Henry turns upfield during first-half action against Jacksonville on November 1, 2012. Henry signed to play for the Razorbacks this fall.
Pulaski Academy graduate Hunter Henry turns upfield during first-half action against Jacksonville on November 1, 2012. Henry signed to play for the Razorbacks this fall.

The first in a series profiling new additions to the Arkansas football team.

Little Rock’s Hunter Henry was recruited by three different Arkansas head coaches before signing with the Razorbacks, but that certainly wasn’t the plan.

“It was interesting at times,” Henry said of a recruiting process that started with Bobby Petrino, moved to interim coach John L. Smith, and then, finally, new coach Bret Bielema.

“There’s going to be hard times at times,” said Henry, who attended Pulaski Academy. “But I’m happy to be with Coach B.”

Ultimately, Henry wasn’t going to waver from being a Razorback, choosing to follow the course of his father, mother and grandfather to the University of Arkansas.

Henry’s father Mark was a two-time Southwest Conference lineman at Arkansas before entering the ministry. His mother Jenny is an Arkansas graduate and her father Skip Coffman lettered on the school’s basketball team in 1962-1963.

“It’s awesome to be here,” Henry said. “I’ve dreamed of being here. It’s a dream come true.”

Henry moved to Little Rock as a ninth-grader when his father became a teaching pastor at Fellowship Bible Church, and he started four games at left tackle before switching to tight end for his sophomore season.

At Pulaski Academy, Henry, 6-5, 235 pounds, was a two time All-Arkansas tight end and a Parade All-America selection. Last season, Henry caught 107 passes for 1,449 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Bruins advanced to the Class 5A semifinals. He finished his high school career with 216 receptions for 3,290 yards and 41 touchdowns and led the Bruins to the Class 4A state title in 2011 as a junior.Also, Henry started and was a captain in the Under Armour Bowl, a high school all-star game, in St. Petersburg, Fla., earlier this year.

Henry orally committed to Arkansas last July, when Smith was in the midst of his 10-month term, but he took an official visit to defending national champion Alabama in early November. Once he met Bielema in January, Henry kept his commitment to the Razorbacks.

Henry officially signed in February, and Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley called him the face of football at Pulaski Academy, which has been one of the most successful programs in the state over the past decade.

The Bruins’ coaching staff, Henry said, have him prepared for college football and the SEC.

“The coaches pushed me a lot,” Henry said. “They never treated me any differently.”

Shortly after he graduated from Pulaski Academy, Henry reported to the UA campus in Fayetteville, where he is taking one summer course and working out with his fellow classmates. With the NCAA allowing signees to begin their grant in aid during the summer, freshmen can acclimate themselves to college-style summer workouts instead of arriving in the fall.

Arriving early wasn’t an issue for Henry. It was necessary, considering that he might see the field early for the Razorbacks. Including Henry, the tight end group at UA features senior Austin Tate and sophomore walk ons Alex Voelzke and Mitchell Loewen, who both played last season when Chris Gragg was injured.

“It’s really nice to get comfortable with the setting,” Henry said. “You have to do more stuff. It’s nice being up here picking up stuff.”

Henry, who was ranked the nation’s No. 1 tight end by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, was one of Bielema’s top recruits in his first UA signing class, which also featured running back Alex Collins and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland, both from Florida.

“We’re like a little family already,” Henry said. “We’re real close. We like each other.”

Arkansas went 4-8 and did not play in a bowl game for the first time since 2008 under interim coach Smith, who replaced Petrino after he was fired last April,

Henry said he is looking to help the Razorbacks get back to prominence again and believes his class’s winning pedigree could be key.

“I want to bring it up here,” Henry said. “We’re all coming from that. We’re all fired up and ready to get it going.”

At a glance HUNTER HENRY

CLASS Freshman HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-5, 235 pounds POSITION Tight end HOMETOWN Little Rock HIGH SCHOOL Pulaski Academy

NOTEWORTHY Two-time All-Arkansas tight end. … Parade All-American. … Ranked as No. 1 tight end in the country by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. … Finished his high school career with 216 receptions for 3,290 yards and 41 touchdowns. … Led Pulaski Academy to the 2011 Class 4A state title. … Started and was a captain in the Under Armour Bowl earlier this year. … Father Mark played for Arkansas in 1988-1991 and was a two-time All-Southwest Conference selection.

Sports, Pages 21 on 06/30/2013

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