It has taken time and the right offensive coaching staff, but Alabama football has a former five-star playmaker that is ready to take off at wide receiver this season.
Emmanuel Henderson Jr., a junior, was an incredible three-sport athlete at Geneva County High School in Hartford, Ala.
He chose the Crimson Tide in the 2022 recruiting cycle, following an incredible career of football, basketball, and track at the high school level.
Henderson came to the University of Alabama as a running back, but he saw most of his action at receiver and on special teams. He transitioned to the receiver position in 2023, but he missed part of the team’s Southeastern Conference Championship season with an injury.
Henderson has gotten stronger in the weight room and a year of experience has him prepared to contribute a lot in the fall.
The 6-foot-1, 187-pounder has done everything needed in preseason camp to break into the rotation. He may not be in the top three to four, but Henderson is in the next wave of playmakers to hit the field and be impactful. Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s offensive coordinator, shared with reporters that Henderson has embraced the challenge to become a ‘complete wide receiver.’
“I think he is capable of great things,” Sheridan said Wednesday about Henderson. “He is a great kid, practices his tail off, he’s been very explosive in camp, and he can run. He is a joy to be around. He always shows up with the right mindset, the right attitude, and so we have been happy with E-Man. We know there is more for him to go get, but he’s done a good job.”
Sheridan said Henderson is ‘decisive’ and ‘fast’ when he gets the fall in his hands.
JaMarcus Shephard coaches Henderson as the head man of the wide receivers. Shephard propelled Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan for the National Football League from Washington. He said Henderson is ‘executing at a high level’ in camp.
“He (Henderson) is pushing everybody in the room to be great,” Shephard said.
“He shows up early, leaves late every day, and he’s made some extremely explosive plays throughout this camp. I am super excited about where he’s going and where he’s headed for this season.”
Henderson knows he’s next up in the room to become a star. Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, and Germie Bernard (transfer) are veterans in college football, but people need to watch Henderson.
He brings a skill set that Tide fans will surely enjoy.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
