Atlanta is the next destination for former Tennessee football defensive lineman John Henderson.
Henderson played under Hall of Fame head coach Phillip Fulmer, racking up two consensus first-team All-American honors during his time with the Vols from 1998 to 2002. He joins a class of 18 athletes and four coaches.
A Nashville native, Henderson attended mid-state powerhouse Pearl-Cohn High School during his prep years. He won back-to-back state championships during his final two years, earning multiple High School All-American honors from various outlets. As a top prospect in the state, Fulmer extended an offer to play for the home-state Vols.
Though he did not become a contributor until 1999, Henderson made an immediate impact when he first touched the field. The 6-foot-7 defensive lineman finished his first season with 40 tackles with four tackles-for-loss and four sacks.
In 2000, Henderson broke out onto NFL radars. He recorded 71 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 10 sacks en route to the Outland Trophy — awarded to the nation’s best lineman. It also earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
His senior season provided less production with an injury, but the 290-pound Henderson still managed to put up his second-straight All-American season with 54 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Over his career, Henderson mangled 162 tackles, 18 for a loss, and 20.5 sacks. The production landed him as a first-round NFL Draft pick.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Henderson ninth overall in 2002, kickstarting a 10-year professional career that included two Pro Bowl selections and a second-team All-Pro honor.
Henderson became the 27th Vol to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, the latest since Eric Berry’s induction in 2023. It is Henderson’s third Hall of Fame induction as he joined the State of Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
