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 NCAA Scouting – Player Profile:
Erin Henderson, OLB
by Ben Stockwell
21/2/2008
The more things change, the more things stay the same. As defensive philosophies evolve and you continue to see new and different ways to attack offences, one thing remains constant, the need for linebackers to take on and beat blockers and play the run physically. For all of the athleticism that a linebacker can bring to a table in getting to the quarterback or being able to run with receivers, if a linebacker can come up and take on the run head on, he’ll find a home in the NFL.
 This is exactly the strong suit of Erin Henderson, the junior linebacker from the University of Maryland. Erin is the younger brother of the Vikings’ E.J. Henderson who had his best year as a pro this season playing middle linebacker in Leslie Frazier’s defence. Many comparisons can be drawn between the brothers, both had stand out careers for the Terrapins. EJ had the better career of the two in the collegiate ranks (2 time all-American along with the Butkus [top collegiate linebacker] and Bednarik [top collegiate defender]) but until the last two years he has failed to live up to expectations in the pro’s. Erin would appear to have the chance to do the opposite, not quite living up to the legacy his brother left at College Park, but with seemingly better transferable skills to the NFL.
What we like about Henderson
He’s a physical, athletic, downhill linebacker. He’s not necessarily going to make the flashy plays to get onto the highlight reel but he is a workman linebacker who has the athleticism to get to the run and the strength to make the play at the point of attack. He has absolutely outstanding athleticism in space to get around blocks and beat linemen outside on blocks. He combines this with the strength and instinct to flow downhill to the ball, a skill set that will serve him well as either a strong or weak side linebacker in the NFL.
Question Marks over Henderson
The blot on Henderson’s copybook is his durability. He has been dogged by injuries throughout his career at Maryland (torn ACL in left knee which caused him to miss his entire freshman season; barely practiced this season after tearing meniscus and spraining ACL in the same knee this season) and these were a contributing factor in his decision to leave early for the NFL, with his stock high it was senseless for him to stay and risk another injury taking him out of the first day of the draft. His biggest stumbling block to a high pick could be how his body holds up to the prodding and probing that his left knee will take at this week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Highlights of his College Career
 During his sophomore season (2006) he led the Terrapins with a then career high seventeen tackles in the Terps visit to Clemson (Memorial Stadium, a.k.a. Death Valley), a 13-12 victory for the Terrapins. Erin formed the major part of the Terrapins shutting down the Tigers’ outstanding running game led by James Davis and CJ Spiller. As a player always tipped for big things this was his National coming out party leading the upstart Terrapins to an upset victory over a Clemson side hunting for an ACC title at the time.
Other Snippets of Info
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Listed by NFL Network’s Mike Mayock as the #2 OLB behind Keith Rivers of USC.
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Started his collegiate career at quarterback (led Aberdeen High School to their only ever state championship as a two way player).
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Even though he left before his senior season and only played two years at Maryland (redshirt and missed his entire freshman campaign) he was a vocal leader for the team on defence from his first year as a starter in 2006.
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NFL players you could compare him to would be, well just think of his brother (E.J. Henderson) with more athleticism.
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Potential good fits Anyone lack in quality at OLB in a 4-3 scheme, teams like the Saints, Bills and Bears could be in the market.
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