10-Offer 2021 Arkansas All-State CB/WR Jaiden Henry Impresses Lining up at 15 Different Positions
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The thought of a versatile athlete on the field can be used loosely, and typically applied to standout play at two different positions. During his senior campaign on the gridiron with Van Buren High School, Jaiden Henry earned Arkansas 6A All-State and All-Conference honors, again, but the hard way at receiver while also playing 14 other positions battling through various injuries without ever missing so much as one practice. The 5-10, 165-pound, talent played just about every skill position possible collecting 10 scholarship offers along the journey showcasing the skills when it matters most.
Henry’s stat line speaks for itself. On offense he secured 68 passes for 1,418 yards averaging 20.85 yards per reception crossing into the end zone 11 times. The offensive skills expanded to 27 carries for 148 yards on the ground with another score and took a kick back to the house on special teams. In the Pointers’ secondary, Henry ended 42 plays with three tackles for a loss, two sacks three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries while breaking up 10 passes coming away with three picks.
With roughly a month until National Signing Day, Henry is receiving in-home visits with possible campus visits coming up. To cover his recruiting process and big senior season, Henry stopped by the RNG Lab for a detailed conversation.
Interview
Jaiden, one thing that stood out during your junior season that carried over to your senior campaign was your playmaking skills. You have a knack to make something happen. Beyond your speed, where does that ability come from?
Growing up playing the game. I’ve played since I was five-years-old. The game of football, it has been something bred into me giving me the natural instincts to make plays. It has become second nature to me. It is something that puts me on that next level on the field.
During your senior season, where all did you line up on the field?
(Laughs) Anywhere without a hand in the dirt. On offense, I started at receiver and I played slot and was on the outside, I played quarterback for us and running back as well. On defense I played corner, free safety, and bandit and rover. I was our starting kick returner and at one point our starting punter, punt returner, and our kicker for a game. My coaches had me at placeholder, on the hands team and onside recovery team. I was on the field for everything expect kickoff – and I got a blocked field goal in our playoff game.
On special teams, you were able to showcase that open field speed taking one back to the house. Just how fast are you?
With track, I never ran track after my freshman year in high school. My sophomore year I was at Shiloh Christian. When I was there, I played baseball on state championship team starting as a sophomore. With track, I’d go to meets for field events, the long, triple, and high jump. Last year I was planning on running track, but how basketball ran so late and then COVID hit. That Friday it shut it down for six months. On that Friday, that was to be my first track meet of spring 2020. My 40 this summer, my best was a 4.51 and a 4.54.
During the 2020 season, what offense set were the Pointers executing?
We were a multiple look offense. We’d go in a Spread and then get into an I-formation for a heavier set ground and pound. We did some was 20- and 11-personnel. We had a heavier set, some in 10-personnel, and some in an empty set. We battled a lot of injuries this year, that was one of the reasons I played so many positions this year and we lined up in some many different formations.
They had you lining up on the inside and isolated on the outside, which routes were you running this season?
On the outside they had me running fades, posts, stop and goes – a 10-yard hitch. On the inside I was running double moves, whip routes, corners, corner-post, speed outs and bubbles to get the ball quick with the plan to make a man miss get what I can get kind of deal.
On routes to the inside, going across the middle, you seem to have a great ability to create that space. How would you grade your overall route running?
I feel like I relied more on my speed and quickness than my technique with my routes this season. My route running is probably a 7 or 8, if I am being realistic. I can run the routes correctly, as far as being technically sound, but I do use my quickness and speed to get separation. This offseason I will work more on selling the route and planting my foot.
Going over to defense; what coverages were you guys running in the secondary?
Cover 4 was one of our main ones. We also ran a Cover 3, a three-cloud look. We ran man too. We had a palms-read type of defense; that was one of our main fallbacks. In our defense, we pressure from the front so it is hard to drop back into the zone when bringing six or seven.
How did that part of your game improve during the 2020 season?
On defense it flipped. Last year, I used my speed and quickness to outmaneuver the receivers. This year I was more technically sound using my footwork and hand placement. I tried to sharpen my craft on that side. As a DB, your technique is what sets you apart.
So far, you’ve listed out a few other varsity sports that you play for Van Buren. Which sports besides football will you play during your senior year?
I am playing basketball; I am a starter. This year I will be playing baseball, last year I was supposed to run track but we didn’t get to. I will not run track this year.
With football, what will be the focus of your offseason workouts?
Even though we are in basketball, the football players, we have separate workouts aside from basketball. They have basketball only workouts. We do some of the same lifts, but we have some altered workouts that our strength and conditioning coach gives us. We get an in-season workout lifting at least twice a week.
Let’s talk recruiting. Which school is showing interest but has not offered yet?
Missouri State is the main one. I have received two offers since our season from D-II schools.
How many offers do you have?
I have two D-I and eight D-II offers.
Which D-I programs have offered?
UT-Martin and Valparaiso.
Nice. Have you taken any campus visits in recent weeks?
No, but I have received some in-home visits from D-II schools
Which coaching staffs have done in-home visits with you?
Arkansas Tech and Oklahoma Baptist.
Do you have any upcoming visits or in-home visits planned?
We are scheduling one with Valpo, an in-home, in the new year. An Oklahoma Baptist visit is scheduled for the last week of January. The other coaches have said they will get dates together for visits. I am waiting to hear back from them.
What are you looking for at the next level between academics and football program?
The biggest thing for me is being wanted. I want to go somewhere I feel comfortable being away from home and still feel at home. I want to know that I am wanted and cared for there. If something goes wrong or if I need help, I don’t want to feel out of place and I want to know that they will help and take care of me if needed. I don’t want to go somewhere just to go to a place because it is a big school or they have a great track record. I need to know that I will be taken care of on and off the field.
Jaiden, I appreciate your time today. Wishing you success on the hardwood and with your recruiting process.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Henry family; Jaiden Henry