Not much has changed for Mary Hardin-Baylor’s senior middle linebacker, who keeps popping up on college football’s most prestigious lists.
Henri’s latest honor was a spot on the American Football Coaches’ Association Division III All-American Team, making him the fifth Crusader in program history to be named to the venerable squad.
The AFCA’s is the only All-American team selected exclusively by head coaches. Schools can nominate only one player for consideration, and the squad is comprised of just 25 players.
“Eric is a very talented player and we are so excited for him to be honored by the AFCA,” said UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg, whose fourth-ranked Crusaders (12-2) reached the Division III semifinals before losing to Wisconsin-Whitewater 39-13 last week.
Henri had a team-high 97 tackles - 11½ for losses - and set a school record with five fumble recoveries. The fleet-footed product of Lake Dallas returned two fumbles for touchdowns, a program single-season record, and his 82-yard TD return in the quarterfinals is the longest in school history.
In anchoring a UMHB defense that allowed 15 points and 267 yards per game, Henri was named as the American Southwest Conference and D3football.com South Region Defensive Player of the Year.
“He has been a leader on and off the field for four years,” Fredenburg said. “We are proud of his accomplishments and what he has meant to this program.”
UMHB has had a player voted to the AFCA team seven times in the last eight years. Linebackers Preston Meyer (2001, ’02) and Jerrell Freeman (’06, ’07), free safety Tony Salazar (’03) and offensive tackle Jeff Oliver (’04) were AFCA All-Americans for the Crusaders.
AFCA Coaches’
All-America Team
OFFENSE
Receivers - Mychal Carrillo, sr., Hardin-Simmons; Jack Phelen, sr., Hartwick
Tight end - Brian Weverbergh, sr., Ithaca
Linemen - Sean James, sr., Cortland State; Blaine Westemeyer, jr., Augustana; Josh Ostrue, jr., St. Thomas; John Szawlowski, sr., Williams; Yancy Edwards, sr., Kenyon
Quarterback - Bobby Swallow, sr., Washington & Jefferson
Running backs - Nate Kmic, sr., Mount Union; Tunde Ogun, jr., Christopher Newport
DEFENSE
Linemen - Jarrell Chandler, sr., Salisbury; Jared Lange, sr., Wabash; Jacob Calderon, sr., California Lutheran
Linebackers - Eric Henri, sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor; Jace Rindahl, sr., Wisconsin-Whitewater; Matt Wenger, jr., North Central; Brad Steinmetz, jr., Thomas More
Backs - Pete Ittersagen, sr., Wheaton; Drew Ziller, sr., Carleton; Bobby Bott, jr., Case Western; Carlo Melaragno, sr., John Carroll
SPECIALISTS
Punter - T.J. Grzesikowski, soph., Ferrum
Kicker - Scott Birkhofer, sr., Linfield
All-purpose - Larry Beavers, sr., Wesley
