Henry welcomes shot in front of home fans

Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry breaks the tackle of UTEP free safety Dashone Smith on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, during the first quarter of the game in Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry breaks the tackle of UTEP free safety Dashone Smith on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, during the first quarter of the game in Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith said he is thankful he doesn't have to figure out how to stop Hunter Henry in a game.

Going against the Razorbacks' tight end in practice is difficult enough.

Season-by-season stats

YEAR;REC.-YDS;TDS

2013;28-409;4

2014;39-513;2

2015;2-42;0

Totals;67-964;6

NOTE 56 of Henry’s receptions have produced first downs or touchdowns

"I think he's a matchup nightmare," Smith said.

Henry, a junior from Little Rock, is 6-5, 253 pounds and can get down the field like a wide receiver.

"You put a safety on him, and Hunter's too big," Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen said. "You put a linebacker on him, and Hunter's too fast. He's just real hard to cover and game plan against, because he can do so much.

"Any time he's got one-on-one coverage, we're always looking for him."

Henry figures to have a little extra adrenaline today when the No. 18 Razorbacks play Toledo in War Memorial Stadium.

"A lot of my family and friends can't make it to every game in Fayetteville," said Henry, a Parade High School All-American at Pulaski Academy. "This is the one game where everyone can come out and watch me play in my hometown, so that's definitely a special feeling."

Adding to the emotion is that Henry has been chosen by Coach Bret Bielema to carry the Arkansas state flag when the Razorbacks run onto the field.

"I know he's really, really pumped," Bielema said. "He's a young man who's very proud of where he came from."

Pulaski Academy opened the season last week by beating Dallas Highland Park 40-13 to end the Scots' home winning streak at 84 games.

"P.A. had great success the other night, and I knew Hunter was going to be bragging about it in the locker room," Bielema said. "I think it's just awesome to see and be a part of a kid's life, that when you met him he's 17 years old and baby-faced, 210 pounds. Now he's a 255-pound man that has drawn the attention of every NFL scout."

Bielema said he's been told by numerous NFL scouts Henry is the top tight end prospect among college juniors or seniors. Henry is eligible to enter the NFL Draft after this season.

"I'm not thinking about it at all right now, not one bit," Henry said. "I'm just thinking about Toledo."

Henry has 67 career receptions -- which leads all active SEC tight ends -- for 964 yards and 6 touchdowns. Of those receptions, 56 have produced a first down or touchdown. He had two catches for 42 yards in the Razorbacks' 48-13 victory over Texas-El Paso last week, including a 38-yard gain for a first down.

"I feel like I can go against anyone," Henry said. "I've got to have that confidence about me. It's not a cocky thing, I've just got to have that chip on my shoulder that I can beat anyone all the time.

"People are going to beat me, that's part of football, but I've got to go into every single play thinking I'm going to win."

First-year Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos said Henry has a rare combination of intelligence, toughness, size, speed and body control to make catches for big gains and block.

"What everybody looks for is a guy that can stretch the field vertically, but can also handle defensive ends," Enos said. "Hunter certainly has shown the capability of doing that."

Henry made several preseason All-America teams, including first-team recognition from ESPN and Athlon Sports and second-team from Sports Illustrated.

None of the hype, Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said, has gone to Henry's head.

"The greatest thing I appreciate about Hunter is just his consistency," Lunney said. "He's been the same since he stepped foot on campus. He's always reliable in being where he's supposed to be, when he's supposed to be there.

"He's always got a smile on his face. He's a willing learner. He practices hard. He competes hard. He's everything you want, and he's humble. He's a true teammate."

Henry said the preseason recognition is nice but has no impact on the season.

"It's in the past, and we're in the present now and looking to the future," Henry said. "I've got to out there and prove it on the field this season."

Sports on 09/12/2015

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