Henderson leaving Blue Hens, will declare for NFL Draft

By Andy Walter
Posted 12/7/22

NEWARK — Nolan Henderson has decided it’s time to move on.The Delaware quarterback posted on social media on Wednesday that he is declaring for the NFL draft and forgoing his final season …

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Henderson leaving Blue Hens, will declare for NFL Draft

Posted

NEWARK — Nolan Henderson has decided it’s time to move on.

The Delaware quarterback posted on social media on Wednesday that he is declaring for the NFL draft and forgoing his final season of eligibility with the Blue Hens.

A Smyrna High grad, Henderson has been at UD since 2017. Because of injuries and an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID pandemic, he could have returned next fall.

Delaware’s season ended on Saturday with a 42-6 loss at South Dakota State in the NCAA FCS Division I playoffs. Henderson only played the first series of that contest before breaking a bone in his leg on a running play.

This fall, Henderson broke the school record for touchdown passes in a season (32)  while fnishing second for TD passes in a career (56).

In 37 games over five seasons, he completed 550 of 859 passes for 6,429 yards with 14 interceptions. He also ran for 418 net yards and eight TDs.

A local high school product who quickly won over UD’s fans, the only thing that seemed to stop Henderson at times were injuries. But, even then, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder often found a way to return to the field sooner than expected.

“To the University of Delaware, what a ride it’s been,” Henderson posted online. “From growing up going to games as a local kid to being a three-year captain and starting QB. I am humbled to be a part of the proud Delaware Football brotherhood.

“Blue Hen faithful, I gave you my all and left nothing out there.”
Henderson also expressed his gratitude to the Smyrna community.

“Thank you for the endless support and pride you took in an undersized kid from a small town in Delaware,” he wrote. “I am proud of where I am from.”

Sophomore Ryan O’Connor is the obvious choice to replace Henderson from Delaware’s current roster. He is the Easton, Md. High grad who suffered a serious concussion that caused the South Dakota State game to be stopped with 1:07 remaining.

But the Hens also have verbal commitments from at least two high school recruits. On Monday, Northern Arizona transfer QB R.J. Martinez said he has received an offer from Delaware.

Martinez threw for 16 touchdowns with eight rushing TDs and eight interceptions last fall. He is one of a number of FCS or FBS players who said they have received scholarship offers from Delaware since the transfer portal opened on Monday.

Blue Hen safety Noah Plack put his name in the NFL Transfer Portal on Monday. He has already started receiving some FBS scholarship offers.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.

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