Trenton Henderson
Bio
Recruiting
Scouting Report
Trenton Henderson is a highly-touted, athletic edge rusher with a high motor and a knack for making plays in the backfield. His combination of speed and agility makes him a constant threat as a pass rusher, and he shows the versatility to play in different defensive schemes.
Physical Profile
Henderson possesses a long, athletic frame at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. He has the build to add more weight and strength without sacrificing his speed and quickness. His length gives him a significant advantage in disengaging from blockers and making plays in pursuit. He is a multi-sport athlete, also playing basketball, which speaks to his overall athleticism.
Play Style
Henderson is a dynamic edge defender who primarily wins with his speed and athleticism. He is at his best when he can use his quickness to beat offensive tackles around the edge. He demonstrates good awareness and is adept at batting down passes at the line of scrimmage. He has also been asked to drop into coverage, showcasing his versatility.
Strengths
- Explosive first step and closing speed to pressure the quarterback.
- Fluidity and agility to change direction and pursue plays from the backside.
- High motor and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier.
- Productive on-field performance, tallying 50 total tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, and 10 sacks as a junior.
Areas to Improve
- Needs to continue to add bulk and strength to consistently hold up against the run at the next level.
- Development of a wider array of pass-rushing moves and improved hand usage.
- Can play too high at times, sacrificing leverage against bigger offensive linemen.
College Projection
Henderson projects as a starting-caliber edge rusher at the Power Five level. He has the raw talent to potentially see the field in situational pass-rushing downs early in his career at LSU. With a year or two of development in a college weight program and with coaching, he has the potential to become an all-conference performer.
NFL Outlook
Given his high-end athletic traits and production, Henderson has a significant NFL upside. If he continues to develop his frame and refines his technique, he has the potential to be an early-round NFL Draft pick.
Best Fit
A defensive scheme that allows its defensive ends to play in a two-point stance and utilize their speed to attack the quarterback would be an ideal fit. A 4-3 base defense or a 3-4 scheme that allows him to play as a stand-up outside linebacker would maximize his skillset.
Player Comparison
Jones had similar size at 6'1" 222 lbs with elite athleticism that allowed positional flexibility during recruitment. Like this prospect, he was a highly-rated recruit who committed to LSU and possessed the rare combination of size and speed that made him projectable at multiple positions before settling at linebacker in college and becoming an NFL starter.