TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
McALLEN – McAllen High’s Gunnar Henderson announced on Sunday that he has committed to play football at Division I University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
The elusive athlete, who has been on the recruiting trail for months, had received offers from Texas Tech, Louisville and Yale, but ultimately decided on UIW because of its campus, coaches and football program. He will receive a full scholarship.
“I visited a couple of schools, and Incarnate Word feels like home. There are so many great opportunities on an off the field for me,” Henderson said. “I love all my future coaches and teammates. My position coach and head coach both played my position and succeeded at a high level. The offense is going to be perfect fit.”
The UIW Cardinals play in the Southland Conference with schools such as Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin (where McHi’s Josh McGowen plays) and Lamar University. The Cardinals are a team in transition. They were 1-10 in 2017 but will enter next season under first-year head coach Eric Morris, who was the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech the previous five years.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Henderson runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. He finished second in the 100-meter dash in District 30-6A track and field behind Kelechi Nwachuku (a UTSA football signee from McAllen Memorial) and has qualified for regionals in the 300-meter hurdles.
Morris’ offense at Texas Tech was a spread featuring multiple wide receivers — a strong fit for Henderson’s skillset.
Henderson has attended numerous camps around the country, gotten lots of media and recruiting services’ attention and even received some social media love from Deion Sanders.
He also put together a solid 2017 season for the Bulldogs. Even with defenses keyed on him, the McAllen native scored 17 total touchdowns. He averaged nearly 18 yards per catch on his way to 39 receptions and 695 yards. Henderson also carried the ball 80 times for 464 yards.
Opposing teams would rarely kick the ball to him, and he often drew double and triple teams from defenses.
In total, Henderson received preferred walk-on offers from SMU, TCU, Texas Tech and Louisville, according to his family. He also received offers from Division I schools UIW, Eastern Illinois, Central Arkansas and Yale, as well as Division II offers from Texas A&M-Kingsville, Midwestern State and others, plus several JUCOs.
Henderson is powerfully built and has a strong motor that has set him apart since Pop Warner football (where he led his team, the Lightning to the state semifinals) and at Morris Middle School, where he won a district championship in seventh grade. He has also worked many hours across several years with football trainers, strength trainers at Cavazos Sports Institute and his father, Chris.
His mom, Tiffany, and about a dozen family members attend to support him at any event he is involved in. Tiffany took Gunnar to his Texas Tech visit after McHi’s playoff game in Eagle Pass, driving seven hours overnight to get him there on time for a Saturday visit.
Henderson said that support helped him get to where he is today.
“My family helped me so much,” he said. “They supported me and helped me chase my dreams. They completely support my decision, and I am thankful for that.”