Henderson feels right at home at Buckhorn
NEW MARKET- Keith Henderson has come full circle. He is back where he feels most at home, in the rolling hills and cotton fields of eastern Madison County.
Henderson played at Butler High School and later at Jacksonville State. He coached at Sparkman and Grissom where he was head coach for nine years.
Most recently Henderson was at Arab as assistant football and wrestling coach. He also ran the strength training and conditioning program.
Henderson has three sons. Hayden was a football player and wrestler and graduated from Grissom. John-David played football and graduated from Arab. Dawsyn is at Moores Mill Middle School. He also has four daughters and one granddaughter.
“I knew it would be a great community and a great place for my kids and an opportunity to work in a good program.
I’ve been in coaching 25 years and we played Buckhorn a lot and I knew they play a physical brand of football, they will line up and run right over you. I knew the principal Todd Markum and welcomed the opportunity to work for him,” said Henderson who replaced John Holladay as head coach.
Gone from Buckhorn are the big names like Will Ignont who signed with Tennessee. What’s left are “very hard-working kids, responsive to what we are trying to do. They all work together, not selfish at all. We don’t have that one big star like Will but we’ve got some really good football players on this team,” Henderson said.
Cole Styles (6-foot-1, 180,Jr.) will step in at quarterback.
“He is progressing every day, doing a great job with the mental part. He’s a good athlete. He runs well and throws well. He just needs some game experience,” Henderson said.
The offensive line is what stands out for Henderson.
Buckhorn starting offensive line
“This may be the best offensive line I’ve coached in my 25 years.”
All seniors, the Buckhorn offensive line returns from last year and have played together as a unit since middle school.
Guards Zyshon Conley (6-0, 250) and Chandler Baker (5-10, 250), tackles Kaleb Baker (6-5, 260) and Hunter Gates (6-5, 240), and Josh Wilkerson (6-4. 280) at center provide size and experience. Running behind the line will be Mathew Evans and Jalen Dixon.
