Christian Henderson has seen the work it has taken to help turn Newton football around, and he is proud to be part of the group leading the charge.
As Henderson prepares for the upcoming season, he is most excited about playing alongside teammates who have put in the same level of work and commitment.
“I am excited to play next to the guys that have worked just as hard as I can to turn Newton Football around,” Henderson said. “I can safely say I have never been more proud of any team in my life than the one I get to stand and play with all season.”
Henderson enters the season looking to make an impact on both sides of the ball. Last season, he recorded 34 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks defensively. As a receiver, he finished with 403 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
His preparation for the new season has focused on improving the skills needed at both defensive line and tight end.
“I have done a lot of footwork and handwork training for D-line and for tight end I have been working on mobility,” Henderson said.
The offseason workouts also emphasized explosiveness and agility. Henderson attended two college camps during the summer, giving him additional opportunities to develop his skills and compete against other players.
One of his biggest areas of focus has been improving his technique with his hands and learning to better use his strength.
“I want to work on using my hands and learning the strength that I have,” Henderson said.
Throughout the offseason, Henderson concentrated on his technique, particularly punching with his palms while maintaining a low position.
That work has been part of Henderson’s larger goal of being dependable for his teammates. Rather than setting individual statistical goals, he wants to make sure he gives everything he has on every play.
“My individual goal is to not let my team down and play to my full capability every single play,” Henderson said.
For Henderson and the rest of the Newton football team, the ultimate goal is simple: finish what they start.
“Team goals would be to finish out the games that we start and win,” Henderson said.
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