Justin Henderson, Louisiana Tech Football News: Draft Scout Player News

09/02/20 - RB Justin Henderson, rSr/2021, Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech's rising senior running back has fought something much harder, eight months removed from claiming the Independence Bowl Offensive MVP last December. Complacency can drag college football players down, regardless of what position they play, and Henderson set out over the offseason with that mentality, shaping how he trained and what he dug into while away from the Tech football facility. "Just working on stuff that I don't think I need work on," the running back and Lake Wales, Florida, native said. "I work on it so I don't ever get complacent with myself." After opening up the 2019 season buried on the depth chart, Henderson ascended to the starting tailback role, with some thanks to some injuries, a few games into the year.

The 5-10, 218-pound, stout, bruising back who also possesses deceptive speed seized the opportunity and became a 1,000-yard rusher, running for 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns. He capped his junior campaign with a career-high 22 carries, amassing 95 yards in the 14-0 bowl game win over the Miami Hurricanes. He finished second in Conference USA Offensive MVP voting behind his teammates and former Louisiana Tech quarterback J'Mar Smith last season and was second-team All-C-USA. "It wasn't surprising for me. I'm not trying to sound too cocky, but I knew I could do it," Henderson said. "It was just the time and matter of me getting out there and being consistent in doing it. I just believed in myself, thanked God for the opportunity I got and made the best of it. Hats off to (Tech running back Israel Tucker) because he really helped me through that, too. As a group, we prepared each other for that moment." - The News-Star

rSr/2021