10:59 a.m.: Over the past couple years, Will Henry had done everything right -- until the football arrived. Henry struggled to catch the ball, not a reputation beneficial to any receiver seeking playing time.
It's why he's sat the sidelines so much during the past few seasons.
Not any more, though. Henry's improved his hands and has inserted his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame into the Husker receiver rotation. The senior from El Paso, Texas, is the primary backup to both Niles Paul and Brandon Kinnie.
And on Saturday, Henry caught the second pass of his career -- a 24-yarder on Nebraska's final drive during the 49-10 win. Henry's only other reception, which came last year, went for 1 yard.
Safe to say he's improving.
“Will's biggest struggle to this point has been catching the ball consistently,” receivers coach Ted Gilmore said. “Will works hard. It's important to him. He's an awesome young man. What he's done since the spring is catch the ball.”
Henry did have a productive spring practice session, highlighted by a 72-yard touchdown pass from Cody Green in the spring game. He had another catch in that game for 7 yards.
Henry's carried that momentum into the fall and as a result, he's moved into a increased role.
“(He'll play), depending on what the game is and what the situation is when he gets in,” Gilmore said. “But we do have faith and confidence in him now that he can do the job.”
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