During a fall camp filled with fresh faces, freshmen have seemed to grab most of the headlines when it comes to new Bobcats. But it’s been a junior college transfer who wanted to be at Montana State all along who has caught the eye of MSU head coach Jeff Choate.
“I think JoJo Henderson has been a pleasant surprise,” Choate said earlier this month. “He’s a pro. He handles his business really well. He approaches things with the right mindset.”
Montana State had plenty of holes to fill last off-season as Choate’s 18-month plan to revamp and reshape MSU’s roster went into overdrive. The Bobcats brought in 38 new players from the end of last season to fall camp, which officially wraps up on Friday with a mock game close to both the public and the media.
Rookies like running backs Troy Andersen and Tyrel Burgess, offensive linemen Zach Redd and Connor Wood, wide receiver Lance McCutcheon and cornerback Tyrel Thomas have all turned heads during Montana State’s trying camp.
Montana State senior safety Bryson McCabe and secondary coach Mark Orphey/ by Colter Nuanez
Henderson has made perhaps the biggest splash. The Bobcats return All-Big Sky safety Bryson McCabe for his senior year as well as Khari Garcia, a captain as a junior and a starter for most of his career. MSU also returns Brayden Konkol, a Belgrade product who cracked the starting lineup last season as a redshirt freshman down the stretch.
Over the last week and during MSU’s final fall scrimmage, Henderson has been the safety taking snaps in practice next to McCabe with the first-team defense.
“One of the things he brings in my mind is he brings a lot of urgency,” Choate said. “That kid came here to play. He did not come here to redshirt, he did not come here to sit behind people. From the moment he arrived on campus back in July, he’s been in Coach (Mark) Orphey’s office, bugging those guys to learn the scheme.
“He took a class, did well in that. It was not an easy one. That shows me he has the right level of commitment to his academics. He’s a very likeable kid. He’s not a real vocal guy but I think he’s earned the respect of his coaches and his teammates by how he’s conducted himself and how he’s prepared. Right now, that’s why he’s rolling with the 1s.”
Former Montana State head coach Rob Ash and his staff originally targeted the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder when he was at Olympus High in Salt Lake City. That staff ended up signing McCabe and former UAB safety Des Carter as mid-year transfers, getting an early verbal commitment from Konkol and a late commitment from Texas safety Sidney Holmes, leaving no room for Henderson.
The rangy defensive back ended up signing with Lamar of the Southland Conference.
“Lamar was a last-second option,” Henderson said in June. “I visited them two weeks before signing day. Looking back at it, I was a high school kid and I was intrigued. It was a Texas school and they have no shortage of funds out there. They have really good facilities, better than most FBS programs. Of course, they told me what I wanted to hear, which was early playing time. So I chose them.”
Montana State senior safety West Wilson (29) and sophomore JoJo Henderson/ by Colter Nuanez
Although playing time was promised, Henderson redshirted his first season. Halfway through his first semester in Beaumont, a few of Lamar’s defensive coaches left the program. Henderson could feel the uncertainty and his intuition proved true even if he left the program following his redshirt year. A year later following last season’s 3-8 campaign, Lamar fired seventh-year head coach Ray Woodard.
Henderson spent last season at Snow College, the only junior college in Utah. Although he entered the college ranks as a safety, Henderson exclusively played cornerback, notching 54 tackles and 10 pass breakups in eight games as a freshman.
Montana State thought it was set at safety but brought Henderson in to provide depth there as well as challenge for a starting spot at cornerback. Instead, Henderson may overtake Konkol when MSU releases its first in-season depth chart on Monday.
“I think I’m adjusting well,” Henderson said. “Climate-wise, it’s very similar to Utah. We have mountains, we have trees, we have hot weather and that’s what I’m getting out here.
“Athletically, I think my biggest key is going out there and knowing what I’m doing. I think I’m doing a good job at that, which has put me in the position I’m at, which is getting reps with the No. 2s and some 1-reps too.”
Henderson said he prefers safety because he can use his frame and size to help in the run game while also using his athleticism in coverage. Montana State’s defensive coaches like him at both spots.
“JoJo has done a good job,” Gregorak said. “Whether you are a high school kid coming in or a transfer, there’s that learning curve. I think half of fall camp or more is the mental drain. I think JoJo has the advantage mentally that has helped him pick up a lot of it fast.
“He’s long, he’s an athletic kid who is smart. I’m fired up about JoJo.”
Montana State defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State has an array of talented players similar physical frames who Choate and Gregorak envision making interesting combinations in MSU’s nickel and dime packages. Garcia, Konkol and Thomas have all worked in at nickel back this camp while redshirt freshman Balue Chapman has emerged as a nice edge rusher from the outside linebacker spot on third down situations.
“With the emergence of JoJo Henderson and the experience Khari brings, there’s some things we could do in our nickel package, put some guys on the edge who really have the ability to bring some juice in the pass rush and we could plug one of those safeties in as our boundary inside linebacker position, our dime backer in our nickel package.”
It’s possible MSU could play all four of its top safeties at once this season, which in part is a tribute to the addition of Henderson to the back end.
“He’s a smart kid, he picks things up really well so he has a lot of value because of that versatility,” Choate said. “He’s been a great addition.”
Photos by Brooks and Colter Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
