University of Tennessee Athletics
Henderson Named First-Team All-America by AP
December 13, 2000 | Football
The postseason awards just keep coming for Tennessee's John Henderson.
Henderson, who last week picked up the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman, was named first-team All-America by the Associated Press Tuesday night. UT placekicker Alex Walls was a third-team selection.
Henderson, a 6-7, 290-pound defensive tackle, led the Southeastern Conference with 12 sacks in 2000 and is a major factor in the Vols' No. 3 national ranking against the rush, giving just 74.3 yards per outing.
Henderson led the Vols in Big Plays this season with 30 that includes 12 quarterback sacks (-86 yds), 9 tackles for loss (-21), 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 passes broken up.
For Henderson, who also announced last week his intention to stay at Tennessee next season, the AP award is just the latest in a long line of awards garnered by the Nashville junior after earning All-America honors from CNNSI.com, The Sporting News, Football Writers Association of America and Football News. He was also named as the national defensive player of the year by rivals.com.
Henderson's AP All-America recognition marks the fourth consecutive season that a Tennessee defensive player has earned first-team honors from the writers following linebackers Leonard Little in 1997, Al Wilson (1998) and Raynoch Thompson (1999).
The announcement of Henderson's first-team All-America status gives Tennessee 63 individual All-America selections, who have been recognized a total of 77 times in the school's rich football history.
Walls, who earned a scholarship during the 2000 season, was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top placekicker after connecting on 18-of-20 field goals, including 14 in a row to start the season. The Bristol, Va., sophomore kicked the Vols' game-winning field goal with 13 seconds remaining in Tennessee's 19-17 win at Memphis.
Tennessee, winners of its last six games to close the 2000 season, will meet Kansas State Jan. 1 in the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl.
