Since Old Dominion rose to FBS status in 2014, only player has earned the designation of All-American status, and he earned it twice.
Inside linebacker Jason Henderson, who earned All-American honors by several major selectors in both 2022 and 2023, was in the midst of his fifth year at Old Dominion. However, the star linebacker announced earlier this week on Instagram that he will ‘step away from being a football player.’
Henderson’s decision comes in the wake of severe injuries issues. On Nov. 25,
2023 tore his ACL, MCL, MPFL, and meniscus in a thrilling walk-off win over Georgia State, Henderson tore his ACL, MCL, MPFL, and meniscus. The All-American seemingly completed a speedy recovery to return for the Monarchs’ 2024 opener at South Carolina and posted three tackles in a narrow defeat. However, that was his only action of the year and the team captain decided to redshirt the remainder of 2024.
2025 presented a new year for the linebacker eager to make a full recovery. He suited up for Old Dominion’s Aug. 30 opener at Indiana and registered five tackles and a tackle for loss. However, once again, Henderson’s season was one-and-done. He did not dress for the home opener against NC Central of the FCS and subsequently announced his decision to step away.
Henderson’s Instagram post and caption are below:
“Since the 5th grade football had become everything to me. It got me through life to this point. It gave me a reason to wake up each day and give it my all. November 2023 I suffered a serious injury. I tore my ACL, MCL, MPFL and meniscus. I knew it was going to be a long road of recovery. Almost two years now I have been trying to get to a point to where I can return to the football field and confidently give my all as I always do when I’m on that field. Through this process, I have tested my mental and physical strength to the max. I have done everything in my power to be as physically and mentally prepared to give it my all one last time. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get to the point to where I can maintain playing at a competitive level again. I have decided I am going to step away from being a football player. For the betterment of myself and future. Football has given me everything. Anyone who knows me understands I dedicated my life to football. The passion I have for football and love for the game are two things hopefully no once can question about me. I’m forever grateful for what football has given me. Football gave me a chance. Football taught me lessons. Football gave me a second family. Football will forever hold a huge part of me. I’m blessed and grateful for my career. I have given my all every single opportunity I got. I took advantage of each and every opportunity given to me. I was blessed enough to accomplish things that I couldn’t have ever dreamed of as a football player and I feel as if I have done all I could and given everything I possibly could to the sport of football. Football will forever be a part of me. I’m forever thankful.”
Henderson led the FBS in tackles per game in both 2022 and 2023, tallying 15.5 and 14.2 in those seasons, respectively. His 186 tackles in 2022 reigned supreme in the country, while his 171 tackles in 2023 ranked second — one stop behind Iowa’s Jay Higgins. Henderson also generated 10 tackles for loss in 2020 before increasing that total to 19.5 in 2023, which tied for fourth in the FBS.
In 2022, he earned Second Team All-American honors from the FWAA, USA Today, Fox Sports, USA Today and Third Team honors from the Associated Press. In 2023, he earned First Team honors from Walter Camp, The Sporting News, Action Network, College Football News and Second Team honors from the FWAA, Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN, CBS Sports, Phil Steele, and The Athletic.
Henderson concludes a successful Old Dominion tenure with 444 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. While a potential NFL career was inhibited by a severe injury, Henderson’s legacy lasts as one of the greatest to do it in a Monarchs uniform.
