FORT LAUDERDALE – Nine drives for Keisean Henderson. Nine touchdown passes. That’s how you make a statement on the field.
On Saturday, this Houston (Texas) Legacy On300 quarterback was on fire at the Battle 7v7 South Florida. No surprise here—he’s been tearing it up lately. Just recently, he was named On3’s Top Performer at the Navy All-American Bowl. Now, he’s bringing that heat to the Sunshine State.
“Being able to go out there and perform the way I did and be confident in myself and my ability to tell everybody I’m playing quarterback and showing my talents,” Henderson said.
Not too long ago, many college coaches thought Henderson would make a great receiver. And why not? As a freshman, he threw for 357 yards and a touchdown but really shined as a receiver with 1,135 yards and 14 touchdowns. This guy is a playmaker, no doubt about it.
But Henderson always had his eyes set on being a quarterback. The first coach to spot that potential? None other than Houston’s head coach, Willie Fritz.
The Fritz Connection
Fritz has had his eye on Henderson for quite some time, even back when he was at Tulane. He saw Henderson’s talent during camp and prioritized him as a quarterback. When Fritz moved to Houston in December 2023, Henderson didn’t waste any time committing to the team by May.
“It was a great belief,” Henderson said. “That belief in me at the time made me feel I could run through a brick wall for him.”
Fritz has a knack for spotting talent. At Tulane, he led the team to 12 wins and a Cotton Bowl victory in 2022, followed by another 11-win season in 2023. So, when Henderson heard Fritz was coming to Houston, he was thrilled.
“It made it even easier to communicate with him because he’s just 35 minutes down the road,” Henderson shared.
The Loyalty Factor
Henderson’s loyalty to Fritz and the Houston program is strong. Despite a tough 4-8 season, Henderson sees it as a foundational year.
“Just watching them go through this foundational year and compete with the best of the best shows me they’re fighting as a program,” he said.
New Offers Rolling In
As a junior, Henderson stepped up his game, completing over 65% of his passes for 2,689 yards and 25 touchdowns, plus seven more on the ground. Now, schools like Auburn, Ole Miss, and North Carolina are taking notice. But for now, he’s sticking with Houston.
“I’ll definitely keep in contact with them,” Henderson said. “You never know where a coach might end up.”
He doesn’t have any visit plans just yet. “That’s something I got to talk to my family about,” he mentioned. But an offer from Auburn did catch his eye.
“I was more so stunned,” he said. “Auburn just being one of those big cultural programs… it was one of those eye-opening experiences.”
All Eyes on Houston
For now, Henderson is focused on helping Houston recruit. His top targets include Jermaine Bishop Jr., Paris Melvin, and Cardae Mack. He’s starting local and then expanding his reach.
As Henderson keeps playing well, more schools will see what Fritz saw all along. He’s going to become the top target for many programs. Watch this space!
