Eric Henderson Is Paying Major Dividends for USC on the Recruiting Trail and Beyond

USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley enthusiastically announced the hiring of Henderson on January 15, 2024:

“I’m excited to welcome the final member of our defensive staff, Eric Henderson. [He is a] Super Bowl Champion coach who has been recognized nationally for being the top in his field[.] Eric will bring immeasurable knowledge and experience to our program. We have put together a defensive staff that is second to none. We’re ready to get to work.”

Super Bowl Champion Eric Henderson

USC’s online bio concerning Henderson notes:

“Eric Henderson, a Super Bowl Champion and award-winning coach, enters his first season as USC’s co-defensive coordinator/run game coordinator/defensive line coach.

“Henderson most recently served as the defensive line coach/run game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.”

Henderson was on the Rams’ coaching staff from 2019 through 2023.

Henderson’s Recruiting Prowess Has Been (Georgia) Peachy

The Trojans have strengthened their roster thanks in large part to landing recruits from the State of Georgia. This recent recruiting success is attributable in large part to Henderson’s efforts.

As 247Sports reported: “the Trojans have quickly become the hottest team in the country on the recruiting trail.” In particular, March 24, 2024 was a “Hot Sunday” for the Trojans. On that day they landed a bevy of extremely talented recruits, including:

• Justus Terry — 5-star recruit from Georgia
• Isaiah Gibson — No. 1 edge rusher in the nation, from Georgia
• Hylton Stubbs — No. 6 safety in the nation, from Jacksonville, FL (close to Georgia)

Justus Terry and his family expressly singled out Henderson and defensive analyst/assistant Parker Henry in explaining why Terry decided to commit to USC. They are impressed by Aaron Donald’s endorsement of Henderson, and Henderson’s role as defensive line coach on the Rams’ 2021-2022 Super Bowl championship team.

As reported by The Los Angeles Daily News on March 24, 2024:

“Suddenly, USC has three true blue-chip recruits from Georgia — Terry, Gibson and crown-jewel quarterback Julian Lewis — verbally committed in the class of 2025, a top three as bright as any program’s in the country.

“All signs for the surge point back to Henderson, who recruited both Terry and Gibson and hosted them out at USC this weekend in a big-time recruiting push. On Saturday, none other than the recently-retired Aaron Donald was out at USC’s third spring practice, the former Rams defensive lineman out in support of his former coach Henderson.

“‘As long as this D-line got Coach Henny, man, they gon’ be great,’ Donald said in a video on USC Football’s Twitter account.”

Per Trojans Wire:

“Eric Henderson is putting in the ‘Dawgwork’ at USC football. After getting Justus Terry, a five-star player, to flip from the University of Georgia to USC, Henderson then brought in a commitment from Isaiah Gibson, a four-star edge rusher but — more importantly — the No. 1-rated edge rusher in 247Sports’ overall rankings. That’s a pair of 450-foot home runs for “Coach Henny,” whose value to USC is already very apparent and every bit as large as Trojan fans hoped for.

“Two elite defensive players on the front seven, landed within six hours? Dawgwork never felt so good for Trojan fans, who have to be elated by this pair of developments.

“This never could have or would have happened under Alex Grinch and the previous regime on the defensive side of the ball at USC. Lincoln Riley’s big philosophical and structural change on defense — truly investing in player development and coaches with substantial credentials — has caught the attention of recruits.

“Aaron Donald’s visit to USC, complete with a testimonial about Eric Henderson’s quality as a coach, has lit a match. USC is smoking hot and primed to achieve even more on the trail, including and especially in Georgia, where Isaiah Gibson is from.”

Cashing in on Relationship with Aaron Donald

Henderson and Aaron Donald are close friends. That relationship, coupled with the fact that Henderson coached Donald on the Rams from 2019 through 2023, is yielding enormous benefits for the Trojans.

It is difficult to understate the impact of Donald’s affiliation with Henderson and USC’s recruiting efforts, particularly on defensive line prospects coming out of high school.

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