Return to normalcy is junior end's hope

Marlin Levison, StarTribune

Gophers defensive end Ray Henderson saw his 2007 season ruined by a heat-related illness.

Ray Henderson is working his way back from an illness that cut him down by 40 pounds and still affects him.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: April 14, 2008 - 12:24 AM

It's been nearly a year since Gophers junior defensive end Ray Henderson lost 40 pounds and was hospitalized after suffering a heat-related illness, but he still doesn't feel 100 percent.

However, Henderson said he's close to feeling normal again, and he's shown flashes of it through the first half of spring workouts. A backup at rush end, Henderson has regained most of the weight and strength he lost last summer, and he is determined to show the potential that made him a highly ranked recruit as a prep star in suburban Milwaukee.

"I just want to get my confidence and swagger back," he said.

A series of personal setbacks have stripped him of those qualities. A transfer from Tennessee two years ago, Henderson had to cope with the death of his mother, Lenore, while also sitting out the 2006 season per NCAA rules.

The Gophers expected Henderson to contribute in 2007, but his season was derailed during summer workouts. Henderson said he failed to hydrate properly during workouts and became seriously ill. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle.

Henderson said he was hospitalized for four days. He dropped to 220 pounds -- 40 below his playing weight.

"I wasn't hydrating right," he said. "I should have been drinking water during workouts, but I tried to tough it out."

Henderson was not listed on the depth chart when the Gophers began fall camp and spent weeks trying to regain his weight and strength. He never fully recovered and finished with only three tackles in six games.

"You can't play [defensive end] in the Big Ten at 230 pounds," he said. "It was tough. I wanted to be out there helping my teammates. I just tried to bounce back from this and get my weight back up."

He's done that, weighing in at 262 pounds this spring. Gophers coach Tim Brewster said he believes Henderson can become a productive pass rusher on the edge once he finally feels 100 percent.

"Football is important to Ray Henderson, and he plays hard," Brewster said. "He had a tremendous setback last summer. That really set him back physically. It would be a very added bonus if we got some good things out of Ray Henderson."

Henderson said he leaned on friends for support during those difficult times the past few years. His best friend is Travis Beckum, the first-team All-Big Ten tight end at Wisconsin who played with Henderson in high school at Oak Creek, Wis. Henderson lived with Beckum's family after his mother died and said the two are like brothers.

"He just tells me to keep my head up and keep after it," Henderson said.

Henderson said he sees signs of progress this spring. He feels better, is making more plays and remains hopeful that better days are ahead.

"It's all about getting my confidence back," he said. "When I'm allowed to make mistakes so I can learn from them, that builds my confidence back up. When I went to Tennessee and came here, I had that swagger. I've got to get that back."