Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Christiansburg running back Alec Henderson is taking his talents to Concord University in Athens, West Virginia.
He signed a letter of intent to the school on Wednesday.
Concord is a Division II NCAA school that plays in the Mountain East Conference and finished 2-9 this past season. Paul Price is in his second year as head coach at the university.
Henderson said Concord felt like home when he visited several times this fall. “The coaching staff and team alike welcomed me with open arms. I already love these teammates and the coaching staff, they really care for each other and push each other to be their best, very good people that I want to surround myself with and play for. It is also a great school, not massive, and not far from home at all. Plus, out of all the teams that expressed their interest in me, they showed that they wanted me the most,” he said.
Henderson’s mother graduated from Concord so he has a second generation connection to the school.
The 6-1, 218 running back tallied over 700 yards rushing for a Christiansburg team that its ups and downs this past season. He also led the Blue Demons from his linebacker position with 100 total tackles and was first team all-conference and all-county/all-city first team.
Henderson said the Concord coaching staff told him he was one of the top players on their list and feel he contribute to the program as they take the next step to become national champions.
Christiansburg has had back-to-back losing seasons only winning one game this past year, and Henderson admits that took a toll on him.
“I personally, started to lose heart after many losses were suffered, I was tempted to just lose hope and start to give up, but with the help of God and those closest to me, I pushed myself even harder in the face of adversity and gave it 100% every play, regardless of the circumstances,” he said.
Henderson plans to major in Biology in order to prepare him for physician assistant school.
Concord was very happy with their overall haul on National Signing Day. In addition to Henderson, the school also got former Auburn and current Parry McCluer tailback Jeremy Nelson who fell 125 yards short of setting a new career rushing record in the state of Virginia.
Concord had been the landing spot of 2016 Blacksburg graduate and quarterback Isaac Johnston, but he is no longer enrolled at the Athens, West Virginia school.
