Henry Selected as Second Team All-American
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After helping lead a Wildcats team that ranked first in the Heart of America Conference in rush defense, Baker senior linebacker Mitchell Henry has been named to the AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
A native of Goss, Kan., Henry totaled 84 tackles – 13 of them being tackles for a loss – and had two interceptions and two forced fumbles on the year. He recorded double-digit tackles in four of his first five games of 2022, including a menacing performance against Clarke (Sept. 24) where he had 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble in the game. In 2021, Henry finished with 48 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Henry, who was also a first team all-conference selection this year, played a key part for a Wildcats defense that was one of the best in the conference. Baker limited its opponents to an average of 18.2 points per game, tied for third best in the Heart. As the conference's stingiest run defense, the Wildcats held opposing offenses to under 75 yards on the ground in eight of their 11 games this season.
Henry becomes the latest Wildcat to earn the postseason accolade as it marks the ninth straight year that a Baker player has landed on the All-America list. He follows former Wildcats JD Woods (2019, 2020, 2021), Nate McLaurin (2018), Josh Kock (2016, 2017), Logan Brettell (2016), Cornell Brown (2016), Clarence Clark (2015, 2016), Darrain Winston (2016), Tucker Pauley (2015) and Sheldon Jacks (2014) as the BU players to receive the honor since 2014.
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