NOTE: Kansas State has elected to advance players’ classification even though the 2020 season did not affect eligibility. Those who wish to take advantage of this extra year will be listed as a (“super”) senior again after their original eligibility would have been exhausted.

#36 Hunter Henry

Redshirt Sophomore | 6-1 | 198 lbs. | Austin, Texas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Defensive Back
• Previous College: Rice University
• Projection: Second-String
• Status: Preferred Walk-On

John Hunter Henry (b. June 30, 2000) is a former walk-on defensive back who transferred from Rice to K-State during the 2020 offseason. Due to COVID-19, he did not have to sit out.

Henry played in three games for the Owls, so he retained his redshirt for the 2019 season.

He saw time against Wake Forest, Southern Miss and Marshall, but did not record statistics.

Following his transfer, Henry played in eight contests for KSU — including each of the final three games — during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he totaled seven tackles.

He had two stops each against Kansas, Baylor and Texas, and also carded his first career tackle for loss against the Bears.

I project that Henry, who is majoring in kinesiology, could appear in the two-deep in 2021.

A three-year letter-winner who concluded his career under head coach Hank Carter at Lake Travis High School, Henry initially played two seasons at Cedar Park High School.

In all, he was credited with 143 tackles in his high school career, along with 14 pass breakups and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Henry earned All-District 25-6A honors as a Lake Travis senior after compiling 79 tackles, one sack, an interception and three pass breakups as he helped the Cavaliers to advance to the state quarterfinals semifinals.

He was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Top 300 30 DBs and as part of the magazine’s postseason “Class of 2019” after previously being an all-district selection as a junior at Cedar Park and named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Top 100 juniors.

Henry earned honorable mention all-district honors as a sophomore after Cedar Park captured the state title.

He also competed in track, with personal bests of 11.1 in the 100 meters and 22.9 in the 200.

Henry’s mother, Anita, was an eight-time NCAA All-American swimmer at Alabama and his aunt, Megan Henry, has competed with the U.S. Skeleton team since 2013.

“I’m really excited and love Manhattan,” Henry told GPC in January upon the transfer announcement. “It already feels like home.” Henry has already gone through winter strength and conditioning with the Wildcats as a mid-year enrollee, and joined the team as a walk-on hoping to earn a scholarship in the future.

Based on his expanded listing in the 2021 spring media guide, it appears Henry has achieved his goal of earning that scholarship and he should bolster our depth in 2021.