Hawaii football lands JUCO All-America receiver

Courtesy of Alonzell Henderson's Twitter

“No April fool’s (joke),” Alonzell “Zelly” Henderson said, “yes, I will be a Warrior.”

Henderson, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound inside receiver from College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., said he is fully committed to accepting a scholarship from the UH football team.

Because this is deemed a “dead period” — no in-person contact between coaches and a recruit — due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Henderson must wait until the NCAA restrictions are lifted before he can put his 2020 commitment in ink. But phone conversations are allowed, and Henderson reiterated: “I’m committed to Hawaii.”


This past season, Henderson had 57 receptions for 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns. In seven of 11 games, he had at least 100 receiving yards.

Henderson was named to the California Community College Football Coaches Association’s 2019 All-America team. CCCFCA selections are considered All-Americans.

Henderson said he will earn an associate’s degree in May, and will join the Warriors this summer.


This semester, Henderson said he was contacted by the UH coaches, who eventually made a scholarship offer. Henderson said he kept in contact with head coach Todd Graham, offensive coordinator G.J. Kinne and receivers coach Brennan Marion. “I love those dudes,” Henderson said. “They’re always giving me good words. They keep me motivated. I appreciate them for that.”

After consulting with friends and family members, Henderson finalized his UH choice. “They thought it would be the best place for me for the offense and to experience college in general,” Henderson said. He agreed, adding, “I wanted to go to a place that was comfortable for me, and I feel Hawaii is that place. … I’ve been to Hawaii. I know how the people are very loving, very family oriented. I like that.”

COMMENTS

  1. H-Man April 1, 2020 6:59 pm

    With the addition of Alonzell, there are now seven new receivers, if you count transfer senior, Calvin Turner. If my count is right, that’s now three new players Graham has added since national signing day. Just hoping and waiting to see if Rachaad White will sign with Hawaii (over Indiana).


  2. kapakahi April 1, 2020 8:20 pm

    As of now, the earliest any new 2020 player is allowed to officially sign with a team is June 2020…..thus far.
    https://twitter.com/InsidetheNCAA/status/1245450773590409222


  3. A-House April 2, 2020 6:47 am

    i am missing something!

    what has signing a piece of paper got to do with COVID-19?

    if the COVID-19 restrictions go into November or December, what happens??? all committed players, who have not sighed a piece of paper, cannot attend school on scholarship?


  4. Matt April 2, 2020 9:46 am

    1

    The 24/7 website has him at UCLA 100%. So…there’s three schools wanting to fight for him. Not sure what to expect.


  5. H-Man April 2, 2020 10:44 am

    Aw, not good news about White predicted to go with UCLA. It was a stretch in hoping he was seriously considering Hawaii. But, gotta move forward. What about Ikaika Ragsdale? I see he is still uncommitted.


  6. turfwar April 2, 2020 12:32 pm

    White was originally committed to UCLA then something happened that made him decomitt and open his recruiting up again. That is when Hawaii coaches and others jumped in.


  7. H-Man April 2, 2020 1:25 pm

    Ok, so Hawaii still in the game.


  8. Whitey April 2, 2020 2:01 pm

    I believe ST got the correct scoop. Man everything is going to move at warp speed.


  9. NorthShoreFan April 2, 2020 3:10 pm

    A-House…good question. Then again, we talking abou No Clue At All making decisions. Good thing they not in charge of the virus situation.


  10. A-House April 3, 2020 6:28 am

    NSF:

    we already have a ???? leading the COVID-19 panic!

    be safe — keep healthy!!


  11. islandman April 3, 2020 7:57 pm

    5-10 PG JoVon McClanahan commits to UH from Sheridan College, has 3 years left to play.


  12. You can't handle the truth April 4, 2020 5:13 am

    All this talk about receivers is one thing, what about the o-line recruiting. Who is going to be blocking (protecting) for cordeiro, miles & this group of receivers thus the whole offense…duh ?!


  13. Matt April 5, 2020 10:52 am

    12

    That’s a good point you brought up there. Following the 2020 season, Todd Graham is going to have a lot of O-Line leaving from graduation, 7 O-Line seniors (Ernest Moore, Gene Pryor, Kohl Levao, Alesana Sunia, Michael Eletise, Joey Nu’uanu-Kuhi’iki) and possibly maybe more from the redshirt junior side could be added into the mix (Ramsey Aviu, Micah Vanterpool, Ra Elkington) should any opt to finish their careers after finishing their degrees early.

    We could be looking at possibly 10 O-Line leaving.

    However, that being said, we do return some potential help on the O-Line with Solo Vaipulu and Ilm Manning and plenty of young and inexperienced players by our side (Bubba Wa’a, Caden Hilborn, Arasi Mose, Kauka Umiamaka, Eliki Tanuvasa, and Elias Wong), but do gain Sergio Muasau and Micah Soliai Howlett coming in. That being said, yes, looking for O-Line recruits should be a first for Todd Graham, especially when a lot could be gone in a blink of an eye and we could be seeing a rebuild back up again for him.


  14. Matt April 5, 2020 11:02 am

    Also would like to point out that we do get some WR help coming in and returning.

    Returning:

    James Philips
    Jared Smart
    Jonah Panoke
    Kumoku Noa (If he can somehow stay healthy because he only played in one game last season and didn’t play at ALL in 2018)
    Lincoln Victor
    Nick Mardner
    Grey Ihu
    Jaden Allen
    Keliam Brunn
    Mekel Ealy
    Jaden Allen
    Melquise Stovall (For some reason, Hawaii Athletics has him back on the spring football roster despite him being cut from the team by Rolovich following the Air Force loss)

    Incoming:

    Tamatao Mokiao-Atimalala
    Riley Preston
    Kilohana Haasenritter
    Zion Bowens
    Calvin Turner
    Alonzell Henderson

    So yeah…anything could happen. All we can do is hope for Todd Graham finding the right pieces of the puzzle to fill in any and all requirements needed for 2021. I’m excited to see what is going to happen for Todd Graham’s coaching debut.


  15. A-House April 6, 2020 6:45 am

    Sergio Muasau is OL or DL?


  16. H-Man April 6, 2020 8:30 am

    Funny line for the day.
    “DeGeneres jokes that she’s filming her show from her living room, “Because it has the best light and sound and because all the rooms in my house are filled with toilet paper.””


  17. kapakahi April 6, 2020 3:57 pm

    #13, Returning starting C Ta’aga Tu’ulima will also be a senior. Incoming frosh signee Micah Soliai-Howlett (Kahuku) was out most of the 2019 season with a knee injury so might not be ready yet this Fall.

    #14, Riley Wilson (from Prestonwood Christian HS). Also add incoming true frosh SB Quin Bright.

    #15, Sergio Muasau is projected to compete on OL at the C position.


  18. Matt April 15, 2020 9:34 am

    A kicker from the Oregon Ducks in Adam Stack coming in, per today’s HSA sports section. Local kid, 3-star prospect, but was dealing with a hernia during spring practice, lost the starting kicker position and transferred after only two games into Oregon’s 2019 season.

    https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/04/15/sports/former-all-state-kicker-adam-stack-to-join-university-of-hawaii-football-team/


Comments are closed.