Beech Tree News Network

After a stellar high school career on the football field for Butler County High School, senior quarterback Rex Henderson has accepted a preferred walk-on offer from the Hilltoppers. As the national signing day for college football prospects approached on February 1, Henderson was still unsure about his future. Rex had received a scholarship offer from Morehead State entering his senior year and had received interest from Marshall University in West Virginia, even being invited to visit for camps and to tour the campus.

W.K.U. had also shown interest around that same time but after the season, Hilltopper Head Coach Jeff Brohm left W.K.U. for the head coaching job at Purdue University. But, by the end of his senior year neither program had issued a scholarship offer.

Murray State, who Henderson had also visited earlier in the season, emerged as an option - even verbally offering Henderson a scholarship in early December but when they came for Henderson's in-home visit they did not come with the kind of offer Rex was expecting, thus leaving things in flux for Henderson. However, on Monday, January 30, Henderson received a text message from the quarterback coach at W.K.U., Steve Spurrier, Jr., son of legendary college football coach Steve Spurrier, who asked Rex to call him. That is when talks began and as soon as W.K.U. secured their signing class on Wednesday, February 1, the coaches brought forth the preferred walk on offer. All college football programs have a walk-on aspect to their program. A "preferred" walk-on is when a player has a guaranteed roster spot and is an equal part of the team as any other player and are first in line to later receive a full scholarship as they become available - as the player's development shows the level of play that warrants a scholarship.
Henderson began to seriously be noticed as he and Butler County offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Barry Frazier attended several Nike camps before Rex's junior and senior season.

Henderson, who has started at quarterback since his sophomore season, began to put up
record-setting numbers at quarterback.
Henderson put up impressive statistics at quarterback for Butler County.  In three seasons:
 - 2014 - Rex had 2,033 yards passing - 19 Touchdowns; 522 rushing - 12 touchdowns
 - 2015 -3,020 yards; 31 touchdowns with 897 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns

 -  50 touchdown junior season for Rex would garner him an Honorable Mention All State award from the Louisville Courier-Journal
 - 2016 - 2,472 passing - 29 touchdowns; 1,344 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns
 - Rex's strong senior year would garner him the Class 2A, District 2 Player of the Year award
 - Rex finished with 7,525 career yards passing - 79 career touchdown passes; 2,763 career yards rushing with 59 touchdowns
 - 10,288 yards from scrimmage on offense alone, not counting the many punt and kickoff return yards he had during his career

Henderson was also an outstanding defensive back at Butler County, having 14 career interceptions - two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Adding in the two defensive touchdowns brings Henderson's total career touchdowns to 140.

Henderson also has been a starter on the Butler County High School basketball squad since his 8th grade year and he's been a two-time all 12th District performer during that span and will be near the 1,500 career point mark before the season is finished.  Currently, he is at approximately 1,331 at the time of this article.

"I am extremely excited for the opportunity Rex has received," said B.C.H.S. head coach Ryan Emmick.  "I feel like he is going into a great situation and will have the ability to grow and become not only a better football player but to become a better person as well.  W.K.U. is getting a great student, a great athlete, and a great teammate for their program."

Rex’s work ethic, coachability and humility will make him successful no matter what he attempts in life," said B.C.H.S. quarterback coach Barry Frazier.  Rex, along with Elijah Flener, have set the gold standard of what I envisioned the quarterback position to be here at Butler County over seven years ago.  I am very proud of both of my young men."