The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class didn’t have to go far to add a difference maker in the secondary. Cy Falls corner back James Henderson has committed to the Owls.
Even in today’s ever-changing recruiting environment, getting players to campus remains a crucial piece of the process. The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class set itself up for success with a series of important camps and official visits over the last few weekends. Once such attendee saw enough to make a pledge. James Henderson has committed to the Owls.
Landing a commitment from Henderson represents a massive win for Rice football on the recruiting trail. Henderson’s offer list sat at 29 programs at the time of his decision. Henderson spurned offers from Michigan State, Oklahoma State and Wake Forest, just to name a few. Instead of head out of state, Henderson is staying home and will be a building block for an already robust 2026 class.
Henderson is just the third defensive addition to the class so far, which has skewed more heavily toward offensive players in terms of commitments in the first few months. On the other side of the ball, Henderson joins pass rushers Quincy Tchikou from Cy Ranch and JD Singletary from Middletown (OH).
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Why so many programs were in on Henderson from the start becomes readily apparent when you turn on the tape. The long, 6-foot-2 corner can win on an island and reads the ball well in the air. And, just as important, he has the athleticism to do something with the ball when he gets it.
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