{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Nolan Henderson | image =File:Nolan Henderson.jpg | alt = | caption =Henderson with the Houston Gamblers in 2026 | current_team = Houston Gamblers | number = 15 | position = Quarterback | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|6|26}} | birth_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1/2 | weight_lb = 202 | high_school = Smyrna {{nowrap|(Smyrna, Delaware)}} | college = Delaware (2017–2022) | undraftedyear = 2023 | pastteams = * Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2023}})* * Houston Roughnecks / Gamblers ({{UFL Year|2024}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = * First-team All-CAA (2020–2021) * Second-team All-CAA (2022) | statleague = UFL | statseason = 2026 | statweek = 2 | statlabel1 = Passing yards | statvalue1 = 929 | statlabel2 = Completion percentage | statvalue2 = 57.0 | statlabel3 = TD–INT | statvalue3 = 4-3 | statlabel4 = Passer rating | statvalue4 = 77.5 | statlabel5 = Rushing yards | statvalue5 = 256 | statlabel6 = Rushing touchdowns | statvalue6 = 1 | pfr = }}
'''Nolan Michael Henderson''' (born June 26, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.
==Early life== Henderson was born on June 26, 1998, and is a native of Smyrna, Delaware.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://bluehens.com/sports/football/roster/nolan-henderson/26381|publisher=Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|title=Nolan Henderson}}</ref> He attended Smyrna High School and was a three-year starter and two-time team captain.<ref name="auto2"/> In his final two seasons, Henderson led them to an overall record of 24–1 and the school's first two state championships, while throwing for 5,614 yards and 68 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116695506/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 17, 2017|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116695560/the-news-journal/ C3]|author=Tresolini, Kevin|title=QB Nolan Henderson re-commits to the University of Delaware}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was twice named first-team all-state,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116695782/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 7, 2016|page=C3|author=Myers, Brad|title=Smyrna's Henderson heads All-State football team}} {{Open access}}</ref> set several state records, including career passing touchdowns (104), single season passing yards (3,380) and passing touchdowns (36), and in 2016 was given the Maxwell Jim Henry Award for best player in Delaware, as well as Gatorade State Player of the Year and DIFCA Offensive Player of the Year honors.<ref name="auto2"/> At the annual Delaware High School All-Star game in June 2017, Henderson was named most valuable player after leading the gold team to a 44–0 victory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116696327/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 18, 2017|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116696395/the-news-journal/ C10]|author=Tresolini, Kevin|title=The Gold Standard}} {{Open access}}</ref>
In addition to football, Henderson also started four years on the Smyrna High School baseball team as an outfielder, playing under his father who was the head coach.<ref name="auto2"/>
==College career== After visiting several schools in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), Henderson announced his commitment to play college football for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/07/20/smyrna-qb-henderson-commits-delaware/87357158/|newspaper=The News Journal|title=Smyrna QB Henderson commits to Delaware|date=July 20, 2016|author=Myers, Brad}}</ref> As a true freshman in 2017, Henderson saw no game action, being a redshirt and operating the scout team.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/college/ud/2022/12/08/delaware-quarterback-nolan-henderson-leaves-blue-hens-with-eyes-on-nfl/69708462007/|newspaper=The News Journal|title=Delaware's record-breaking quarterback leaves school early, eyes the NFL|date=December 8, 2022|author=Tresolini, Kevin}}</ref> The following season, he appeared in a total of three games, making his collegiate debut against Lafayette<ref name="auto2"/> and seeing the most action against Villanova, where he threw a touchdown pass after coming in for the injured Pat Kehoe.<ref name="auto"/> On the season, he completed 12-of-20 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown, in addition to rushing for 36 yards.<ref name="auto2"/>
Four games into the 2019 season, Henderson was named starter, replacing Kehoe and becoming the first starting quarterback for the Blue Hens from a Delaware school since Sam Postlethwait in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116697414/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 21, 2019|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116697488/the-news-journal/ C2]|author=Tresolini, Kevin|title=Fueled By Naysayers}} {{Open access}}</ref> In his first career start, against Penn, he threw for three touchdowns and 260 yards.<ref name="auto2"/> He finished the season having played in nine games, and recorded 71 pass completions on 126 attempts for 933 yards.<ref name="auto2"/>
Henderson became a full-time starter in the 2020–21 season, being team captain and throwing for 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games.<ref name="auto2"/> He led them to a 7–1 mark and set the school record with a 70.7 completion percentage,<ref name="auto"/> helping them reach the NCAA semifinals.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116698160/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 3, 2021|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116698212/the-news-journal/ C4]|author=Tresolini, Kevin|title=Next stop for Blue Hens is the NCAA semifinals}} {{Open access}}</ref> His completion percentage ranked first in the CAA and third in the FCS, and he was named first-team all-conference.<ref name="auto2"/>
In 2021, Henderson started the first four games before suffering a season-ending abdominal injury.<ref name="auto"/> In four games, he went 47-of-80 passing for 646 yards and four touchdowns.<ref name="auto2"/> He posted his best year as a senior in 2022, setting the single-season school record for passing touchdowns with 32 while completing 285-of-442 passes for 3,216 yards, the latter of which was the third best mark in Delaware history.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto"/> He was named second-team All-CAA,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bluehens.com/news/2022/11/22/football-blue-hens-have-10-selected-to-all-caa-teams|publisher=Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|title=Blue Hens Have 10 Selected to All-CAA Teams|date=November 22, 2022}}</ref> and led Delaware to the FCS playoffs, where they lost to eventual national champion South Dakota State 42–6, in a game that saw Henderson break his fibula on the first drive.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://baytobaynews.com/delaware/stories/delaware-season-ending-lossed-marred-by-scary-injury,95866|newspaper=Delaware State News|title=Delaware season-ending loss is marred by scary injury|author=Walter, Andy|date=December 3, 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Although Henderson had one year of eligibility remaining coming into 2023, he opted to declare for the NFL draft.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://baytobaynews.com/delaware/stories/henderson-leaving-blue-hens-will-declare-for-nfl-draft,96163|newspaper=Delaware State News|title=Henderson leaving Blue Hens, will declare for NFL Draft|date=December 7, 2022|author=Walter, Andy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wdel.com/sports/delaware-qb-henderson-declares-for-nfl-draft/article_4c695e8c-76b3-11ed-b800-d34685510288.html|publisher=WDEL|title=Delaware QB Henderson declares for NFL Draft|author=Greene, Sean|date=December 8, 2022}}</ref> He finished his college career second all-time in Delaware history for touchdown passes (56), and completed 550-of-850 pass attempts for 6,429 yards.<ref name="auto1"/> Additionally, he ran for 418 yards, scoring eight times.<ref name="auto1"/>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 11 1/2 | weight = 202 | dash = 4.55 | ten split = 1.65 | twenty split = 2.62 | shuttle = 4.27 | cone drill = 7.16 | vertical = 31.5 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 6 | arm span = 29 3/4 | hand span = 8 5/8 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Nolan Henderson College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1004098&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }}
=== Baltimore Ravens === After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Henderson was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |title=Ravens Announce 18-Member Undrafted Rookie Class |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-announce-18-member-2023-rookie-class |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |date=May 5, 2023 |access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref> He was released on June 6.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |title=Ravens Sign WR Laquon Treadwell |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/laquon-treadwell-ravens-agree-to-terms-free-agency |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>
=== Houston Roughnecks / Gamblers === On January 22, 2024, Henderson signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite news |title=The UFL Agrees to Terms with 61 Players |url=https://uflboard.com/news/the-ufl-agrees-to-terms-with-61-players/ |website=UFLBoard.com |date=January 22, 2024 |access-date=January 23, 2024}}</ref> He re-signed with the team on September 18.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The #UFL has announced the following transactions |number=1836526898148471257 |date=September 18, 2024 |access-date=September 19, 2024}}</ref>
On February 16, 2026, Henderson signed with the rebranded Houston Gamblers of the United Football League, after he had initially gone unassigned in the 2026 UFL draft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larsen |first1=James |title=Houston Gamblers Sign Nolan Henderson To Finalize QB Room |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/houston-gamblers-sign-nolan-henderson-to-finalize-qb-room/ |website=PF Newsroom |access-date=18 February 2026}}</ref> Henderson earned UFL player of the week honors for his week 2 appearance against the Birmingham Stallions, where he led the Gamblers to an upset victory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Sean |date=2026-04-08 |title=Delaware's Nolan Henderson returns from bench to earn UFL Player of the Week |url=https://www.wdel.com/sports/delawares-nolan-henderson-returns-from-bench-to-earn-ufl-player-of-the-week/article_87ae984d-6cf4-40d8-b725-33a06e0babe8.html |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=WDEL 101.7FM |language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===UFL=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="9"| Passing ! colspan="5"| Rushing |- ! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starting quarterback}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} !!{{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} |- ! 2024 !! HOU | 6 || 2 || 0–2 || 43 || 74 || 58.1 || 526 || 7.1 || 63 || 2 || 1 || 83.5 || 22 || 143 || 6.5 || 20 || 1 |- ! 2025 !! HOU | 4 || 1 || 0–1 || 20 || 36 || 55.6 || 183 || 5.1 || 29 || 2 || 0 || 88.1 || 9 || 82 || 9.1 || 33 || 0 |- ! 2026 !! HOU | 5 || 4 || 1–3 || 40 || 70 || 57.1 || 447 || 6.4 || 33 || 0 || 2 || 64.4 || 16 || 105 || 6.6 || 37 || 1 |- ! colspan="2"| [https://www.footballdb.com/players/nolan-henderson-hendeno01?src=search Career] !! 15 !! 7 !! 1–6 !! 103 !! 180 !! 57.2 !! 1,156 !! 6.4 !! 63 !! 4 !! 3 !! 77.0 !! 47 !! 330 !! 7.0 !! 37 !! 2 |}
===College=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing |- ! GP !! Record !! Comp !! Att !! Pct !! Yards !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rate !! Att !! Yards !! Avg !! TD |- ! 2017 !! Delaware | colspan="15"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}} |- ! 2018 !! Delaware | 3 || 0–0 || 12 || 20 || 60.0 || 152 || 7.6 || 1 || 0 || 140.3 || 10 || 36 || 3.6 || 0 |- ! 2019 !! Delaware | 9 || 2–4 || 71 || 126 || 56.3 || 933 || 7.4 || 9 || 1 || 140.5 || 71 || 126 || '''2.5'''|| 1 |- ! 2020 !! Delaware | 8 || '''7–1'''|| 135 || 191 || '''70.7'''|| 1,482 || 7.8 || 10 || 4 || '''148.9'''|| 72 || 101 || 1.4 || 2 |- ! 2021 !! Delaware | 4 || 3–1 || 47 || 80 || 58.8 || 646 || '''8.1'''|| 4 || '''0'''|| 143.1 || 23 || -57 || -2.5 || 1 |- ! 2022 !! Delaware | '''13'''|| 8–5 || '''285'''|| '''442'''|| 64.5 || '''3,231'''|| 7.3 || '''32'''|| 9 || 145.7 || '''94'''|| '''149'''|| 1.6 || '''4''' |- ! colspan="2"|[https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4248104/nolan-henderson Career] !! 37!! 20−11 !! 550!! 859!! 64.0!! 6,444!! 7.5!! 56!! 14!! 145.3!! 270!! 355!! 1.3!! 8 |}
== Personal life == Henderson grew up a Delaware fan and his childhood dream was to play for the school; his family held season tickets for several years.<ref name="auto2"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116697783/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 12, 2021|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116697862/the-news-journal/ B2]|author=Tresolini, Kevin|title=UD football's 'dynamic' QB also his own toughest critic}} {{Open access}} *{{Cite web|url=https://herosports.com/fcs-football-nolan-henderson-arrived-delaware-dsds/|website=HERO Sports|title=FCS: Nolan Henderson Has Arrived. Now, Delaware Needs Him To Stay Awhile|date=September 21, 2022|author=Steenkamer, Daniel}}
{{Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens quarterback navbox}}{{Houston Roughnecks starting quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Nolan}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:American football quarterbacks Category:People from Smyrna, Delaware Category:Players of American football from Delaware Category:Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football players Category:Baltimore Ravens players Category:Houston Gamblers (UFL) players