Provo • Aaron Roderick didn’t expect Dom Henry to land at BYU a year ago.
It wasn’t that Roderick didn’t want the Florida receiver to come to Provo. After Henry put together a senior season of 1,590 yards and 13 touchdowns at the highest level of Florida high school football, Roderick did. But BYU didn’t have an open scholarship left to offer, and Roderick figured a preferred walk-on deal wouldn’t be enough to land Henry. He assumed a Power Five school would come in with a scholarship and swoop Henry away.
But that offseason, nobody came. Army and Air Force were interested. Robert Morris and a few others inquired. But BYU was Henry’s best football choice, so he took it.
“I was really surprised we got him as a walk-on,” Roderick admitted. “He is a scholarship player for a lot of programs.”
A year later, that luck is starting to pay off. Henry has been a quiet standout of spring camp thus far. Without Kody Epps in the mix — out with a shoulder problem — it has been Henry routinely making catches in the team period. Working mostly with quarterbacks Cade Fennegan and Ryder Burton, Henry has looked smooth.
“Dom has a chance to be a good player,” Roderick said. “He has played very well up to his point. ... Very good route runner. He has good range. He plays bigger than he is, I would say, as a target. He has really good range. I love how he competes.”
Henry redshirted in 2022 and did not record a catch. He is currently competing with other young receivers like Parker Kingston to break into the rotation in 2023.
Quick hits
• BYU doesn’t have any starting linebackers in spring practice this year, but that might be a good thing. Even if it is an experience for new linebackers coach Justin Ena, he is seeing a trio of freshmen emerge and potential impact players that fit his new system.
• Mark Pope feels like he is losing recruits because of NIL issues at BYU. Will this be a long-term problem at the school?
• BYU is targeting former Utah State linebacker AJ Vongphachanh in the transfer portal to boost its defense.
Around the Big 12
Baylor — Is this a prove-it year for Dave Aranda?
UCF — Five new players that will take a leap ahead of the Big 12.
Cincinnati — Three early takeaways from the first week of spring camp.
Houston — Can the Cougars play in the Final Four in their home city.
Iowa State — No spring game in Ames this year.
Kansas — Is scheduling Lindenwood. Is there a blueprint for BYU?
Kansas State — Is now the darling of March Madness.
Oklahoma — Is hiring the former North Texas head coach to its staff. Is that a play for some more Texas recruiting?
Oklahoma State — Is trying to unlock the running game.
TCU — Opened spring practice this week.
Texas — Why haven’t three former Longhorns found new homes in the portal?
Texas Tech — Is asking the conference how they can hold officials accountable after bad calls.
West Virginia — Some main talking points going into spring practice.
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