Saint Francis (PA) Grad-Transfer WR Ra’Shaun Henry Signs With Virginia Football

By: Chris Horne |
Wide receiver Ra’Shaun Henry enjoyed a breakout 2019 campaign. The result was an opportunity to play for at VIrginia, where he will spend his final season of eligibility. ~ Photo courtesy of Saint Francis University Athletics

Virginia football head coach Bronco Mendenhall called today, “A great day to be a Hoo.”

There have been a lot of great days for the Cavaliers recently, thanks to a tremendous recruiting run in the class of 2021 as well as success on the transfer market. Today (May 12) the Hoos announced more good news from the transfer market, revealing the addition of Saint Francis University (Loretto, PA) wide receiver Ra’Shaun Henry.

Henry, who measures in at 6’3”, 195 pounds, is eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer. The 2020 season will be his final season of eligibility.

Virginia officially welcomed Henry with this press release. Meanwhile, Coach Mendenhall took to Twitter to discuss what the former Red Flash star means to the program.

Henry signed with Saint Francis University out of Copperas Cove High School (Killeen, TX), where he amassed 741 all-purpose yards (497 yards receiving on 22 catches) as a wide receiver and kick returner as a senior in 2015. After redshirting his true freshman campaign, Henry played in 20 games in 2017 and 2018 and totaled 19 receptions for 241 yards and a touchdown.

Henry broke out in a major way as a redshirt junior last season, hauling in 90 receptions for 1,118 yards and nine touchdowns. What was especially noticeable was the way he closed out 2019, amassing 53 catches for 777 yards and seven touchdowns in Saint Francis’ final five games. Henry had 11 or more catches and 156 or more yards in four of those five games.

Among all players on the FCS level, the 2019 All-NEC and All-ECAC First-Team selection finished fourth in receptions, fifth in receptions per game, 13th in receiving yards, and tied for 15th in receiving touchdowns.

Virginia will have two graduate transfer players in the program next season, including Henry and former Mississippi State dual-threat quarterback Keytaon Thompson. The coaches are hopeful Indiana running back transfer Ronnie Walker Jr. will be granted immediate eligibility as well. Walker Jr., who hails from Hopewell (VA) and has two years of eligibility remaining, has applied to the NCAA for a waiver to play next season.

In Henry, UVA adds an intriguing prospect to a wide receiver unit in need of experienced depth. Next year’s unit (scholarship players only) includes senior Terrell Jana, juniors Tavares Kelly Jr. and Billy Kemp IV, sophomores Ugo Obasi and Dontayvion Wicks, redshirt freshmen Nathaniel Beal III, Dorien Goddard and Luke Wentz (now listed as a WR on the official roster), and true freshmen Lavel Davis and Demick Starling. Henry provides maturity, college experience, and perhaps significant upside if he builds upon his redshirt junior season performance.