The University of Virginia football program has added another piece to its 2021 wide receiver corps, landing a commitment from Marshall University graduate transfer Artie Henry III. Henry III, who entered the transfer portal on May 26 and announced an offer from UVA on May 28, revealed his decision via Twitter.
All Praise To The Most High 🙏🏾 Let’s Get To Work… #Committed #THEStandard #GoHoos🔸🔶 pic.twitter.com/vqR4qu6Bsl
— Artie Henry III (@ArtieHenryIII1) June 3, 2021
A native of Sarasota, Florida, Henry III was rated a 3-star prospect out of Booker High School. Though he received scholarship offers from a handful of FBS programs, Henry III wound up beginning his college career at California junior college San Diego Mesa College, where he spent two years before transferring to Marshall for the 2018-2019 academic year.
Henry III caught four passes for 47 yards as a true freshman at Mesa. As a sophomore, he flourished, hauling in 25 catches for 505 yards (20.2 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. The 6’1”, 190-pound wideout adapted quickly to a higher level of football at Marshall, totaling 17 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the Thundering Herd in 2018. An injury sidelined Henry III for all but three games in 2019, but he returned to Marshall as a redshirt senior in 2020 and contributed 22 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns.
Because the NCAA allowed every player who played in 2020 another year of eligibility, Henry III has an extra year of eligibility at his disposal. He plans to use it in Charlottesville.
Spring setbacks at the wide receiver position, including the loss of star rising sophomore Lavel Davis Jr. to a torn ACL and rising senior Tavares Kelly Jr’s football future possibly in question (he ran track at UVA this spring), left UVA perhaps taking a closer look for another wide receiver the transfer portal. Without Davis and Kelly, the Hoos faced entering the 2021 campaign with two receivers with double-digit career receptions on the college level – senior Billy Kemp IV (102 catches at UVA) and senior Ra’Shaun Henry (116 receptions, including 109 at St. Francis (PA) and seven at UVA).
Henry III brings good speed – according to Marshall football’s official website, he runs a 4.45 40 and a 4.09 shuttle – and playmaking ability. His Marshall bio states that he had a “knack for making catches on third downs” in 2018. Henry III has also had success catching touchdowns, accumulating six scores in 45 catches at Marshall and four touchdown in 29 catches at San Diego Mesa.
