Roaring into next challenge (VIDEO)

AUS & OUA schools forming a line to court Bengals standout

Orlean Bengals defensive standout Rashari Henry has a lot to consider in the coming weeks when it comes to his gridiron future.

Rashari Henry

Positions:
Defensive End, Linebacker, Running Back

Height/Weight:
6’0, 235 lbs

Teams:
Orleans Bengals (peewee/midget)
Cumberland Panthers (varsity:  OVFL)

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
None

Consideration:
Toronto, McMaster, Queens, Guelph, Windsor, Carleton, Ottawa, Mount Allison, Open

Class:
2014

Rashari has played football for five years, and since that beginning in grade seven, he has had his eyes on the next challenge.

“I started the summer of grade seven as a running back for the Orleans Bengals Peewee team,” Rashari remembers.  “The next year, I decided to play at a higher level with the Cumberland Panthers OVFL team.”

That same drive to test himself led Rashari to play on both the Bengals and Panthers simultaneously until last year when he took the field for the Bengals’ midget team. Rashari more than proved himself ready to take his game to the midget level in ways that transcend age, tackling tests of his skills like they were a sluggish wide receiver.

“In the my last season of OVFL in 2012, my coaches asked if I would be wiling to try playing the defensive end position,” Rashari enthuses.  “I said yes and quickly enjoyed my decision.”

“I enjoyed being challenged to learn a new position in a very short amount of time and on the other side of the ball.”

Despite dealing with a radical shift in position that might have set another young player back to their drawing board, Rashari claims that season of change and challenge as one of his absolute “best and favourite seasons.” The season ended with an even sweeter confirmation of his prowess on defense when Rashari was named an OVFL All-Star.

“After that season,” Rashari says. “Although having similar success at the running back position, I knew that I was meant to play on the defensive side of the ball.”

The past season has been confirming Rashari’s feeling that he was destined for a place on the defensive side of the gridiron. He was named Midget Defensive MVP for the Bengals.  Rashari takes it all in stride and finds the most pleasure in improving his skills.

“I had the opportunity to be coached by some of the coaches from my last OVFL season [after earning Defensive MVP],” Rashari says. “I learned and developed even more as a player.”

This season turned yet another shade of gold for Rashari when he helped the Bengals earn another championship.

“Although I’ve won multiple championships before, this one was the most memorable because we truly put in the time and effort to achieve what we planned,” ” Rashari says.  “We got what we worked all season for and it felt amazing to finally get it.”

“This season truly displayed that anything you set your mind to can and will be accomplished.”

Rashari will be graduating June of 2014 and already has a full dance card of universities who hope this young defensive end will take his game to the next challenge on their field.

Rashari has had contact with Toronto, McMaster, Queens, Guelph, Windsor, Carleton, and Ottawa while Mount Allison is making a play to take Rashari out to the Maritimes.

Rashari remains tight-lipped about which school he is leaning towards, instead he is taking his time to make the right choice for him.

 

Max Olesen’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritingOlesen