After going unselected in the NFL draft in late April, former Wisconsin safety Aaron Henry nevertheless found a home for the time being, signing with the Oakland Raiders shortly afterwards.
Henry, a first-team all-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2011, set aside some time to talk to Sports Editor Elliot Hughes about his draft weekend and the prospects of him making the Raiders’ final roster.
Elliot Hughes: How excited are you to begin this next stage in your career?
Aaron Henry: It’s very exciting. I always had a dream of playing at the next level, and now to finally see it come to pass, I’m thrilled. My time here at Wisconsin, my four-to-five years, I had a great time here and I’m looking forward to playing in the NFL.
EH: How soon after the draft did you start getting calls?
AH: I started getting calls right before the draft ended, I would say five picks before the draft ended. It was crazy, and there was a couple teams calling, and I had to make a decision based on where me and my agent felt there was a need, the chances of making the team, and so I chose Oakland. It’s a great situation.
EH: What was it about the Raiders that you liked?
AH: I got calls from about five different teams – the Lions, Texans, Cowboys, the Raiders and the Cleveland Browns. They were all like [between] 30 seconds of each other. The Raiders, they didn’t draft any safeties and they have a brand new coaching staff coming in, and I felt that was a great situation. Cleveland’s situation was pretty similar, too, but they didn’t have any new coaches – not that that means anything – but, a lot of times, when new coaches come in, they may notice something about a young man that older coaches didn’t see. Veterans are going to be veterans, of course, but everybody’s pretty much on a clean slate, no preconceived notions. A guy can go in there and play. I felt that was a very, very good situation for me.
EH: I saw on Twitter Terrelle Pryor reached out to you. How do you feel about being teammates with him and the rest of the guys in Oakland?
AH: Most definitely, I’m really, really excited about it. We go from playing college ball against each other to becoming teammates. It’s most definitely a thrill. I had the chance to talk to him last night and the guy – you can say what you want to say about him – but the guy is a die-hard competitor. Anytime you got somebody on your team who’s willing to compete that’s willing to compete with you and willing to give his best, I don’t care who he is, I’m willing to go to war with him. It’s definitely going to be a good time.
EH: What was the draft weekend like for you, were you nervous the whole weekend or were you relaxed?
AH: I thought I wasn’t going to be nervous but it was very nerve-wracking, just because I was just ready for it to be over with. The couple days leading up to it I wasn’t nervous at all, but then when it started happening and when it was going on, it was just kind of a wait-and-see. Just sitting there at the house, waiting to see what happens. I was trying to keep myself busy, but when you’re tuned in, you really don’t know. I watched most of it. I think on the last day I didn’t see the first couple of picks, but for the most part I saw just about every pick. It was very, very nerve-wracking. Before it even started I couldn’t wait for it to be over. So now I’m excited it is over and now we can quit with the shenanigans and play football.
EH: What’s your understanding of what you need to do to make the Raiders’ roster?
AH: Oh my gosh, I got to be a competitor and just go in there and play every day. Special teams is going to be huge. Special teams is going to be really, really big. Just making sure I can take in everything I can from the older guys and being a contributor on special teams and willing to be on any one of them. Not really placing myself in a certain category, or saying ‘I never did this’ or ‘I can’t do it.’ Just really having an open mind and going out and doing whatever they call me to do. Making that team is going to take a lot of focus and dedication and drive to go out there and want to be the best, and I already think I’m an extremely good player. I think I have the mental capacity to go out there and run defense, I think I have the athleticism to control the back end, but … when you’re a younger guy, it’s not just playing defense or playing special teams, so I think that’s going to be huge.
EH: Is there a chance you might play cornerback at all?
AH: The funny thing about that is I have no idea. I have no idea at all. You know, everybody looked at me at safety, Oakland looked at me at safety, but they talked a little about nickel, but I’m not sure. I could care less whether it’s corner or safety. I know I can cover. It doesn’t matter to me at all. Like I told all the coaches, I said ‘I just want to play.’ So I’m just thrilled about the opportunity.
EH: If you could say anything to the fans at Wisconsin right now, what would you say?
AH: Oh, my goodness. I’d say thank you for these last four, five years. It’s been a privilege and an honor to go out there and run in front of 85,000-plus week in and week out. My time here has been very, very memorable. I wont forget this place, it’s ingrained in me. This program will forever be a part of my upbringing and my success as a football player. And not only did I go to two Rose Bowls and play in the first Big Ten Championship game, but also I graduated from there with my college degree. This university, and what these fans have done for me, there’s no way I could ever pay them back or say thank you enough.
