SBLive Arkansas 2021 Defensive Player of the Year: After a standout 3 years at Shiloh Christian, linebacker Kaden Henley ready to make presence felt with Hogs

Editor’s note: Over the coming days, we will honor the best and brightest individual performers from the 2021 Arkansas high school football season, culminating with the unveiling of the inaugural SBLive all-state team on Monday, January 24.

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Sadie Rucker

One of the newest Razorbacks enrollees and former Shiloh Christian linebacker Kaden Henley has been named our 2021 Defensive Player of the Year.

This past season, Henley ranked sixth in the state with 150 total tackles (97 solo) and 26 tackles for loss. He led the Saints back to War Memorial Stadium for the third straight season, falling to Joe T. Robinson after winning the state title his junior year.

Henley began his high school playing career in Lawton, Okla., before his dad took a job at Shiloh Christian, where he teaches geography and is on the football coaching staff. Ashley, Henley’s father, serves as his position coach. In his high school career, Henley played in 55 games and eclipsed 560 total tackles while also contributing heavily on offense.

“I got a chance to play a lot of football games,” Henley said. “When you have guys up front that eat up a lot of the blocks, and you are able to run around and make plays, it is all always an advantage.” 

Though his career has been highly productive, and he already has the build of a Division I college football player, Henley was not highly recruited. In fact, he did not receive a Power 5 offer until the Razorbacks extended one on March 10 of last year. Henley committed that same day.

The 2022 in-state crop has been a large portion of Arkansas’ class after signing 10 players from within state lines, the most since 2008, when they inked 15.

“I am very blessed to be able to get a chance to play with all of these guys,” Henley said. “They are all great players, and it is going to be a great opportunity that I am very excited for. There is nothing like being a Razorback and that’s why I committed here.” 

He got a head start on his college career, receiving the opportunity to practice with the Razorbacks prior to them heading to Tampa for the Outback Bowl.

“I got to do four Bowl practices with them when they were in town and everything went well,” Henley said. “I just really enjoy being there and being around the guys to be able to get a feel for it up here, since I will move in on the 17th.”

The announcement that all-SEC linebacker Bumper Pool will be returning for his fifth season will bring some veteran leadership to the linebacker room, but with the departure of Grant Morgan and Hayden Henry, there is an opportunity for Henley to play early. Though he is excited to get out and compete, he is just taking the process one step at a time. 

“I just want to find a way to help the team wherever they need me,” Henley said. “I will have to take advantage of every opportunity I get and just work hard.”

Henley had already established a relationship with Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom while playing at Shiloh with Odom’s sons, Garrett and JT. 

“The Odoms are a great family, and you can see that through their kids,” Henley said. “They are always a lot of fun to be around.”

The Razorbacks are coming off their best season since 2011 after tripling their win total from the previous season and achieving nine victories, which was more than the previous three seasons combined. Along with playing for a proven head coach in Sam Pittman, Henley knows the genuineness that radiates off Pittman as a person is real. 

“Coach Pittman is a great person,” Henley said. “He builds relationships, personal relationships, with everyone. He enjoys his job and it is very obvious. There is no place he would rather be.”