MONTICELLO – University of Arkansas at Monticello head football coach Gwaine Mathews has announced the signing of transfer wide receiver Mark Henderson from Missouri Southern State to join the team for the 2009 season.

Henderson (New Orleans, La.) played his junior season at MSSU after playing the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Southern University in Louisiana, a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
 
According to Mathews, Henderson has already earned a starting spot because of his experience. “Mark could be a huge impact for our team for two reasons,” said Mathews. “One, he has caught a lot of passes at the Division II level and his average per catch is really high. Two, he’s older and has already graduated, so it’s all about production… Plus, he knows he has a great quarterback here to get him the ball.”
 
At MSSU in 2008, Henderson led the Lions with 48 receptions for 654 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 13.6 yards per catch and had his season high long-reception with a 48-yarder in the team’s loss to Central Missouri.
 
Also in 2008, Henderson tallied three carries for 27 rushing yards and picked up a five-yard touchdown run in a loss to Nebraska-Omaha.
 
At Southern, Henderson caught a total of 20 passes for 212 yards in his two seasons as a Jaguar. In 2006, as a freshman, he totaled 12 receptions for 130 yards, followed by his sophomore season total of eight catches for 82 yards.
 
“His stats are enough right now to say he is going to be starting for us come August 27,” said Mathews. “We are excited to get this guy in a uniform and see what he can do.”
 
Henderson played his high-school career at Riverdale High in New Orleans, La.