That didn’t take long.
A week ago, Memphis announced that it had granted a release to Jamarius Henderson so that he could transfer “in order to be closer to his son” in Alabama. And, according to the Dothan Eagle, Henderson has done just that, with the running back confirming to the paper that he will be transferring to Troy and continuing his collegiate playing career with the Trojans.
“Troy is a perfect environment to transfer,” Henderson told the paper. “It is pretty close to home, not even an hour away. It was a case of a family situation and I had to take the responsibility to do the right thing. Troy just felt right to me. Hopefully I can take up where I left off at Memphis. ...
“It just felt like the right place. I prayed about it and I talked to my dad – I talk to my dad about everything – and I poured my heart out to him. I talked to my little boy (Preston) about it even though I am not sure he understood it. In the end, it (Troy) felt right, especially when I toured the campus.”
Henderson’s son is three years old.
It’s unknown if Henderson will seek a waiver for immediate eligibility. If not, he would be forced to sit out the 2016 season, and would then have three seasons of eligibility remaining beginning in 2017.
As a true freshman last season, Henderson, a Midland, Ala., native, was fourth on the team in rushing yards (320) and rushing touchdowns (four) in 10 games. His 5.3 yards per carry was tops among all Tiger ballcarriers with at least 20 carries.
The 5-11, 210-pound back also caught a pair of touchdown passes among his seven receptions.