Chris Henry Dead at 26
Former West Virginia and Cincinnati Bengals receiver was pronounced dead on December 17 at 6:36 a.m. just 18 hours after falling from the bed of a moving pickup truck. Authorities are describing this as a domestic dispute with his fiancée.
Henry, who has been in the league for 5 years, was just starting to his career into the right direction after getting into trouble early in his career. Henry caught 12 passes for 236 yards, with a 19.7-yard average per catch, for two touchdowns in 8 games this season before he was injured during a November 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He has been on the injured reserve list since after suffering a fractured forearm. Henry was a third round draft pick in the 2005 draft.
Henry got to WVU in 2002, where he got redshirted his first year there. In 2003, he earned Big East Conference freshman of the year and All-Big East second-team honors while catching 41 passes for 1,006 yards scoring 10 touchdowns. He also became the second player in school history to record over 1,000 receiving yards in one season, trailing only David Saunders, and his 20.19 yards per reception are the third most in a season in school history. His six career 100-yard receiving games is tied for third most in school history, also having 1,878 career receiving yards which ranks eighth in school history.
Henry had a bright future ahead of him after overcoming obstacles such as his five arrests, three NFL suspensions, and a release form the Bengals in 2008. He was eventually reinstated by the Bengals again in August. The former WVU great is leaving behind 3 children. Henry was said to be one of the best comeback stories in the NFL, but did not get to reach his full potential.