BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor and Contributing Writer
Photograph: Opelousas native Devery Henderson to be inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in October. (New Orleans Saints.)
Devery Henderson, perhaps the fastest football athlete to ever play at Opelousas High, is scheduled for induction into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, team officials announced on Thursday.
Ceremonies for Henderson, former Saints’ running back Fred McAfee and longtime New Orleans assistant trainer Kevin Magnum, will be formally held by the team sometime in October, it was also announced on the team website.
Henderson, who played wide receiver, was an early 2004 second round draft choice by New Orleans. Henderson caught 245 career passes for 4,377 yards during his Saints career. Henderson was also part of a New Orleans Saints team that won the 2009 Super Bowl in Miami. In that Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts, Henderson caught seven passes for 63 yards.
The best season statistically for Henderson came in 2009 when he caught 50 passes for 804 yards.
After completing his Opelousas High athletic career, Henderson attended LSU where he was a starter in football.
Since his retirement Henderson has held several free summer football camps for Opelousas youths. Each of the camps were held on the Opelousas High practice field where Henderson developed his football skills.
Unlike Henderson, McAfee wasn’t a highly sought after college football player.
New Orleans drafted McAfee out of Mississippi College in the sixth round of the 1991 NFL draft. McAfee played 10 years with New Orleans as a running back and standout special teams performer.
In 2002 McAfee was chosen by for the annual Pro Bowl. As a special teams player, McAfee ran back 106 kickoff returns for a 21.1 average.
