A.J. Henning Draft Diary: Draft Day

“It’s official, I got a job. I’m in the NFL now!”

Note: This is the final piece of a three-part series profiling Northwestern wide receiver A.J. Henning as he embarks on his NFL Draft journey. Read the first installment, covering Pro Day, here and the second, on Henning’s football journey, here.

Each year, more than one million Americans suit up on Friday nights to play high school football. Of that group, about 7% go on to play college football. From that original million, just 0.1% will make it to the NFL.

A.J. Henning is now in that 0.1%.

The Northwestern receiver spent Day 3 of the NFL Draft with close family and friends when his phone started to blow up with teams interested in adding him to their roster. Henning said he was “on pins and needles” all day in anticipation of realizing his NFL dreams.

As the final picks of the seventh round ticked away, Henning waited for the possibility that a team could scoop him up, but he had prepared for the reality of going undrafted. NFL squads spend months scouting and analyzing potential draft picks, but Henning had done his homework on them too. With the draft over and Henning entering the pool of undrafted free agents, the power was now back in his hands. Rather than being selected by one team, he now had his choice of the litter.

Henning went into the process with a few criteria for his eventual destination. First, he wanted a team that showed interest in him throughout the draft process. Since Pro Day, Henning’s life revolved around draft visits and conversations with teams, so he had an idea of which organizations coveted him most. Second, Henning looked at the rosters, scouting out the wide receiver and returner rooms top to bottom for the franchises where he could make the greatest impact.

With all of those considerations in mind, the Miami Dolphins looked like the perfect destination.

Even before the draft had officially closed, Henning’s agent told the receiver that Miami would be offering a contract directly after the final pick had been made. Henning felt comfortable with the demonstrated interest Miami had shown throughout the process with Zoom interviews and saw the depth chart as a spot where he could compete right away. He also noted the design of Mike McDaniel’s offense that prioritizes getting its playmakers in space.

Henning hopped on a call with receivers coach Robert Prince, special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman and one of the Dolphins’ scouts, all of whom he had talked to during the draft process, and made the decision official. Henning said he remained dry-eyed, but a few tears were definitely shed among his draft party once his lifelong NFL dreams had been actualized.

“It was just a whirlwind of emotions all day,” Henning said. “It was a stressful day, but I was excited when it all came together at the end.”

As of now, Henning’s contract with the Dolphins is just verbal, but that will change when Henning arrives in the Sunshine State later this week to sign his contract and participate in a three-day rookie minicamp. From there, he’ll be integrated into the full team’s strength and conditioning program as the summer’s organized team activities and training camp ramps up.

With Henning representing just one of four undrafted wide receivers in Miami’s camp, he will have plenty of chances to prove himself to the staff. To make the roster, Henning said his goal is to find a niche role for himself, and acknowledged his background returning punts and kicks could come in handy. Heck, he’ll be a gunner on punts if it can help him carve out a spot.

“I’m looking to come in and learn as fast as possible and be somebody who the coaches can trust and hopefully expand my role from there,” Henning said.

The Northwestern alum will join a room with another former Wildcat in Malik Washington, who the Dolphins added in the sixth round of last year’s draft, but the headliners of the group are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who Henning says he watches film of all the time. Henning said he’s eager to be a sponge when he gets there, shadow some of the NFL’s best and learn everything he can.

For the Chicago-native Henning who played his college ball at Michigan and Northwestern, he’s also excited for a change of scenery. Despite a lifetime of Big Ten weather, you may be surprised to learn that Henning said he’s never liked the snow. In Miami, Henning certainly won’t have to worry about any flurries.

Henning knows his dream of making it to the NFL is just the start. Next goal? Making the roster, and then he can start to think bigger: becoming a starter, Pro Bowls, Super Bowls.

But for now, it’s back to a familiar challenge. Taking it one day at a time and getting better each day.