Former Apopka Blue Darter drafted into the NFL

3rd Round choice of the New Orleans Saints

Trey Hendrickson

Trey Hendrickson is a Saint... or at least he is grateful for the opportunity to become one.

Hendrickson, a former tight end and defensive end for the Apopka High School Blue Darters football team, was drafted by the New Orleans Saints last night in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Hendrickson was the 103rd overall pick, but it made no difference to him when he was chosen.

"Any round, I was proud of," he said. "I just like to see all the defensive ends, who and where (they go), that was interesting to me, but besides that, no I had no expectations on all the hype. I just want play football again.”

Hendrickson is a 6'4" 266-pound defensive end who played at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Hendrickson won a state championship with the Blue Darters in 2012.

The National Football League website nfl.com wrote about Hendrickson:

"The Owls had one of the best defenders in Conference USA the past four seasons in Hendrickson. He garnered first-team all-conference accolades in 2015 after finishing tied for second in the FBS with 13.5 sacks (among his 15 tackles for loss) and five forced fumbles. League coaches named him first-team All-C-USA again in 2016 (51 tackles, 15 for loss, 9.5 sacks) even though offenses paid close attention to his whereabouts. He tied for the FBS lead in blocked kicks last year with four. Hendrickson led the team in sacks as a sophomore, as well, tripping up quarterbacks five times (32 total tackles, 10 for loss). The third team all-state pick from Apopka, Florida played some significant minutes as a freshman, making nine stops, 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks."

Hendrickson said he was not surprised the Saints chose him, based on his tryout with the team.

“I got a workout from them and I felt that I showed what I can do and I left the Trey Hendrickson mark on the Saints organization," he said. "A guy who is going to do whatever it takes to win.”

Hendrickson had 29.5 career sacks in his college career and hopes to have the same kind of numbers in the NFL. He is also aware that there are no guarantees of a roster position for first-year players.

"I feel like I can make an impact," he said. "I’m going to make sure I do that to the best of my ability. It’s an honor and privilege to play alongside guys who have already done it. Coming out there as a rookie, you’re always playing for your career, so every down, every rep I take is a resume, and I’m ready to do that.”

As a senior at Apopka High, Hendrickson was first-team all-conference and third-team all state in the Blue Darters 2012 state championship run.

Photos courtesy of Florida Atlantic University.