IRVING, Texas – Two-time first-team All-American John Henderson, one of the most dominant defensive lineman in Tennessee history, has been selected to the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Wednesday afternoon.

Henderson, a Nashville native, was one of 18 first-team All-America players and four standout coaches who comprise the 2025 class. The class will officially be inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 2025, at Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Henderson becomes the 27th Vol to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and the third in the last five years. Eric Berry was Tennessee’s most recent inductee in 2023. Of the 27 inductees, 23 were enshrined as players and four as coaches. The 23 players represent the second-most among SEC programs and the seventh-most nationally.

A two-time consensus first team All-American (2000, 2001), Henderson claimed the 2000 Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the nation while finishing as a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s best defensive player the same year. A two-time first team All-SEC selection from 2000-01, Henderson was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. He was a finalist for the Outland Trophy again in 2001.

Playing for Hall of Fame coach Phillip Fulmer, Henderson guided Tennessee to the 2001 SEC East title and an overall record of 28-9 during his career. The Volunteers made three consecutive bowls with appearances in the 2000 Fiesta and 2001 Cotton and a win in the 2002 Citrus Bowl, where he earned outstanding defensive player honors. His impact was instrumental in Tennessee finishing inside the Top 10 in 1999 and reaching No. 4 in the final polls in 2001.

Henderson played a pivotal role in 2000 on a defense that set a school record for the fewest rushing yards allowed (817). His 12 sacks in 2000 rank fourth all-time for a single season in program history, while his 21 tackles for loss that year ranked third. Over his career, he amassed 162 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and seven pass breakups, ranking among the program’s all-time greats.

Selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by Jacksonville, Henderson played for the Jaguars from 2002-09 and the Raiders from 2010-11, earning two Pro Bowl selections and second team All-Pro honors in 2006.

The former Pearl-Cohn High School standout was inducted into the State of Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Henderson founded the Luvthekidz Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for disabled children, in honor of his late daughter, Talia, who passed away after battling cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

The 2025 inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Each inductee will receive a custom ring created by Jostens, the official and exclusive supplier of NFF rings.

2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class
Montee Ball, Wisconsin RB (2009-12)
Larry Blakeney, Troy Coach (1991-2014)
Gregg Carr, Auburn LB (1981-84)
Blake Elliott, Saint John’s (Minn.) WR (2000-03)
Greg Eslinger, Minnesota C (2002-05)
Terry Hanratty, Notre Dame QB (1966-68)
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech QB (2005-08)
John Henderson, Tennessee DT (1999-2001)
Michael Huff, Texas DB (2002-05)
Jim Kleinsasser, North Dakota TE (1995-98)
Larry Korver, Northwestern College Coach (1967-94)
Alex Mack, California OL (2005-08)
Terrence Metcalf, Ole Miss OL (1997, 1999-2001)
Urban Meyer, BGSU/Utah/Florida/Ohio State Head Coach (2001-18)
Haloti Ngata, Oregon DT (2002, 2004-05)
Nick Saban, Toledo/Michigan State/LSU/Alabama Head Coach (1990, 1995-2023)
Steve Slaton, West Virginia RB (2005-07)
Darrin Smith, Miami LB (1989-92)
Michael Strahan, Texas Southern DL (1989-92)
Dennis Thurman, USC DB (1974-77)
Michael Vick, Virginia Tech QB (1999-2000)
Ryan Yarborough, Wyoming WR (1990-93)

Tennessee All-Time College Football Hall of Famers (year inducted)
Doug Atkins, T (1985)
Eric Berry, DB (2023)
George Cafego, QB (1969)
Steve DeLong, G (1993)
Doug Dickey, Coach (2003)
Bobby Dodd, QB (1959; elected as a coach at Georgia Tech in 1993)
Nathan Dougherty, T (1967)
Frank Emanuel, LB (2004)
Beattie Feathers, B (1955)
Phillip Fulmer, Coach (2012)
John Henderson, DT (2025)
Herman Hickman, G (1959)
Bob Johnson, C (1989)
Chip Kell, G (2006)
Steve Kiner, LB (1999)
Hank Lauricella, TB (1981)
Johnny Majors, TB (1987)
Peyton Manning, QB (2017)
Gene McEver, HB (1954)
John Michels, G (1996)
Ed Molinski, G (1990)
Robert R. Neyland, Coach (1956)
Bob Suffridge, G (1961)
Reggie White, DT (2002)
Al Wilson, LB (2021)
Bowden Wyatt, E (1972)
Bowden Wyatt, Coach (1997)