Looking back, Kevin Kelly apologizes for pushing Hunter Henry too hard

Hunter Henry is the best tight end to play for Arkansas. There isn't an argument to the contrary. Sure, John Mackey Award winner D.J. Williams is a close second, and Luke Hasz has a chance to surpass them both by a mile, but there isn't a TE more important to his team and with better stats than Henry. But that's a discussion for another time.

The reason Henry was an elite player started way before he stepped on the field as a Hog. As a student at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ar., Henry played under one of the best high school coaches in the state. Kevin Kelly was the head coach of the Bruins for 17 years, winning nine state championships.

Known as the coach who never punts, Kelly was arguably one of the best high school coaches in the country. In a recent interview with Hogs Plus, Henry recalled his time under Kelly.

"Coach Kelly was hard on everybody, but through the years, when I was going through high school, he was just extra hard on me. And then I started to get recruited... he saw something he could bring out of me," said Henry.

At the time, Henry hated it. But looking back, he appreciates how Kelly pushed him. "[He continued] to push me even more, so like that culture, I think, I responded to that, like 'Alright, you're gonna be hard on me? I'm gonna go show you... I'm gonna go put up 200 yards and two touchdowns."

On the other hand, Coach Kelly had a different response looking back at his time coaching Henry. He felt he was too hard on Henry and pushed him too far. In response to the Hogs Plus post, Kelly wrote:

"Honestly, I pushed [Hunter Henry] too hard, most of any player I have coached. I wanted to push him, but not to that point. Most recruited I’ve ever coached. Amazing talent and person. As a kid, him thinking I didn’t love him, even at times, means I left a big part out that needed in. I learned a lot from that. He was always going be successful, push through everything, and a great man. That’s who he is. I pray about my coaching of kids every day and should have prayed harder with him bc [sic] the situation was different. Coaches, learn from my mistakes and others. Coach as you will but make sure they know you’d do anything for them!"

Henry was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft to the San Diego Chargers and now plays in the opposite corner of the country with the Patriots. He's accumulated 3,853 in his career and averages 11.7 yards a catch. While Kelly might have regrets, it's safe to say Henry is enjoying being one of the most consistent TEs in the league.