Ohio State Football: Antonio Henton Headed Home?

Ever since it became clear that the Buckeyes had a good shot at getting Terrelle Pryor, we’ve been wondering about the fate of sophomore-to-be Antonio Henton.

After getting off to a great start, some naughty stuff went down. He was later reinstated and supposedly had climbed his way back into a position to be rumored as a change-of-play option in the MNC.

He never saw the field that night, and the next time we had a chance to see him on the field, he was outplayed by Bauserman.

There were rumors of a possible transfer to Georgia Southern back in late January, but today they kicked up again—and in earnest:

Ohio State quarterback Antonio Henton has reportedly told his Buckeye teammates he’s headed for GSU, an ESPN writer confirmed to the Statesboro Herald Wednesday.  Georgia Southern’s B-term for summer classes begins next week, and second-year GSU coach Chris Hatcher said he couldn’t discuss transfers until then.  Henton could not be reached for comment.

Henton, a 6-foot-2, 232 pound Fort Valley native, already has Georgia Southern ties—Eagle offensive coordinator Rance Gillespie was Henton’s high school head coach at Peach County.  Henton was tabbed the 2005 Georgia Offensive Player of the Year as a senior when he helped his team to the Class AAA state title, the first in Peach County’s history.  He threw for 2,117 yards and 30 touchdowns his senior year and was touted as one of the best multi-threat quarterback prospects in the country coming out of high school.

Then, this:

If Henton is headed South—and the Facebook never lies—we wish him the best of luck.  He made a simple mistake hundreds of miles away from home, and a change in scenery and some home-cooking should be just the thing to give him the best chance of furthering his football career beyond college.

And to the droids without any feeling besides Buckeye pain and joy, yes, that means one more scholarship for the ‘09 class.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/30621-Ohio-State-Football-Antonio-Henton-Headed-Home-

Andrea Kjerrumgaard Dispatch

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Several sources close to the team said that Antonio Henton is expected to transfer to Georgia Southern. Coach Jim Tressel refused to confirm the move, saying only that Henton "is a good kid." As of last night, sources said Henton had not told team officials he was leaving.

If Henton leaves, the job of backing up starter Todd Boeckman will fall to redshirt freshman Joe Bauserman and true freshman Terrelle Pryor.

Attempts to reach Henton and his family were unsuccessful, but it appears he decided that playing for Georgia Southern in the Football Championship Subdivision -- formerly Division I-AA -- is better than the possibility of being third string this fall and losing out the starting job in 2009 to Pryor, the top high school recruit in the nation.

Henton arrived in Columbus in 2006 as the offensive player of the year in Georgia. He was compared to Troy Smith, then the Buckeyes starter, as a quarterback who could pass or run equally well. Smith won the Heisman Trophy in '06.

Henton redshirted that season, then played in the Buckeyes' first four games of 2007. He showed flashes, completing 3 of 6 passes for 57 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown pass, and rushing nine times for 41 yards.

Henton's season was derailed after he was arrested Sept. 24 and charged with solicitation of a female undercover police officer posing as a prostitute. He pleaded not guilty.

Tressel suspended him. Henton returned to practice the next week but was not cleared to play in a game until after Nov. 12, when he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of loitering.

He did not play in the team's final two games, against Michigan and Louisiana State in the national championship game. Not playing against LSU might have been a disappointment because Henton had been elevated to second team in bowl practice and Tressel talked openly about getting him into the game.

Then came Pryor's signing in March. Pryor is expected to contribute immediately.

In spring practice, Bauserman showed he had made significant strides, as well, and he outplayed Henton in the spring game.

Henton would be the second quarterback to leave the Buckeyes since January, when Rob Schoenhoft transferred to Delaware.

At Georgia Southern, Henton would be reunited with Rance Gillespie, his coach at Peach County High School. Gillespie is the offensive coordinator there. Henton would be eligible to play immediately.

He is taking classes in Ohio State's first summer session, which began Monday. The session ends July 18, and Georgia Southern's fall practice opens July 30.

Georgia Southern is in Statesboro, about 150 miles east of Henton's hometown of Fort Valley. The Eagles won six I-AA national titles between 1985 and 2000.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/06/20/osufb_henton0620.ART_ART_06-20-08_C1_CQAHRB1.html?sid=101