Confidence Brewing for Notre Dame Safety Ramon Henderson
Notre Dame’s safety room might not be the deepest group in the country, but the Irish boast one of the most experienced rooms in the country.
Six-year senior DJ Brown leads the safety room with 47 career games played, while graduate transfer Thomas Harper is next in line with 42 games played, but they were all with Oklahoma State. Senior Ramon Henderson has played in 37 games in the blue and gold, while senior Xavier Watts has tallied 26 appearances.
For Henderson, it’s time to take a more significant role in the defense and on defense as a leader as he’s been there and done that with more than a full year under his belt at safety.
A year ago, Henderson tallied 23 tackles, two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
“There aren't a lot of people who are older than me,” stated Henderson. “I wouldn't say it’s creeping up on me. I have to take it and just be a leader all the time. But I feel like our motto here, our standard, is more so lead by example.
“So, I wouldn't say, ‘Oh, this guy's a leader. That guy’s not.’ But we all have the responsibility of being held to a certain standard that you should do every day. So, at times when I was younger, when I look back now I'm like, ‘Oh, that wasn't right.’ I don't let that slide with myself anymore.”
And to lead, one has to make plays. Henderson has started to make more plays this spring and he credits that to focusing on the small aspects of his position.
“I’m trying to dial into the playbook, knowing more than my position and trying to make plays, honestly,” said Henderson. “I’m putting myself in positions I didn’t think I could do before. Less thinking, more fast twitch and more motion.”
Notre Dame will be in the same defense for a second year and that has allowed the entire defense to find comfort this spring.
Henderson has found comfort in being in the same scheme, but the experience a year ago allowed him to figure out the advantages and risks he can take during the play.
“I wouldn’t say I was bad with being in the film room or in my playbook, but I feel a play is more complex than you perceive it is,” explained Henderson. “I know what I can give up here and there. I know what to expect versus certain formations and that helps me the best.”
Football is a complex game and it takes baby steps to master a position, especially after playing multiple positions as Henderson has during his career. Now, he’s focused on only safety and it’s led to him processing the game quicker.
“I feel like I used to think a lot — way more,” Henderson said. “That just has to do with being in the film room, learning more plays, learning the whole complexity of a play rather than just like, ‘Oh, it's a cover one.’ Knowing who's moving where — this, this and that. Getting my feet together, running, short striding, all of that, tackling, bringing hands, bringing hips, bringing power, get my feet down.
“Doing certain things in coverage whereas it puts me in a better position to knock down the ball or make a play. Things of that nature. Trying to talk as much as I can more often. I've been a quiet guy my whole life. Just trying to be a really positive teammate, trying to be one of the best teammates.”
During Saturday’s practice viewing, Notre Dame showed off its sub-package with three safeties, which isn’t new as it’s been a staple for the Irish dating back to 2019.
Henderson and the other Notre Dame safeties not only love the package, but have a great deal of trust in it.
“I’m not going to say like, ‘I feel more help,’ but it's people in my room that I go through stuff with on a daily basis, so I know what he's going to do,” explained Henderson. “I really liked that, honestly. I know what I can give up because I know X or DJ’s going to be right there.
“It helps us play faster. We play more confident because we know what we can do. The talking is easy. We go through that every day. I think that'll be a really good step for us.”
Harper is the new addition to the room and has made an effortless transition despite not taking contact this spring. The former Oklahoma State defensive back did start doing 7-on-7 on Tuesday, but Harper has provided great feedback for the safety room while he works his way back on the field.
“Starting off he was a little quiet,” stated Henderson. “He talks way more now. He's a real cool dude. Really smart, technician, he has good feet. He gives me some insight on things that he used to do. I give him insight on things we do here. He's a giver. He's a give-and-take person. If he takes one thing, gives you two. He's just really smart. He's a good guy. He's really funny. He might not show it through you guys, might not talk as much. He’s kind of like me. He doesn’t talk too much with the outside people, but on the inside, he's a good guy.”
And when it comes to his personal expectations, the California native hopes to show the country his unique skillset this fall.
“Really fast,” Henderson said when asked about the type of player he hopes to show in the fall. “Not hesitant. Making plays on the ball. Putting his body in positions that you'd be like, ‘Wow, I can't believe he did that. That was a good play.’
“I don't know. I don't speak of myself too highly. I'm just trying to be all that and then some. I’m trying to be a good teammate, trying to figure out what I can do for myself, trying to see what I can add to myself and trying to be the best I can be.”
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