2020 Speedster AJ Henning Shooting Down To Notre Dame

Since receiving an offer from Notre Dame in January, AJ Henning‍ has been in contact Notre Dame assistant Tom Rees, but the 2020 Illinois wide receiver looks forward to meeting the whole coaching staff during his visit for the Irish’s Junior Day this weekend. 

“I have only been in contact with Coach Rees, but besides that I haven’t really talked to them,” explained the Lincoln-Way East High School standout.  “I am really looking forward to this weekend, so I can get to meet the whole coaching staff.

“(Rees) just talks about the culture of Notre Dame, talks about the team and just recruiting me telling me they want me to get up there,” Henning added.

Being only a sophomore, the youngster is ecstatic about having the opportunity to visit South Bend during Junior Day.

“It is really exciting,” Henning expressed with pure excitement. “It is an opportunity that some people don’t get to have, so for me to have this opportunity being only a sophomore is amazing.”

Knowing the history of Notre Dame, it was a no-brainer for Henning to jump at the chance to visit. Growing up, he watched the Irish on television and their winning ways always stuck out to him.

“Everything about the culture of Notre Dame, they have a history of winning and I have watched them ever since I was little,” Henning strongly stated. “I am very excited.”

Despite having knowledge of Notre Dame’s winning tradition and the basics from watching them on television, the speedster doesn’t know much, but is excited to have the chance to learn more during his visit.

“I don’t know much, but they have always been winning, so they would always be on TV,” he stated.

“I want to learn about the team, I want to see all the facilities and like I said I want to get to meet the coaching staff and get familiar with them.”

Henning holds offers 14 FBS offers and most recently got an offer from Tennessee on Thursday. It is clear why schools are jumping all over the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder.

“I ran a 4.37 at the Illinois camp last summer,” Henning expressed with confidence. “I run track as well and I did really well in track last year, so my speed is something that pops out to them and just me being versatile playing both positions. Causing matchups and how I can run by defenders.”

Even as just a sophomore, Henning has displayed the potential to be a difference-maker at the next level, but he isn’t satisfied and has been working hard to improve during the offseason.

“Hitting the weight room hard and working on my speed and being an overall team leader this year,” he expressed as his points of focus.

It’s early, but the young talent has already been thinking about the factors he will weigh when making his final decision.

“That is something long down the line, but the big factors will be whether they care about academics,” Henning said.  “In my household, my parents value academics a lot and just a place that feels like home to me.”

He doesn’t have any other visits planned for after Notre Dame’s Junior Day just yet.