When the college football season began, it was unclear whether it was possible for E.J. Henderson to top his junior season at Maryland.
If the awards circuit is any indication, the Aberdeen native has answered those questions, earning the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker last night, beating Courtney Watson of Notre Dame and Teddy Lehman of Oklahoma for the honor.
The night before, Henderson had won the Chuck Bednarik Trophy as the nation's top defensive player, beating out Oklahoma's Tommie Harris and Terrell Suggs of Arizona State. He had also been a finalist for two other awards, the Lombardi and the Nagurski.
It comes after a season in which he recorded 163 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions while leading the stingiest defense in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The year before, his 150 tackles - including 28 for losses - were a key part of the Terps' drive to a league title, but he didn't receive any national trophies despite nominations for the Butkus and Lombardi awards.
These have to be the best two nights in my football career," Henderson said. "Not playing wise, but it's nice to be recognized and know that your hard work paid off.
It was a good feeling, but it was a relief, not so much a surprise."
Henderson's prospects for an encore of his 2001 performance seemed to take a hit when he underwent back surgery after the season, leaving the possibility he might miss the beginning of the 2002 campaign.
But while he missed spring practice because of the operation, he returned in time for preseason camp in August and for him to start the season opener against Notre Dame.
Throughout the season - highlighted by a 14-tackle performance against Wake Forest to end the season - Henderson lived up to his billing and earned the Defensive Player of the Year award in the ACC.
NOTE: Tennessee safety Rashad Baker will play in the Peach Bowl against Maryland Dec. 31 in Atlanta despite injuring his knee last month.
Baker hurt his right knee in the Volunteers' 35-17 win at Mississippi State on Nov. 16. Trainers believed that he tore the anterior cruciate ligament, but the injury turned out to be a partially torn medial collateral ligament.
Baker said yesterday his knee has been healing on its own without surgery. He missed the Vols' final two regular-season games, but is first on the team with five interceptions and sixth with 53 tackles.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.