Published Jun 30, 2017
Five-star likely missing another major visit & delaying his commitment
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Adam Friedman  •  Rivals.com
Rankings Director and National Transfer Portal Analyst
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The visit schedule for five-star defensive end K.J. Henry is getting complicated. Teams are fighting to get the Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth star on campus but time is running out before the season starts.

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IN HIS OWN WORDS…

"Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech are still the main teams with me right now," Henry said. "I had a scheduling conflict that kept me from going to Clemson so I'm going to try to get down to their cook out on July 20th. I'll be able see all the guys that they are recruiting and get some good food while catching up with the coaches. I may not be able to go though because we have a 7-on-7 tournament in Canton, Ohio that starts on July 20th and ends on July 22nd.

"That scheduling conflict may hurt Clemson and it might actually help Ohio State because my teammates and I might go by the campus," he said. "It'll be more of team thing so they get to see the campus and everything but it will be good to see the coaches again. I expect this to be more of an informal visit for me. I don't want to branch off from my teammates. I want Ohio State to take advantage of having me there but, at the same time, I want my teammates to get the same opportunities that I do while I'm there. A lot of my teammates haven't been out of state so I want them to be treated the same way that I would be.

"I think it's a plus every time Virginia Tech lands somebody from North Carolina," said Henry. "These guys that are committing are guys that I know. Tre Turner is a great friend of mine. Knowing that they are getting good players that I know does not hurt at all. I know they are good guys. Virginia Tech is definitely making progress in their recruitment and are having a really good year.

"South Carolina is keeping up with me as much as everybody else is," he said. "I talk to coach Muschamp once or twice or three times a week. I try to keep in touch with him as much as I can. He's my main recruiter. To have the head coach on me and really wanting me is a big deal.

"My plan and my goal is to narrow it down to the five that will be my official visits," Henry said. "It could be any random day when I decide to do that. I haven't even talked to my family about it yet. My initial plan was to take these official visits with my mom because my dad is working during the season. Then I would decide after the football season. After talking with my dad, he is pushing to come on these visits with us. It's a big part of my decision and I think he wants to be there. For that to happen these visits would have to happen towards the end of the season and that would push everything back. That's perfectly fine with me.

"I'd be surprised if Clemson didn't get an official visit," he said. "I'd be surprised if Alabama didn't get an official visit too. There would have to be something that got messed up for those two schools to not get official visits. Those are two good schools that are in a good place with me."

RIVALS' REACTION

Clemson fans might be panicking after learning that Henry will likely skip a second straight visit but the fact that they will be getting an official visit should calm them down again. The Tigers are clearly still one of his favorites. Alabama is in this for the long haul as well. Henry enjoyed his recent visits to Tuscaloosa and to Georgia. Virginia Tech and South Carolina are making strides to stay in the thick of this race too and the possibility that Henry's recruitment might go on for longer than originally thought could benefit them.