New Mexico running back Andrew Henry enters the 2025 NFL Draft via a winding road. Henry was unfortunately ruled ineligible for the 2024 season by the NCAA after a productive 2023 campaign. Determined to prove he could still play, he took advantage of a late call-up to the East-West Shrine Bowl by rushing for 68 yards via 11 carries, finishing as the game’s second-highest rusher.
Henry recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Henry discussed staying strong through adversity, the East-West Shrine Bowl, which teams he's met with throughout the process, and more.
JM: What a crazy year it's been for you. You were ruled ineligible for the 2024 season by the NCAA after totaling 740 yards in 2023 as a dual-threat runner and pass-catcher. That must have been devastating.
Andrew Henry: I’ve been blessed with God-given talent. I’ve put the hard work in, and I’m so lucky to have so many incredible people in my corner. I have a lot of great people around me that instilled values in me.
Sunny day or rainy day, you keep showing up and doing what you gotta do. With that being instilled in me, there were days where I was upset, asking God why this had to happen to me. I was still able to keep my head down and go to work. I have a son to take care of. He just turned 11 months old.
Playing in the National Football League has always been a dream of mine. I won’t let anybody stop me from reaching my goals. Having a son, it’s important for me to lead by example. I want to show him that if you stay consistent and keep going, you can make your dreams come alive.
That’s always been my mindset. My son is going to ask me about my football career one day. I’ll be able to tell him that when things got hard, I locked in and turned up my intensity. I made it happen for myself.
JM: That’s a phenomenal answer. You've been on that mission. You were a late addition to the East-West Shrine Bowl roster and had a 36-yard run, finishing with 68 yards on 11 rushing attempts. You were the second-highest rusher of the game. What an incredible story. Talk to me about taking advantage of the opportunity.
Andrew Henry: A lot of guys wish to have one of those pre-draft opportunities. I wasn’t going to say, “I wish I would have done this or that.” I consider myself to be one of the top running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Shrine Bowl could have called me during halftime and I would have shown up ready for the opportunity. I prepare like I’m playing. I was doing everything I needed to. When they called me up, I was ready to run outside zone, inside zone, on a moment’s notice.
It was just about executing at a high level when my number got called. I stayed up all night studying the playbook. I felt like I had more to prove than anyone else in attendance. I was excited to be there. Some guys expect to receive those opportunities, like a handout. I’m not like that. I had to take advantage.
I showed scouts what I’m all about. If I had practiced the entire week, I would have accomplished even more. I feel like I could have played even better. By the third or fourth quarter, I was wishing I had a few more yards, and I ended up being the second-highest rusher of the game.
It was a blessing and a privilege. I just stay ready. I work hard because I wanna be one of the top guys in the league. In order for that to happen, I have to put the work in.
God blessed me with an opportunity at the Shrine Bowl.
JM: You took full advantage. Have you been in contact with any teams since the Shrine Bowl?
Andrew Henry: A number of teams have since reached out. I arrived the day before the game, so there wasn't any time for team meetings like the other guys had.
I've had a couple teams reach out since then. The Cardinals called me. The Philadelphia Eagles touched base after Shrine. They were amazed I was able to pick up the playbook and execute.
JM: You averaged 4.5 yards per carry after contact. Talk to me about contact balance. Yours is terrific on tape.
Andrew Henry: I watch a lot of film on guys like Alvin Kamara. I've been watching him since I can remember. I had to go the JUCO route. Seeing his journey, he went the JUCO route as well, it's an inspiration.
I used to study Alvin Kamara’s JUCO film and compare it to my film. I think my junior college film ranks up there with the best of them. I've always seen a lot of Alvin Kamara praise. I'm always trying to add little wrinkles to my game.
You have to break tackles in order to be a successful running back. It's very important, just like catching the ball out of the backfield is.
I'm always working on my contact balance. It's a blessing to see it come together. I didn't even play this past season, so I've been just working out. To see it translate at the Shrine, it was a great feeling.
JM: We've appreciated your time today. This has been an outstanding conversation. In closing, why should a team use one of their draft picks on Andrew Henry?
Andrew Henry: I'm going to work harder than anyone in the building. I proved at the Shrine Bowl that I'm able to come in and perform when my number gets called.
I can play on special teams as well. I can play in pass protection and in the passing game. I have a lot of production catching passes.
I can run the ball between the tackles. I can do a little bit of everything. I can put the ball in the end zone for our offense. I can do it all. I'm always going to show up. I feel like my ability to adjust to any offense I'd going to pay dividends. There are ups and downs in football games. I feel like I've always handled adversity, and that aspect is going to translate in-game.
I'm going to stay ready and keep fighting as if I'm up. When a team gets Andrew Henry, they're getting a consistent player. I'm going to show up and show out. I'm always working to get better.
When things aren't going my way, that's when I'm at my best.
