Chad Henne's Michigan Journey: NFL Stardom Could Lie Ahead

Miami Dolphins fans may currently know him as "That [Expletive] Quarterback", but 2nd year QB Chad Henne had a decorated career with the Michigan Wolverines and was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 by the Dolphins to be their QB of the Future.  The 24 year old's career is just beginning, and history shows that early career struggles are by no means damning to a QB's career.  In fact, the growing pains could lead to greatness.

Born July 2, 1985 in Wyomissing, PA, Henne blew away several of Wilson Senior High School's passing records in Spring Township, PA.  Henne was also a basketball and track star and earned a spot in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl alongside future teammate Ted Ginn (who would attend The Ohio State University).

Henne committed to Michigan and in 2004 became the first true freshman QB to start under center for the Wolverines since Rick Leach in 1975.  The Wolverines were initially ranked 8th before that season given a host of Wolverine star players: Receivers Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston and Jason Avant, linemen Matt Lentz and future top draft pick Jake Long, tailback Mike Hart, safety Marlin Jackson and linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

With such a fine supporting cast, Henne shined.  Despite an early season loss to Notre Dame that ended their BCS title hopes, Michigan rattled off eight straight wins, including wins over eventually 8th ranked Iowa, then 13th ranked Minnesota and then 12th ranked Purdue before falling 37-21 to their bitter rivals at (19th ranked) Ohio State and losing in the Rose Bowl 38-37 on a last second field goal against 4th ranked Texas and their superstar QB Vince Young.

According to Jeff Sagarin's ratings, Michigan had the 36th toughest schedule in the nation and under Henne, 9-3 Michigan was the 19th best team in the country.  A testament to Henne's talent is how easily he stepped in and produced: Henne threw for 2743 yards, 25 TDs and 12 INTs in starting all 12 games.

Henne struggled in Michigan's stumbling 3-3 start during 2005.  However, Michigan never lost a game by more than a touchdown, and rallied after a huge upset against then-3rd ranked Penn State (in which Henne threw a last second TD pass to receiver Mario Manningham) to win their next four games before taking another heartbreaking loss to (#9) Ohio State (25-21) and losing 32-28 to 20th ranked Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl.

Michigan's 7-5 season was a huge disappointment after their 9-3 record in Henne's freshman year, but Henne actually cut down on his interceptions (8) while throwing for 2526 yards and 23 touchdowns.  Michigan had also played a much more difficult schedule: Sagarin rated their schedule the 3rd most difficult in the nation, and as a result in fact Sagarin rated the 2005 Michigan team higher than the previous season (16th with a 84.31 rating compared to 82.60 in their 9-3 year) despite their 7-5 record.

Henne had another great season in 2006 as the Wolverines ran the table in their first 11 games.  But once again Ohio State handed them disappointment in their annual meeting as the (#1 ranked) Buckeyes beat them 42-39... and once again Henne was beaten in the Bowl Season, losing 32-18 to #7 USC in the Rose Bowl.  Henne rang up 2508 more passing yards with 22 TDs and 8 picks in yet another stellar season.  Michigan's schedule was just as tough: Sagarin rated their schedule 12th as he rated the Wolverines 7th in the nation.

The infamous Appalachian State upset knocked Michigan out of the title hunt on opening weekend of Henne's senior season, and a humiliating 39-7 loss to Oregon the following week not only had the Wolverines reeling, but Henne was KO'd with a knee injury during the loss.  Though Henne had to sit out the next two games, Michigan rallied to defeat Notre Dame and (#10) Penn State, sparking an eight game winning streak as Henne returned following the Penn State game and didn't miss a beat.  This time around, however, the Wolverines didn't wait until the Ohio State game to stumble, as Wisconsin knocked them off 37-21 the week before.  The Buckeyes didn't mind having their thunder stolen, as they roughed up Henne in yet another humbling loss, 14-3.

Henne, however, would not go down with yet another Bowl loss, as he had a huge game in the Capital One Bowl in defeating vaunted #9 Florida 41-35 to finish with a 9-4 record and cap his college career with a victory.  Henne finished his curtailed season with 1938 yards passing, 17 TDs and 9 INTs.  Henne graduated with Michigan career football records in yards passing (9715), touchdowns (87) and completions (828).

College QBs do show a tendency to stumble in the NFL, but the Miami Dolphins, needing a QB, took a chance on Henne in the 2nd round.  Henne watched and learned in 2008 and was prepared to do the same in 2009 before Chad Pennington's season ended with an injury, forcing him into the fire a little early.  Henne's trial by fire ended as many others have: roughly.  Henne did complete 59.9% of his 431 passes for 2731 yards but only threw a paltry 11 TDs vs 13 INTs.  To his credit, he only took 24 sacks in 13 games, showing a mature ability to get rid of the football.

That Henne hasn't looked awful in his 2009 trial by fire, and helped wring a 7-9 season from the 2009 Dolphins despite being rushed into action, indicates that Henne's got a good shot at becoming a solid NFL quarterback.  So do the lumps he took in Michigan, and the successes that followed.