A pair of former Cornhuskers have learned that they have earned their spots in the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Wide Receiver Niles Paul and Kicker/Punter Alex Henery will join other recent inductees such as Super Bowl Champion Danny Woodhead, former Husker I-back Damon Benning, and current Nebraska football coach Scott Frost in the honor.
Niles Paul played at Omaha North High School before heading to Lincoln for college, where he was Parade All-American who caught 48 passes for 814 yards and 13 touchdowns in football. He wasn’t just known for his play on the football field either, he also excelled in basketball and track and field. Paul averaged a double-double his senior year in basketball and in track and field, he won four individual state titles in his junior season with championships in the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay. He would repeat as the 110m hurdles champion his senior year.
He had 103 receptions for 1,532 yards and 5 touchdowns in four years at Nebraska and was second-team All-Big 12 in 2010. He currently sits 9th in all-time receiving yards for the Cornhuskers. Washington drafted him in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft as a Tight End and he spent eight years in the league with Washington, Jacksonville, and San Fransico before retiring from football in 2019.
Alex Henery attended Omaha Burke High School before walking on to the Nebraska football team in 2006. He was a two-sport high school athlete, excelling in football and soccer. In four years at Nebraska, Henery was 193 of 194 kicking extra points and was 68 of 76 kicking field goals. In addition, he spent two years as the Cornhusker’s punter and averaged 42.2 yards per punt. The Lou Groza Award semi-finalist was also first-team All-American in 2010 while somehow being second-team All-Big 12 the same season (long-time Dallas Cowboy kicker Dan Bailey finished ahead of Henery for that honor).
However, Henery is best remembered for November 28th, 2008, when he made a 57-yard field in Lincoln to help defeat the Colorado Buffalos 40-31. He was eventually taken in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft but lost his job during training camp in 2014 to Cody “double doink” Parkey (ask Chicago Bears fans) and was released. Henery then caught on with the Lions but was released in October of 2014 after missing three field goals in a 17-14 loss against the Bills. After that, he never played in another NFL game.
The two former Huskers will be honored with the other athletes, coaches, officials, and contributors to Nebraska High School athletics on September 25th at Lincoln East High School.
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