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At around 3 AM central time on Friday, Mitchell Henry’s family announced that he had lost his battle with cancer.
Henry was a product of Elizabethtown High School in Kentucky before playing in Bowling Green from 2011 to 2014.
In his four years as a Top, Henry caught 78 balls for 1,094 yards and twelve touchdowns. He was part of the first WKU team to play an FBS game in 2011. The following year, the Tops made their first FBS postseason appearance in the Little Caesar’s Bowl. Then in 2014, they won their first FBS bowl game with a 49-48 victory over Central Michigan in the Bahamas Bowl. Henry caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in that game.
After college, he had short stints in the NFL with the Packers, Broncos, and Ravens before being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December of 2016.
Condolences poured in on Twitter from from his former teammates and coaches and members of the WKU family.
My letter to my dear friend @mitchhenry85. RIP Mitchell Henry pic.twitter.com/3WARDHkItR
— Brandon Doughty (@brandondoughty) June 30, 2017
Taken way to soon. Rest In Peace to a great teammate, friend, and individual. Please keep the Henry family in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/2ECWDpRLuk
— Nolan Dowling (@ndow887) June 30, 2017
Hard to match the type of man, son, husband, teammate, and friend @mitchhenry85 was. God has a plan and heaven gained a great one. RIP buddy pic.twitter.com/74YhU59xPA
— Coach Ryan Wallace (@Coach_RWallace) June 30, 2017
Absolutely heart-breaking to hear of Mitchell Henry’s passing. But Heaven gained a Hilltopper…one of the greatest to put on the uniform.
— Coach Mike Sanford (@CoachSanfordWKU) June 30, 2017
WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart had the following statement:
"Mitchell was as committed to his teammates, his University, his friends and his family as anyone you will ever find, and we were so fortunate to have him as part of our Hilltopper family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his lovely wife Madison, and all of those who were blessed to have known Mitchell." — Via WKU Athletics
Rest in peace, Mitch. Please join us in considering a donation to the Leukemia Research Foundation.
Our thoughts are with the family of Mitchell Henry, former @Packers camp tight end, who has passed away. https://t.co/7M7iAwbUIb pic.twitter.com/nDRfPfrYFx
— 94.5 KTI COUNTRY (@kticountry) June 30, 2017