Matt Henry has made a career of rising to the challenge.

The Miami native started his college football career at the NCAA Division II level, excelled there, made the jump to FCS, starred again, and is now an FBS player for Western Kentucky.

Henry has already mastered two levels for college football, so why not another?

“My decision on coming here is I know that WKU is a winning program,” Henry said. “I know the coaches that came here, they have the mindset of winning. The receivers coach (Jason Barnes) is a great man. I know he’ll be on us and stuff like that. I just know he’s going to push me to go to the next level.”

Henry is coming off a spectacular debut season for Western Illinois at the FCS level, where he led the Leathernecks in receiving with 1,211 yards and six touchdowns on 64 catches. He ranked first in the Big South-OVC in receiving yards per game, first in receiving yards, sixth in receptions per game, fourth in all-purpose yards, third in yards per catch and seventh in total receptions.

Henry’s 15 receptions against Lindenwood were most in a single game by any player in the conference in 2024, and he twice posted 200-plus receiving yards in a game – 242 against Gardner-Webb and 226 against Lindenwood. Henry’s five 100-yard receiving games were tied for most in the league.

He ranked fifth nationally in receiving yards and receiving yards per game and 12th in yards per reception. Henry was named an FCS Football All-America Third Team member and he was an Associated Press All-America Team Honorable Mention selection. He was a 2024 Big South-OVC Football Association All-Conference First Team Offense honoree.

The 5-foot-11 Henry has never lacked for motivation as he’s worked to hone his craft.

“As a man, just push myself in anything I was going to do,” Henry said. “Really, starting from D2 and moving my way up to FCS to be an All-American. I have the mindset right now that I’m guaranteed to be an All-American at this level.”

Henry has been working on the outside during spring camp, but he’s open to moving to the inside if that’s where he fits best in the offense. The Hilltoppers, long known as a pass-happy attack under head coach Tyson Helton, will have a new starting quarterback under center since incumbent starter Caden Veltkamp transferred to Florida Atlantic.

New offensive coordinator Rick Bowie brings a stellar resume of developing the passing game from Abilene Christian – record-setting quarterback Maverick McIvor came along with Bowie as a transfer to WKU – and his previous job at North Alabama.

Henry thinks he can flourish at WKU, just like he always has.

“Especially with the coaches and the environment, where everybody keeps pushing me and leaning on me – most definitely,” Henry said. “My coach tells me, ‘Take over.’ We’ve got a long way to the end of spring and the end of fall to when we win the championship. So really, just keep pushing and keep pushing my crew.”

Henry started his career at the D2 level, putting in three strong seasons at Livingstone College where he played in 15 games and tallied 66 career catches for 840 yards and eight TDs.

Henry, who prepped at Miami’s Dade Christian School, sees plenty of opportunity at WKU and intends to make the most of it in his redshirt senior season.

“I’m one of the receivers that you can most depend on during the game,” Henry said. “When it’s crunch time, I’m one of those guys that looks the quarterback in the eye and says, ‘Throw me the ball.'”