Mike Henley

Henley was first-team All-Calhoun County as a junior in 1971 for first-year Oxford head football coach Bill Burgess. As a junior, Henley rushed for 1,181 yards in Burgess’ wishbone offense and Oxford finished 10-1-1, losing only to W.S. Neal in the Class 3A semifinals. After his senior season, he was one of three players who repeated as all-county performers in the big schools category.

Henley opened his senior season by rushing for 264 yards on 12 carries as the Yellow Jackets defeated highly regarded Jacksonville 35-0. He scored on runs of 3, 79, 68 and 88 yards. 

In a 50-0 win over Wellborn, Henley carried the ball three times for 109 yards and scored on runs of 32 and 75 yards. Oxford improved to 4-0-0. Oxford led Heflin just 7-0 at halftime but Henley ran for three touchdowns, including one from 83 yards out, in the second half and the Yellow Jackets won 27-0. Henley finished with 12 carries for 235 yards and Oxford upped its record to 5-0-0. 

Against Pell City, Henley ran 11 times for 167 yards and three touchdowns in leading Oxford to a 25-0 victory and a 6-0-0 record. His touchdowns came on 1-yard, 68-yard and 42-yard runs. 

When Oxford defeated rival Saks 21-7 to go to 7-0-0, Henley ran 14 times for 70 yards and touchdowns of 14 yards and 2 yards. He suffered a knee injury midway through the third quarter and did not return. The injury ended his season.   

Henley was an All-State selection in 1971 and 1972. As a senior, he rushed 88 times for 17 touchdowns and 1,088 yards. He was named Class 3A Back of the Year by the Birmingham Post-Herald. 

In the August 1973 AHSAA North-South All-Star football game, Henley scored the winning touchdown as his North team claimed a 22-15 victory. With the North team trailing 15-14 in the fourth quarter, he scored on a 9-yard run. 

Henley received a football scholarship from Auburn University. He became a three-year football letter winner for the Tigers. In 1976, his senior season, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and rushed for two touchdowns.