Interview: 2021 North Carolina CISAA Player of the Year RB/SR Henry Rutledge Blew Doors Off Season
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Accomplishments in sports can come in a variety of ways, personal and/or team achievements. When the two come together on the gridiron, extraordinary things happen. At Charlotte Christian, the Knights captured their four consecutive state championship while their senior running back Henry Rutledge exploded landing CISAA Player of the Year and NCISAA first team All-State honors.
Coming off a junior season where Rutledge flew past defenses for 978 yards off 142 carries with seven scores while taking in 10 passes for 123 more yards, defenses were keying on the dynamic playmaker. Regardless of the front or determination to limit Rutledge’s offensive skills, the 5-8, 172-pound, back was a magician. On just 113 carries through six games, Rutledge rolled for 1,098 yards with 12 scores and rounded out his all-purpose nature with 10 more receptions for 157 yards.
As college football seasons wind down, interest is rising for the under the radar prospect. Teams evaluating senior film are seeing the explosive-game changing athleticism Rutledge brings to the field. Off the field, the Class of 2021 standout is carrying an unweighted 3.3 GPA with a 1210 scored on the SAT.
In an RNG exclusive, Rutledge stopped by the Lab detailing his season with a quick update on his recruiting process.
Interview
Henry, the Knights made the most out of the 2020 season posting a 6-1 record. For you, being a senior, how important was it to get those games in before officially wrapping your high school career?
It was super important. Coming into the season, we did not know if we were going to play. When our league gave us the go, we were ready after working out throughout the summer. In Game 1, we were ready to go.
The season you turned in was phenomenal. With all that you accomplished, what are you most proud of?
Winning the fourth straight championship. Our school has not done that nor any team in our league. That was the highlight of my season, and I’m sure for all my teammates as well.
What offensive set were the Knights running in 2020?
We run a high-tempo offense. We get signals from the sidelines, and we all know what is going to happen. Our team plays fast and physical. We run two or three receivers, we can run and pass it.
What were some of the ways the OC was feeding you the rock?
We were doing inside and outside zones They were handing me the ball, and I’d find the hole and hit it. Sometimes I was in the slot, running outs and goes. When I was open, they’d throw me the ball. I was on kickoff return too. In our first game, one kick was taken back for a touchdown but it was called back. After that, no other teams kicked it my way for the rest of the year.
Your speed is blistering. You were leaving guys in the dust even when they had an angle on you. What is the best-timed run you’ve posted?
My fastest 40 was a 4.42 at a UNC-Charlotte camp. I was not able to run the 100 meters last year (COVID). During my sophomore year, I ran an 11.02 in the 100. I was close to going into the 10 seconds range my junior year. I am wanting to improve upon that this year.
This will be a challenging question. Which game this year was your personal best?
(Laughs) That is a hard question. I feel like… not going off of stats, I’d say my game against Providence Day’; the first one. I had two touchdowns called back, but still had two that counted. We lost that game, the only one we lost all year. My performance was good. I almost helped me team win. I went over 270 yards with four total touchdowns.
From your junior to senior season, which areas of your game improved the most?
I’d say my speed. Last year, I was getting tackled by the last possible guy. Last year, there were not many long touchdown runs on my highlight reel. I was getting tripped up before I hit open space. This season I was hitting the holes faster. I was seeing them better, hitting them hard and bursting into space using my speed from there.
Another thing was my hands. I played receiver my sophomore year, my junior year I didn’t. I worked on that over the offseason and summer. That worked translated in our games and in practice.
What routes were you running?
Flies, goes, and slants.
Which events in track are you applying your athleticism?
The 100, 4×1, long and high jump. I was first in state my sophomore year as a long jumper. I jumped 23 feet, that is my PR. I wasn’t able to break that my junior year because of COVID. Guessing, I am near 25 feet now.
Applying that to the Olympics, what is an Olympic qualifier jumping?
Near 26 or 27 feet. I think the really good ones jump 28.
You are in the ballpark. Going into recruiting. Which schools are showing interest after the season you produced?
I have been communicating with multiple D-III schools. The D-I programs showing interest are Columbia and Cornell. I just talked to Cornell’s running backs coach today. He was showing a lot of interest. Wake Forest and UNC-Charlotte are also showing interest.
Have you been able to visit any programs recently?
I just visited Indiana Wesleyan. I should hear back from them any day now about a scholarship offer.
Are there any upcoming visits you might take to D-II and/or D-III programs?
It is hard to go and visit during this time. The D-I schools are in a dead period with no one on campus. They are doing their recruiting from Hudl. I have no planned visits as of right now but hopefully that will change soon.
Henry, it was great going in-depth on your talents today. Again, congratulations on an amazing senior season. Wishing you the best of luck with your recruiting process going forward.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Rutledge family; Henry Rutledge