Son of WWE Hall of Famer Joins Major College Football Program

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated Feb 18, 2025 12:47 PM ET

The son of a WWE legend Mark Henry appears to be taking his talents to a major college football program ahead of spring practice.

Henry, 53, rose to stardom as a powerlifter and weightlifter in the late 1990s. He was an Olympian in 1992 and 1996 while earning gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Pan American Games (1995).

He also became a two-time national champion with USA Powerlifting (1995, 1997) and won three championships with USA Weightlifting (1993-94, 1996).

The Silsbee, Texas, native joined the WWE in 1996 and went to become a two-time world champion and won the World Heavyweight Championship in 2011. In 2018, Henry was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame.

Henry's son, Jacob Henry, signed with the Oklahoma Sooners on a wrestling scholarship in the class of 2024. He won 37 matches his senior season at Vandergrift High School (Texas) with a 285-pound state runner-up finish.

Henry (6-foot, 285 pounds) also competed in track and field while playing defensive line for the football team. He was rated as a three-star recruit (247 sports) before electing to take a wrestling scholarship.

Henry is now trying his hand at college football, according to his social media post on Monday that included a photo of an Oklahoma locker dawning his name.

According to Rivals' Parker Thune, Henry is walking-on to head coach Brent Venables' team in Norman.

Henry has also updated his X account.

"Defensive tackle at the University of Oklahoma," it reads.

That’s WWE legend Mark Henry’s son.

He signed with the #Sooners last year on a wrestling scholarship.

He’s now walking on to the football team, it would appear. Played defensive tackle in high school for Lake Travis HS — Baker Mayfield’s alma mater — and later Vandegrift HS. https://t.co/brxcqLFFo2
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) February 17, 2025

Henry has an uphill battle ahead to see the field next season for Oklahoma, which returns defensive tackles Gracen Halton, David Stone and PJ Adebawore.

Even still, Venables and new co-defensive coordinators Todd Bates and Jay Valai will evaluate the best options after a disappointing 6-7 finish in the SEC.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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