CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football first-year Damien Henderson has been named to FCS Football Central's Freshman All-America team. The defensive back was one of three players to land on the team from the Ivy League, but the only one of the defensive side of the ball.
 
A product of Tampa, Florida, and Berkeley Preparatory School, Henderson played in all 10 games, while earning eight starting assignments, for a defensive unit that ranked 15^th nationally in interceptions and 20^th in scoring defense.
 
Individually, Henderson recorded 29 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups. His last two outings of 2023 were perhaps his best two showings as he posted nine total tackles, which were his most over any two-game stretch, and two picks. Henderson's two interceptions were part of the Crimson's Ivy-leading 13 for the season.
 
Henderson is the first Harvard player to receive freshman All-America accolades since Thor Griffith in 2021. That season, the defensive lineman collected freshman honors from Phil Steele and HERO Sports.
 
Joining Henderson on FCS Football Central's Freshman All-America team from the Ivy League were Penn's Malachi Hosley (RB) and Dartmouth's Owen Zalc (K).
 
Henderson and his Harvard teammates recently completed a 2023 campaign that saw it go 8-2 overall (5-2 Ivy) and capture its 18^th Ivy championship.