Western Kentucky tight end Henry (80) carries the ball for extra yards during a 2013 game against Navy.(Photo: File/AP)

Every football player dreams, but the first time Henry's eyes were opened to the NFL being a realistic possibility came during his freshman year at Western Kentucky.

Even then, he wasn't as certain as his coaches were.

"Coaches always told me that. Starting freshman year, they told me, 'You could play in the NFL,'" Henry recalled. "I really didn't listen to it a lot because that's a long way off. I don't want to think about that. I knew as a player I still had a long way to go."

Henry played as a true freshman for the Hilltoppers, spelling current Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle for two seasons. Technically, Henry played tight end in high school, but he never lined up in a three-point stance. It was under Doyle's wing that he learned the finer points of the position.

The starting job fell to Henry when Doyle graduated. He responded with 57 catches for 794 yards and six touchdowns in his final 24 collegiate games. Henry had a breakout performance against Middle Tennessee State in September, catching seven passes for a career-high 128 yards.