By Herb Gould
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHAMPAIGN — Four years. He spent four years in a federal prison in Glenville, W.Va., paying for a bad mistake. That’s a long time for a young man of college age. It was a prison experience that could break anyone’s spirit.
But that’s not what Trulon Henry is all about.
After keeping himself in shape by working out and playing in fierce, no-pads pickup football games in the prison yard, he has made the most of his chances since being released in April 2008.
Given an opportunity to play safety at the College of DuPage, Henry was named the most valuable defensive player on the team and in the North Central Community College Conference. A team captain, he mentored his younger teammates the last two autumns.
Henry also became the first football player at DuPage to earn his associate’s degree in three semesters. That enabled him to enroll last January at Illinois, where his brother, Arrelious Benn, who now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had been a star receiver.
Now Henry, who will be 26 on Saturday, is taking it to the next level. His two interceptions in the Illini’s 24-13 loss Saturday to Ohio State made him the first Illinois player to pick off two passes in a game since Kelvin Hayden did it against Florida A&M in 2004.
''He’s been through a lot,’' defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said. ''I feel like he’s one of my sons. One of the reasons I’m here is to be a server for these guys. He’s a tremendous young man that has a lot of good things ahead of him in life. Nobody’s tried harder than he has.
''He still has a lot to accomplish on a daily basis. But if anybody needs to get some rewards in life, he’s one of them.’'
Obviously, the two interceptions would have meant a lot more in victory.
''We have to win games like this,’' Henry said. ''Playing them close is not good enough. I don’t walk away from this smiling.’'
‘Worst Mistake’
If the whole back story would go away -- the one in which a teenager makes a misguided attempt to help his family financially by sticking up a bank branch in a supermarket -- Henry wouldn’t mind. The personal side remains hard to ignore, though.
''Growing up in hard times, you want to help your family out,’' he said when he was putting his life back together at College of DuPage. ''But it was the worst mistake I ever could have made.’'
A young man shouldn’t be glorified for overcoming a troubled past any more than he should be barred from opportunities because of past mistakes. But it happens, and it’s difficult to avoid pondering it.
It certainly put a different spin on things after Henry came up with two interceptions against the No. 2 team in the country.
''It’s pretty exciting,’' Henry said. ''Fourth game in, it’s kind of like I’m a normal player. That’s how I look at it. That’s how I approach the game -- that I’m a freshman, hungry to learn.’'
He’s a junior with a freshman’s mentality. And while he’s uncomfortable with the attention, there are moments when he reflects on his past.
''It’s definitely in the back of my mind,’' Henry said of the 2003 holdup at a Safeway store. ''But that was what, five, eight years ago? I don’t even count anymore. I’m a junior, a student and a football player for the Fighting Illini. I’m a father. That’s it.’'
Deserving of Chance
Henry is married to his high school sweetheart, Morgan. After staying up all night for the birth of their daughter, Tatum, he went out and returned an interception for a touchdown at College of DuPage. He hopes to celebrate his birthday Saturday by helping the Illini pull off an upset at Penn State.
''His brother [Benn] was a very athletic kid, and he’s following in his footsteps,’' Illinois tailback Mikel Leshoure said of Henry. ''He’s come a long way. He’s put in the work, and it’s finally showing. We always knew what type of player he was. Now he’s out there making plays.’'
Knowing the situation well, coach Ron Zook said he had no reservations about giving Henry this chance.
''I wouldn’t have even considered bringing him in if I wasn’t completely sure about him,’' Zook said. ''But you won’t find anyone who knows him who isn’t for him.’'
To middle linebacker Martez Wilson, what matters is the defense and leadership Henry brings.
''At the end of the day, you just look at him as a guy,’' Wilson said. ''He’s smart, a great guy with great character. He’ll never get in trouble [again]. He’s a great player as well. He ain’t scared to come down and deliver the hit.’'
Henry knows where he’s going. And he knows how to get there.
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