Danroy Henry Remembered By High School Football Coaches

While he was playing football at Oliver Ames High School in North Easton, MA, Danroy "DJ" Henry was known by his coaches as a player who worked hard to get better and dreamed about being college football player.

The former Oliver Ames standout was shot to death by a police offer early Sunday morning death in Thornwood. The 20-year-old was a junior at Pace University and played on the football team as a wide-receiver-defensive back. In a 27-0 loss to Stonehill College Saturday in the Homecoming Day Game for Pace, he had one tackle.

"I'm in a state of shock," said OA football head coach Jim Artz. "He was a tremendous kid. He comes from a great family. I'm really just in shock and mourning for him and his family."

Henry was killed outside of Finnegan's Grill after he allegedly struck two police officers with a motor vehicle and was shot down by a third officer.

Artz coached him through his senior season at Oliver Ames and  described Henry as a great athlete and a "pleasure to be around."

"He just, you know – he wanted to be a college football player," he said.

Henry attended Iona College after he graduated from Oliver Ames in 2007. When Iona dropped its football program in 2009, he transferred to Pace.

Former Oliver Ames head coach Mike Yurof, who coached Henry prior to his senior season, remembered him as a hard-working athlete.

"In the couple of years I knew him, he made tremendous gains," said Yurof. "He was a true football player, and he came from a great family. He's just a great kid. You'd love to have 11 of them out there on the field.

"He was a hardworking kid. He was a kid that, you know, as a high school football coach, you want to coach."

He played in all of 0-6 Pace's games this season and had recorded one interception.

Henry has two siblings attending Oliver Ames. Artz said the football team would check with his family before formally honoring him in any way.

"We want to make sure we honor DJ in whatever way the family feels is appropriate," he said. "I don't want to have to make a decision and not have spoken to them. But, with whatever we do, it will be with their blessing and their input as to how we should do it."