Todd Hendricks

Hendricks in 2013

Todd Hendricks (born August 13, 1968 in Graceville, Minnesota) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver, running back, and kick returner.

Early years

Todd Hendricks starred for Alexandria, Minnesota in high school athletics, earning three letters as a two-year starter playing running back on the high school football team.

Despite missing several games due to injuries, he was awarded most valuable back/receiver as a junior, special teams MVP as a senior, as well as earning all conference and section recognition. He was the first player at the school to ever score touchdowns five different ways via rushing, receiving, punt return, kick return and throw a touchdown pass. He set a state record for punt return yards in a season. Hendricks helped the team to win section and conference championships.

In Basketball he was a three-year starter, captain, team MVP, earned two all conference awards as well as WCCO All State honors. He averaged 18 points per game without a three-point shot and led his team to its first winning season in over a decade.

He also participated in track in his junior year and was subsection 100 meter dash champion, and also part of three indoor school record setting relay teams.

He drew recruiting attention and offers from colleges in football, basketball and track.

As a youth he was also an outstanding baseball player as shortstop, pitcher.

College career

Hendricks played four seasons of college football as receiver, running back and kick returner.

He was recruited by numerous colleges at every level. Academic issues led him to junior college, where he earned MCAC all league honors and was named JC Gridwire All-American at Minnesota State Community & Technical College-Fergus Falls for his all purpose production.

He was a top sprinter on the track team in the 100 (10.75), 200, 400 relay. He also had stint playing on basketball team. Hendricks was honored with induction to the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2016.

On an athletic scholarship, Hendricks played the final two years of his standout college football career at the University of Mary, earning conference honors as a starting receiver and running back. He helped lead the University of Mary to its first ever final national ranking as a senior captain, and was the first player from the school to sign a professional football contract.

Hendricks played for three different head coaches in his college career. He was timed consistently in the low 4.4's in the 40.

Professional career 1993-2010

Hendricks signing autographs

After college he gained interest and workouts with several pro teams from the NFL,CFL and Europe.

Hendricks signed a professional contract with the AFC Rangers of Vienna, Austria in 1993. He played all or parts of six seasons from 1993 until 2002 for the AFC Rangers at the highest level of the Austrian Football League and Europe. He helped the Rangers to the AFL playoffs semi final four times, as well as the European Football League 1996 tournament playoffs.

Hendricks was honored as Austrian Football League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1995. He is the only Rangers player to earn the league MVP. He set several Austrian League records including Scoring 5 TDs in a game against Vienna Vikings and making 18 receptions in a 1997 game against the Graz Giants. He set the AFL single season league records for most receptions (75), most receiving yards, and most TDs (20 total-13 rec./ 7 rush.) scored in a season. He was named All European League by EFAF in 1995, 1996, 1997. Todd averaged 167 all purpose yards and over two touchdowns per game in his career in Europe.

In 1999 Hendricks played for the St Paul Pigs in Minnesota. The talented Pigs team had more than twenty former University of Minnesota players on the roster along with a former NFL draft pick. Hendricks led the team in rushing and led the league in yards per reception, while also finishing second in the league in receiving touchdowns. He helped the Pigs to an undefeated season and league championship, and was named to the Mid America league all star team. That was the only season of existence for the Pigs franchise. The next season 2000 Hendricks returned to Europe and the Rangers in the Austrian Football League.

He made a comeback from his 2002 retirement in 2008 at age 40 to play the last three games and coach for the Vienna Knights in Austria. He then spent a full season with Bern Grizzlies of Switzerland's top level league in 2009, where he ruptured his achilles tendon ending his playing season early in the fifth game, he went through surgery, rehab. Hendricks had scored eight touchdowns before the injury. The team was league semi finalist. He came back in 2010 to play and coach a strong full season with the Thun Tigers of Switzerland. Although he did not play at the same level as in his younger years, he did account for 19 total touchdowns in leading the team to its best season in many years.

Hendricks is considered one of the top American imports to play in Austria and Europe. He was inducted to the US national AAA Minor League Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He has also helped promote the game at schools,camps,and clinics in his career.

Hendricks has been a successful coach in the US and Europe in recent years winning nearly eighty percent of games and four championships as a head coach at Wabasso High School, Alexandria Mustangs, Bern Grizzlies, and Terni Steelers, Viterbo Pitbulls in Italy. He has also served as an assistant coach /coordinator at Osakis High School, Kimball High School, ACGC High School, Ridgewater College, Augsburg College, Thun Tigers and AFC Rangers. He is divorced, has four children and resides in Minnesota.

References