Shemaj Henry, Chester High School Clippers’ 6-foot-8 offensive tackle, was once embarrassed about his size and weight.
The high school senior still remembers at age 14, weighing 430 pounds, when he couldn’t fit into a roller coaster carriage. It led him to change his life through football.
He lost 100 pounds over 18 months, and now he feels “like a whole new person,” writes Joseph Santoliquito for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
He’s also close to making Chester sports history as the first student-athlete to leave high school in January for early admittance to Syracuse University.
Plus, he’s playing a key role in the 8-0 Clippers run toward their first PIAA District 1 Class 5A title.
“I can say football saved my life,” said Henry. “I would probably be 500 pounds by now if I wasn’t playing football.”
Henry was on the sideline for most of his sophomore season as Chester’s head coach, Dennis Shaw, and his staff helped him lose weight.
Henry put in the work.
Now, major college coaches are telling Shaw how amazed they are by how much Henry got himself into shape.
“They all told me that is the kind of kid they want. Shemaj is an inspiration,” Shaw said.
Read more about Shemaj Henry in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editor’s Note: This post was initially published on DELCO.Today in October 2025.
