As the Becker Bulldog football team settled in for a regular football practice Tuesday, just days from playing in the state championship game on Friday, the boys were greeted by an unexpected visitor from a team they well recognized.
The team? The Minnesota Vikings.
The player? E.J.Henderson.
Head Coach Dwight Lundeen huddled his group of gridiron greats and spoke of the legend of E.J. Henderson, the former linebacker and current director of youth football for the Minnesota Vikings. Henderson came all the way to Becker Tuesday to present an award from the professional sports franchise to a well-deserving player on the Bulldogs roster.
Alex Meidt.
Henderson explained it his new job with the Vikings to go around the state and region and promote football. He acknowledged the team’s success this year and years past and said he “takes his hat off to the team for their athletic success but also their academic.”
Meidt took center stage with Henderson after the Viking great said he was giving a player the “Community Captain Award” to the senior tailback, cornerback and wideout.
“You have been an outstanding varsity player on and off the field,” Henderson said of Meidt. Henderson went on to say Meidt carries a 4.0 G.P.A. and his involvement in the area’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes was commendable.
“Alex, this award is important because of your character and how you show it in everything you do.”
Henderson presented an autographed football from the Vikings to Meidt and told him he will be attending a home Vikings game soon where he and other students will be honored officially. Henderson then handed over a check to the Becker FCA in honor of Meidt in the amount of $1,000.
Henderson played nine years in the NFL — all with the Vikings and was a pro-bowler in 2011. He founded the E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation and partnered with the NFL’s Play 60 campaign in order to keep children healthy and active.
“I love to mentor kids. I love to give them knowledge I’ve learned, not only in football and through sports but through life lessons,” He says. “It keeps me young, it keeps me running around.”
Meidt is 5’10” and 167-lbs. and can run the 40-yard dash in 4.58. His dad, Chris, is one of Lundeen’s assistant coaches who works with the quarterbacks. Alex has played all 11 games this year and has 16 TDs — 13 as a wideout, two at running back and one on a punt return.
Other Bulldog News
Dillon Radunz was named to the StarTribune All-Metro football first-team defense while Casey Vesledahl and Beau Pauly were named to the second-team. Vesledahl made the offense and Pauly the defense teams.
Radunz also was named a finalist for 2015 Mr. Football by the MInnesota Football Coaches Association Tuesday. The Mr. Football award has been given since 2004 to the senior player voted by MFCA members as the state’s top player. Hutchinson’s Robbie Grimsley won the award in 2014.
