Last year's Big Sky Conference leader in interceptions, ISU's Donovan Henley, hasn’t picked off as many passes this season, but it's not for lack of trying.

    Henley, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., has grabbed three picks this season whereas last year he finished at the top of the league with four.

    Currently, Portland State's Ian Sluss is tied with two others for the lead, ironically, with four.

    Playing for a defense that struggles to stop the run, Henley hasn't had as many opportunities to intercept opposing quarterbacks. But when someone does look his way, Henley has made plays. Along with his three interceptions he has five pass break ups, good enough for third in the Big Sky.

    Call it Henley Island.

    "I just try to let the game come to me," Henley said. "I know the moment I try to think about that and I try to force something is the minute I'm going to get beat. I'm just patient."

    ISU head coach Mike Kramer is happy with the play of his cornerbacks, singling out Henley during Tuesday's weekly press conference.

    "He's one of the great players in the conference this season, it's just lost in the avalanche of some other issues that we can't get solved," Kramer said.

    As one of six junior college players recruited by Kramer's staff during its first year at Idaho State, Henley brings more than just football talent to the university.

    "He's one of the six JuCo guys that we brought in that were all very high GPA guys," Kramer said. "He's just a wonderful person, a tremendous addition to our program in terms of a stylish, quiet, lead by example guy. He has a tremendous grade point average in a tough major. He's a guy who's had excellent parenting, and he's responded by trying to be the best football player, the best student and the best teammate a team could ever have."

    While Henley excels in the classroom and will graduate with his bachelor's degree in psychology in December, it has been a difficult and sometimes seemingly hopeless path to Pocatello.

    Henley was recruited by Northern Arizona while a senior at Marcos De Niza High School, but the university offered him late, after he had already enrolled at Glendale Community College.

    "Northern Arizona offered me out of high school, but they offered me in June," Henley said. "I was already in an apartment going to my junior college, training and everything. The scholarship was partial, so it would have cost more money to break the lease, pack up and go."

    After his two years in Glendale, Utah State was set to bring him aboard. But once again, timing was an issue as Henley could not get to Logan until the end of the semester in May. The Aggies wanted him six months earlier. Suddenly Henley went from Logan-bound to planted in Glendale with no scholarship in sight.

    "For a while there, I'm not going to lie, I was pretty down," he said. "At that point I had put so much effort and hard work into it. When they ended up pulling it, I remember when it happened, I was in class and I got a call from them and I left class to go talk to the coach. When he told me they ended up having to pull it, after class I was sitting there with no scholarship offer. After two years, nothing. It was kind of shocking."

    Henley, who comes from an athletic family as his dad still holds the third place record at Arizona State in the 400 meter sprint, was too talented to be forgotten.

    Matt Troxel, Idaho State's wide receivers and special teams coach, contacted Henley about one month after Utah State pulled its offer. From there the courtship happened quickly, and defensive backs coach Daniel Drayton offered Henley a full ride.

    "It was a big relief," Henley said. "When coach Drayton called and actually offered me, I was just in so much shock from everything that was going on. I was just quiet and he wasn't sure if I was excited. I was, of course, it was just a lot to take in."

    Now in his senior season, Henley is happy to be playing and building bonds with teammates that won't be forgotten.

    "It's been almost like a brotherhood, especially with how much time we spend with our position coach and our position group," he said. "It's been a great experience and I've made a lot of friends that I know friendships will last a lifetime with these guys."

    But one of Henley's best friends plays for Northern Arizona — junior running back Zach Bauman.

    "I train at the same facility as him. We're pretty close," Henley said. "We send text messages to each other, but those ended on Monday. I'm excited to play them, but I'm preparing like I normally would for any other game."

    Fans have one of two last chances to see Henley in action as Idaho State (1-7, 0-5 Big Sky) plays Northern Arizona (7-1, 5-0) today in the second to last home game of the season.

    "The mission is still the same, we're trying to win these last games," Henley said. "My attitude is the same as the team's, we're going to keep fighting and keep getting better every day."

    Kickoff between the Bengals and the Lumberjacks from Holt Arena is slated for 4 p.m.