From the moment Keisean Henderson met Houston Legacy head coach Michael Bishop, they’ve been attached at the hip.

Dating back to his pee-wee football days, it was clear that Henderson’s versatile athletic ability allowed him to excel on either side of the ball. He showed a natural talent for both receiving and defending the ball in the air.

When Henderson’s pee-wee coach asked which position he wanted to play, he simply said, “I’m a quarterback.”

It was the challenge of becoming a quarterback — and the doubters that came with it — that truly fueled his drive.

“Everyone always told me I shouldn’t play quarterback. I never took the criticism to heart; I just used it as motivation and a chip on my shoulder,” Henderson said.

Henderson’s edge at Legacy The School of Sports Sciences — a state-accredited charter school specializing in athletic professions — comes not just from his dynamic dual-threat ability, but also from his unmatched work ethic and drive to grow as a competitor.

“Seeing his dedication, ambition, and never-quit attitude is why he’s often told, ‘What the other kids do is a reflection of you,’” Bishop said.

Becoming a highly recruited Texas high school quarterback didn’t happen without early opportunities for growth. As a freshman, Henderson had to be patient and learn from then-senior quarterback Jacob Smith. Taking mental reps and learning from Smith’s mistakes was a crucial part of his development. But he wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines all year. Eager to contribute, Henderson took the field as a wide receiver.

“I’m one of those guys that just wants to touch the field. The competitive edge I got from going up against our senior DBs gave me all the confidence in the world,” Henderson said.

Eight weeks of battling more experienced senior DBs paid off, as Henderson went for 150 yards and three touchdowns against St. John’s during his freshman year.

“He made some plays for us his freshman year — going over 1,000 yards receiving — but in my mind, he was always a quarterback,” Bishop said.

The confidence Coach Bishop has in his quarterback is something Henderson has felt since he was 13. It comes from a sense of familiarity — Bishop sees a lot of himself in Henderson, both as a player and a person.

“Our stories are so similar,” Bishop said.

Bishop played receiver his freshman and sophomore years at Willis High School before transitioning to quarterback. A true dual threat, he could beat defenses with his arm while extending plays with his legs — a style he carried into college and the NFL with the New England Patriots.

Henderson’s journey to becoming the dynamic playmaker and University of Houston commit he is today didn’t fully begin until his sophomore season. As a first-year starter at quarterback, he took a conservative approach, playing like a game manager to avoid unnecessary turnovers.

“I was just a sponge my sophomore year — trying to gain confidence in myself and exude it to my teammates,” Henderson said.

His junior season, however, became a showcase for his elusive mobility and ability to extend plays. Now entering his senior season — what he calls his “all-around year” — Henderson aims to highlight his football IQ by managing games efficiently and, when needed, making plays with his legs in true Coach Bishop fashion. Bishop isn’t just his coach; he’s the quarterback Henderson models his game after.

“He has something that a lot of kids across the country don’t have, and that’s being around someone who has played the position and been through the ups and downs,” Bishop said. “Since I met him, he’s been connected to my hip.”