Meet the 16-year-old son of a WWE legend who can deadlift 600lbs and is dreaming of career in the NF

June 24, 2024

YOU could argue there is a weight of expectation on the shoulders of Jacob Henry.

The high school senior, 16, is the son of WWE Hall of Famer, Olympic powerlifter and former World's Strongest Man Mark Henry.

Standing at 6ft1 and 275lbs, Jacob is using his strong genes to carve out his own sporting story.

Following in his dad's footsteps in the squared circle, the teenager secured the 6A District Wrestling Heavyweight crown earlier this year.

But he's very much his own man, with Olympian Mark keen for his boy to follow his own dreams.

He told TexasFootball: "I wanted him to have his own identity.

Most read in NFL

A hard-tackling defensive lineman, the high school junior recorded 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery last season.

Jacob is already eyeing up college offers and put Michigan, UCLA, USC, Ohio State, Texas and Texas Tech on his list of dream schools.

While his dad believes he has the natural ability to be a top-level athlete.

Mark told TMZ: "Football-wise, he's already ahead of me.

"He's a really dominant player, impossible to block one-on-one.

"He took 28 double teams against the number one offensive line in the state and the best football team in the state of Texas.

"I know what Jacob is and what he's gonna be. I'm just looking forward to seeing it happen.

"He'll definitely be a better athlete than I am."

High school offensive lines in Texas might have felt the brute force of Jacob's hits.

But he's been garnering clicks on social media for a while due to his incredible lifting in the gym.

He recently smashed the Lake Travis High School record as he squatted a remarkable 550lbs.

And now Jacob has hit the magic 600lbs, with video of the 16-year-old going viral earlier this year.

He wrote on Twitter: "17 years ago Todd Perry squatted 550 pounds and All-Time school record. 17 years later, I am the man who breaks it."

Those exploits come on top of his achievements on the field, with the youngster bagging his school's Sophomore of the Year' award last campaign.

Jacob told KVUE: "What's starting to become really special, is people are going to my dad, 'are you Jacob Henry's dad'?

"It's not 'are you Mark Henry's son'? It's actually vice-versa.

"That's making me feel really good because it's showing I'm making an impact besides my father."

Away from the field and gym, Henry is a big fan of the school choir and holds his faith dear.

Mark continued: "He's such a well-rounded kid.

"[He] loves God more than anything, and I just wanna see him have every outlet that he wants to try his hand in.

"I want him to have success. I believe in opportunities."

For now, the sky is limit for Jacob as he targets success with the Cavaliers on the football field and personal glory in the squared circle.

He said: "I have so many dreams that I want to accomplish.

"But I have them in a specific order that I want to achieve them.