BALTIMORE - The Super Bowl ring sits locked in a safe in Milt Hendrickson's home as a reminder of how far the southwest Wisconsin native has come as an NFL scout for the Baltimore Ravens.
Hendrickson, 42, a Blanchardville native who now lives in La Crosse, never dreamed about becoming an NFL scout or landing an internship with the same team - the Green Bay Packers - he rooted for growing up. Hendrickson has served as a scout with the Ravens for 11 years. He's now a mid-regional scout and is assigned to the outside linebacker position group.
"When I had the opportunity to do this, it's hard for me to tell my kids to chase your dreams if I didn't take this chance," Hendrickson said. "I never set a goal of becoming a scout or working in the NFL. I got in front of the right people and made the most of my opportunity."
Pecatonica High School days
Hendrickson starred as a three-sport athlete at Pecatonica High School. He was the captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams his senior year in 1992. He played football on the first cooperative program between Pecatonica and Argyle in 1991. After his senior year, Hendrickson was invited to play in the Wisconsin Shrine Bowl, a top high school all-star football game for top college prospects.
"To be a captain on all three teams his senior year just shows his leadership," Pecatonica baseball coach Jim Strommen said.
Strommen has coached baseball for 36 years and is a member of the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Strommen also was the Pecatonica football coach during Hendrickson's standout prep career.
"He is one of the guys who made everyone around him better," Strommen said. "Kids respected him. It was an honor to coach him. He was competitive and a positive influence on everyone."
Hendrickson has always been an avid sports fan and Packers backer. He can recall making his first player evaluations by analyzing the Packers drafts as a teenager.
"I always followed Packers drafts," Hendrickson said. "Back in the day there was no Internet. You may find one magazine or newspaper that talked about the draft. I was so excited to find out information on the players the Packers drafted."
Hendickson remained humble as a small-town star making waves at the college level and decades later as a scout.
"I wouldn't trade where I grew up for anything," he said. "It's defined my family. That is the foundation that has allowed me to do what I do now."
Hendrickson's brother, Marcus, also worked as an NFL scout for six years including a five-year stint with the Cleveland Browns and one year with the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Marcus Hendrickson took on a position with the Senior Bowl last year.
"There is a finite number of jobs like this (as scouts)," Hendrickson said. "For the two of us from a town of 800 people to be in that position was really special."
Two-sport star at Luther College
Hendrickson chose to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, because he said they agreed to allow him to play football and baseball. He played as a defensive tackle on the football team and also played center as a freshman. He was a two-way starter as a senior at defensive tackle and at offensive tackle. He played first base in baseball. He earned his bachelor degree in sports science-sports administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He became a volunteer assistant football coach for UW-La Crosse in 1996.
The first teaching job for Hendrickson came as a language arts and social studies teacher at De Soto Middle School. He served as De Soto High School's head football coach for three years and later served as the head baseball coach for two years and guided De Soto to a 27-0 season and a WIAA Division 3 state championship in 2000. He went on to take a position as a teacher and assistant special teams coordinator and offensive line coach at Luther College. He then became the associate head coach.
He got a big break in the summer of 2004 when he received a six-week internship with the Green Bay Packers. The opportunity came from his friendship with Brian Gutekunst, who played two years of football at UW-La Crosse and also was an assistant coach for the team. Gutekunst has served as a Packers scout for 17 years and is now Green Bay's director of college scouting.
"My first 'holy cow' moment came when I was with the Packers," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson, on his first day of the internship with the Packers, walked into the Hudson Center and went to get some Gatorade. Much to his surprise, legendary quarterback Brett Favre was there and tossed him a Gatorade bottle.
"I was in awe," he said. "I spent all of my time rooting for that guy."
While with the Packers, Hendrickson had the golden opportunity to work with three Packers scouts who have gone on to become general managers - Reggie McKenzie with the Oakland Raiders, John Schneider with the Seattle Seahawks and John Dorsey with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"That opportunity was huge," he said. "I had six weeks to soak in everything I could from them. When I interned with the Packers, I learned a lot from Schneider, Dorsey and McKenzie. The biggest thing is they all know football and work extremely hard. In scouting, there is always film to watch and work to be done."
Scouting
While some may see scouting as a glamorous job, there is a time commitment and sacrifices Hendrickson's family - his wife, Amy, son, Hutson, 10, and daughters, Avalyn, 6, and Jaycie, 3 - have had to make. He is away from his family 200 days a year.
"Some people ask me how we handle it," Hendrickson said. "It's all we have ever known as a family; it's this lifestyle."
Hendrickson joined the Ravens in 2005 and started as a player personnel assistant. He completed advanced scouting on upcoming opponents the Ravens would play. He then served as a Midwest scout for five years with the Ravens. After the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2013, Hendrickson was promoted to a mid-regional scout position that required scouting players across the entire middle section of the country.
Hendrickson has to report to the Ravens' training camp the last week of July every year. From the end of training camp to the beginning of December, Hendrickson said he is on the road scouting players in college games eight out of 10 days. Later in December, he has meetings for potential draft picks. He attends the Senior Bowl and other college All-Star games to scout college players and talk to coaches. Hendrickson attends the NFL combine and various pro days to gauge the talent of potential draft picks. He then heads back to Baltimore for draft meetings with Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. He also attends the two-week June mini-camp.
"There is the adrenaline rush of getting guys right and not missing on a player," Hendrickson said. "It's so rewarding when guys you draft become a great player. Knowing that you had some small part in bringing them to the table is pretty awesome. Working for Ozzie Newsome is an absolute blessing. It's like getting a Ph.D. in football."
He welcomes the challenge of the draft when so many can't-miss players turn into busts. He was instrumental in the Ravens drafting Wisconsin offensive lineman Rick Wagner in 2013. Wagner is a starting offensive tackle for the Ravens entering his fourth year.
"I think it's the opportunity to know that you can have a direct impact on the NFL and the success of the Baltimore Ravens," he said. "I like the chance of finding the guy that a lot of people don't see as that good of a player."
"I'm lucky to be a part of something special."
Many scouts use the 40-yard dash times, bench press and shuttle drills to assess a player's draft stock. Hendrickson is more old school when it comes to scouting. He lets his eyes tell the story on potential draft picks.
"The 40-yard dash times, bench press, bowl games, pro days and interviews are all important, but ultimately it starts and finishes with the tape," Hendrickson said. "The goal is you watch a great player on tape and everything after that only reinforces that fact."
Examining the 2016 draft
There are several premier outside linebacker and defensive ends in the draft who excel at pressuring the quarterback, including Ohio State's Joey Bosa, UCLA's Myles Jack, Oregon's DeForest Buckner and Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence.
Hendrickson said there are really three outside linebackers who could be top 20 picks in the draft.
"I think it's a good draft and there will be a lot of value throughout the draft," he said.
One local player who Hendrickson believes has a chance to be drafted is Darlington native Alex Erickson, who is coming off a standout senior season at the University of Wisconsin. While some scouts may consider Erickson a long shot to be drafted, Hendrickson wouldn't be surprised if Erickson gets a shot whether he is drafted or catches on as a rookie free agent.
"Whether Alex gets drafted or not, I don't know," Hendrickson said. "He's a draftable player. He's wired the right way. He comes from a good program in Darlington. He's everything you look for. He has a great work ethic, the talent and the toughness. It will be hard for a team to cut him."
Hendrickson, 42, a Blanchardville native who now lives in La Crosse, never dreamed about becoming an NFL scout or landing an internship with the same team - the Green Bay Packers - he rooted for growing up. Hendrickson has served as a scout with the Ravens for 11 years. He's now a mid-regional scout and is assigned to the outside linebacker position group.
"When I had the opportunity to do this, it's hard for me to tell my kids to chase your dreams if I didn't take this chance," Hendrickson said. "I never set a goal of becoming a scout or working in the NFL. I got in front of the right people and made the most of my opportunity."
Pecatonica High School days
Hendrickson starred as a three-sport athlete at Pecatonica High School. He was the captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams his senior year in 1992. He played football on the first cooperative program between Pecatonica and Argyle in 1991. After his senior year, Hendrickson was invited to play in the Wisconsin Shrine Bowl, a top high school all-star football game for top college prospects.
"To be a captain on all three teams his senior year just shows his leadership," Pecatonica baseball coach Jim Strommen said.
Strommen has coached baseball for 36 years and is a member of the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Strommen also was the Pecatonica football coach during Hendrickson's standout prep career.
"He is one of the guys who made everyone around him better," Strommen said. "Kids respected him. It was an honor to coach him. He was competitive and a positive influence on everyone."
Hendrickson has always been an avid sports fan and Packers backer. He can recall making his first player evaluations by analyzing the Packers drafts as a teenager.
"I always followed Packers drafts," Hendrickson said. "Back in the day there was no Internet. You may find one magazine or newspaper that talked about the draft. I was so excited to find out information on the players the Packers drafted."
Hendickson remained humble as a small-town star making waves at the college level and decades later as a scout.
"I wouldn't trade where I grew up for anything," he said. "It's defined my family. That is the foundation that has allowed me to do what I do now."
Hendrickson's brother, Marcus, also worked as an NFL scout for six years including a five-year stint with the Cleveland Browns and one year with the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Marcus Hendrickson took on a position with the Senior Bowl last year.
"There is a finite number of jobs like this (as scouts)," Hendrickson said. "For the two of us from a town of 800 people to be in that position was really special."
Two-sport star at Luther College
Hendrickson chose to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, because he said they agreed to allow him to play football and baseball. He played as a defensive tackle on the football team and also played center as a freshman. He was a two-way starter as a senior at defensive tackle and at offensive tackle. He played first base in baseball. He earned his bachelor degree in sports science-sports administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He became a volunteer assistant football coach for UW-La Crosse in 1996.
The first teaching job for Hendrickson came as a language arts and social studies teacher at De Soto Middle School. He served as De Soto High School's head football coach for three years and later served as the head baseball coach for two years and guided De Soto to a 27-0 season and a WIAA Division 3 state championship in 2000. He went on to take a position as a teacher and assistant special teams coordinator and offensive line coach at Luther College. He then became the associate head coach.
He got a big break in the summer of 2004 when he received a six-week internship with the Green Bay Packers. The opportunity came from his friendship with Brian Gutekunst, who played two years of football at UW-La Crosse and also was an assistant coach for the team. Gutekunst has served as a Packers scout for 17 years and is now Green Bay's director of college scouting.
"My first 'holy cow' moment came when I was with the Packers," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson, on his first day of the internship with the Packers, walked into the Hudson Center and went to get some Gatorade. Much to his surprise, legendary quarterback Brett Favre was there and tossed him a Gatorade bottle.
"I was in awe," he said. "I spent all of my time rooting for that guy."
While with the Packers, Hendrickson had the golden opportunity to work with three Packers scouts who have gone on to become general managers - Reggie McKenzie with the Oakland Raiders, John Schneider with the Seattle Seahawks and John Dorsey with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"That opportunity was huge," he said. "I had six weeks to soak in everything I could from them. When I interned with the Packers, I learned a lot from Schneider, Dorsey and McKenzie. The biggest thing is they all know football and work extremely hard. In scouting, there is always film to watch and work to be done."
Scouting
While some may see scouting as a glamorous job, there is a time commitment and sacrifices Hendrickson's family - his wife, Amy, son, Hutson, 10, and daughters, Avalyn, 6, and Jaycie, 3 - have had to make. He is away from his family 200 days a year.
"Some people ask me how we handle it," Hendrickson said. "It's all we have ever known as a family; it's this lifestyle."
Hendrickson joined the Ravens in 2005 and started as a player personnel assistant. He completed advanced scouting on upcoming opponents the Ravens would play. He then served as a Midwest scout for five years with the Ravens. After the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2013, Hendrickson was promoted to a mid-regional scout position that required scouting players across the entire middle section of the country.
Hendrickson has to report to the Ravens' training camp the last week of July every year. From the end of training camp to the beginning of December, Hendrickson said he is on the road scouting players in college games eight out of 10 days. Later in December, he has meetings for potential draft picks. He attends the Senior Bowl and other college All-Star games to scout college players and talk to coaches. Hendrickson attends the NFL combine and various pro days to gauge the talent of potential draft picks. He then heads back to Baltimore for draft meetings with Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. He also attends the two-week June mini-camp.
"There is the adrenaline rush of getting guys right and not missing on a player," Hendrickson said. "It's so rewarding when guys you draft become a great player. Knowing that you had some small part in bringing them to the table is pretty awesome. Working for Ozzie Newsome is an absolute blessing. It's like getting a Ph.D. in football."
He welcomes the challenge of the draft when so many can't-miss players turn into busts. He was instrumental in the Ravens drafting Wisconsin offensive lineman Rick Wagner in 2013. Wagner is a starting offensive tackle for the Ravens entering his fourth year.
"I think it's the opportunity to know that you can have a direct impact on the NFL and the success of the Baltimore Ravens," he said. "I like the chance of finding the guy that a lot of people don't see as that good of a player."
"I'm lucky to be a part of something special."
Many scouts use the 40-yard dash times, bench press and shuttle drills to assess a player's draft stock. Hendrickson is more old school when it comes to scouting. He lets his eyes tell the story on potential draft picks.
"The 40-yard dash times, bench press, bowl games, pro days and interviews are all important, but ultimately it starts and finishes with the tape," Hendrickson said. "The goal is you watch a great player on tape and everything after that only reinforces that fact."
Examining the 2016 draft
There are several premier outside linebacker and defensive ends in the draft who excel at pressuring the quarterback, including Ohio State's Joey Bosa, UCLA's Myles Jack, Oregon's DeForest Buckner and Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence.
Hendrickson said there are really three outside linebackers who could be top 20 picks in the draft.
"I think it's a good draft and there will be a lot of value throughout the draft," he said.
One local player who Hendrickson believes has a chance to be drafted is Darlington native Alex Erickson, who is coming off a standout senior season at the University of Wisconsin. While some scouts may consider Erickson a long shot to be drafted, Hendrickson wouldn't be surprised if Erickson gets a shot whether he is drafted or catches on as a rookie free agent.
"Whether Alex gets drafted or not, I don't know," Hendrickson said. "He's a draftable player. He's wired the right way. He comes from a good program in Darlington. He's everything you look for. He has a great work ethic, the talent and the toughness. It will be hard for a team to cut him."
