Keeron Henderson ’24 Finds Purpose Beyond the Field

When Keeron Henderson ’24 walked onto the football field at UCF, he knew the odds were stacked against him. As a walk-on, he had no scholarship, no stipend, and no guarantees. But what he did have was determination, and an unwavering belief that if he worked hard enough, he could prove himself worthy of the team’s trust.

“The life of a walk-on isn’t easy,” Henderson says. “You don’t get much attention, but you’re still a huge part of the success of a team. A team isn’t built on one person. It’s built on every individual.”

Henderson’s drive carried him through years of practices and workouts, even catching the attention of NFL scouts during one-on-one drills. But when they learned of his walk-on status, interest faded. Still, Henderson has no bitterness. “I like to think everything happens for a reason,” he says. “Just because you’re a walk-on in football doesn’t mean you’ll be a walk-on forever. Life has numerous opportunities and you just have to find which one is meant for you.”

That realization didn’t come easily. Henderson poured himself into football for years, believing that if he performed well enough, it would be enough to secure a place. But during his senior year, with only two weeks left in the season, he made the decision to step away.

“I had been so determined to make it to the NFL that I tried to do everything on my own strength,” Henderson recalls. “But I wasn’t going to the true source to find my purpose. Through prayer and fasting, I realized that football wasn’t the plan for me. I was called to serve in a different way.”

Keeron Henderson, a former UCF Football player, recently launched myfitspectrum, an app designed to support neurodivergent individuals and their families in achieving physical fitness goals.

That conviction led Henderson to create myfitspectrum, an app designed to support neurodivergent individuals and their families in achieving physical fitness goals. The first of its kind, the app offers customized tools to encourage confidence, wellness, and joy through movement.

“I’m extremely happy to be in this profession,” Henderson says. “I feel like I’m serving real purpose. It means everything to me to not only help individuals in the neurodiverse community, but also their parents and families. That’s just as significant as winning a game.”

When Keeron Henderson met a young man on the spectrum at a local convenience store, he was approached by the young man at left who wanted to know if he was a UCF Football player. When Henderson said yes, and saw how excited he was, he went home, grabbed one of his shirts, and drove back to the store. He autographed the shirt, and the young man’s happiness and excitement sparked a defining moment in Henderson’s life. He had found his purpose.

The idea crystallized after an encounter at a Wawa convenience store, where Henderson connected with a young man on the spectrum. Henderson saw how excited the young man was to meet a UCF football player, and the joy of that moment stayed with him, helping him see how his own skills could bring value beyond sports.

“It’s a blessing because I found my purpose in that,” he says. “It meant as much to me as it did to him — maybe more — because it showed me what I was meant to do.”

Henderson also sees how his years as a student-athlete prepared him for this new mission. “Athletes can contribute so much beyond sports,” he says. “We know how to work in groups, how to think quickly and effectively, how to overcome setbacks. Those are the exact same tools I’m using now to build myfitspectrum.”

The project has already begun drawing attention, including followers from Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum. While the road to launching the app has not been without obstacles and included setbacks with developers and a failed landing page, Henderson’s resilience has carried him forward.

“If I had given up after being denied by UCF twice, I wouldn’t be here,” he says. “If I had given up when a developer failed to deliver, I wouldn’t be here. My biggest message to others is not to give up on yourself. Find the place where you add value, even if it’s not the most popular path.”

Henderson’s journey to UCF was itself a lesson in persistence. Despite early rejections, he refused to let setbacks define him. Instead, he found strength in his faith and the courage to keep moving forward. “Because of UCF, I was able to find my purpose — serving the neurodiverse community,” he says.

Though just a year out of college, Henderson speaks with the clarity and composure of someone far older. He recognizes that many former athletes struggle after their playing days are over, having focused solely on the dream of going pro. For him, UCF was the place where he learned not only discipline and teamwork, but also how to redefine success.

“Football will always be part of my story,” he says. “But it’s not the whole story. What matters most is the purpose I’ve found — and the lives I can impact because of it.”

Today, Henderson hopes his journey can inspire others, especially current students and athletes. He’s open to returning to campus to share his story, encouraging Knights to stay open to the unexpected turns that lead to growth.

“My advice is simple: never give up on yourself,” Henderson says. “Look for the place where you can make the biggest difference — that’s where you’ll flourish. That’s where you’ll find your purpose.”