Zac Henderson, one of the most underrated OU football players of all time, died overnight Sunday/Monday at his home in Oklahoma City. He was 64.

Henderson was a four-year starter at free safety and a 1977 unanimous all-American. The New York Athletic Club named Henderson college football’s defensive back of the year in ’77, in those days before the Jim Thorpe Award. Henderson had seven interceptions that season.

Henderson, out of Burkburnett, Texas, started all but the season opener as a true freshman on OU’s undefeated, 1974 national championship team, a defense that included Lee Roy Selmon, Dewey Selmon, Jimbo Elrod, Rod Shoate, Tony Peters and Randy Hughes. Henderson was the first full-time true freshman starter after the NCAA reinstated freshman eligibility in 1972.

Henderson went on to make all-Big Eight three times. Henderson had 15 career interceptions, which still is tied for fourth all-time in OU history, and remains the all-time leading tackler among Sooner defensive backs, with 299.