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RB TreVeyon Henderson (National Champion, New England Patriots)


Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard Says TreVeyon Henderson Might Be Best Pass-Blocking Running Back He’s Seen Coming Out of College​

“I think any running back coming into our league, the hardest thing for them is pass protection. Like, it's just, all of them have to learn,” Ballard said while answering a question about DJ Giddens, the former Kansas State running back that the Colts drafted him in the fifth round. “I will say this: I thought Henderson at Ohio State might've been as good a pass-protection back as I've seen come out of college. But most of them, they're just not asked to do it at the level we are asking our guys to do it, especially with the size of the men they have to block that are coming at them.”



While it’s common for NFL general managers and coaches to rave about the ability of their own draft picks, it’s far less common for an NFL GM to give unsolicited praise to a player drafted by another team – especially considering the Patriots and Colts were considered rivals back when Tom Brady quarterbacked New England and Peyton Manning was the QB in Indianapolis.
 

Former Ohio State hero named as key NFL rookie set to provide instant impact in his new home

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There haven't been many more beloved Ohio State Buckeyes over the last half-decade than running back TreVeyon Henderson. A four-year contributor with moments as an elite playmaker and plenty more highlights of being a glue guy, Henderson's impact was undeniable.

He was a huge reason why the Buckeyes won their first National Championship in a decade in 2024-25. The New England Patriots saw how explosive Henderson was, averaging 6.4 yards per carry over four years and being an elite pass blocker, and took him 37th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

His impact as a rookie has been hotly debated. He joins veteran Rhamondre Stevenson in the team's backfield, but experts are excited about Henderson's outlook in New England.



The former Buckeyes star ranked as the seventh-best impact rookie for 2025 from CBS Sports. Here's what the writer, Chris Trapasso, said.

"Henderson is a plus pass protector and time and time again demonstrated explosive tendencies in space in college. Those are two ingredients to getting on the field early as a running back. Getting selected early in Round 2 is also quite helpful to September opportunities at any position.

The former No. 1 running back recruit in the 2021 class, per 247 Sports, demonstrated the talent that usually comes with such a lofty pre-collegiate ranking often at Ohio State, although he was never the undisputed No. 1 back. Ironically, the most carries he ever made in a season with the Buckeyes (183) came during his freshman season in 2021.

He did score a gargantuan 42 touchdowns across four seasons and did run 4.43 with a 38.5-inch vertical at the combine. Henderson is one explosive cat. And enters a Patriots running back room with Rhamondre Stevenson, who probably has somewhat of a tenuous grasp on the No. 1 gig in the backfield. "
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“HE WAS SUCH A GREAT PLAYER.” In an interview with Forbes’ Oliver Thomas, Patriots running backs coach Tony Dews revealed he had done his homework on TreVeyon Henderson before New England selected him in the 2025 NFL draft.

Eight years of it, actually.

“I tried to recruit him back in high school years ago when I was at West Virginia,” said Dews, who was the running backs coach for the Mountaineers in 2017 before entering the NFL ranks with Mike Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans. “He snubbed me (laughs). But it was good to be able to reconnect with him. Obviously, I’m very excited about him.”

Now that Dews has circled back with Henderson, what excites him most about the No. 38 overall pick?

“First and foremost, he’s a great human being, he’s a great person and a great kid,” he said. “And then obviously the physical attributes. He’s certainly fast. He brings a speed element to our team that obviously anytime you can get a guy that’s as fast as he is, it is beneficial for the whole offensive unit and on special teams. And then, he caught the ball well out of the backfield. He did a really good job, I thought, in pass protection. And in the time I got to spend with him, he seemed to pick up concepts fairly quickly.

“With all those things, you feel like you’re getting a good prospect, and we’ll have to see how it materializes from there.”


Henderson hopes it materializes into an impactful role as a rookie. Given his talents as a ballcarrier, pass catcher and blocker, that role could be as a third-down back, just like three-time Super Bowl champion James White carved for himself across eight NFL seasons with the Patriots between 2014-21.

Interestingly, Henderson told MassLive’s Karen Guregian last week that he’d taken inspiration from White’s game as he prepared for New England’s minicamp.

“James White… shoot, he dang near looked like a receiver,” Henderson said. “Man, he was a great running back here.”

Whether White or Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Henderson said he studies the NFL’s best ballcarriers to gain an advantage on his opponents.

“I really try to work on every aspect of my game,” Henderson shared. “Running the ball, pass protecting, catching. Every aspect of my game, I’m trying to get better.”


When it comes to White, however, Henderson sees something different.

“Just his great receiving ability,” Henderson said. “One-on-one matchups, it seems like he’s winning every time. … He was such a great player. He made a huge impact to help his team win games. … I want to continue to watch film and study him and learn and grow as a player.

“Coach (Josh) McDaniels, he’s a great offensive coordinator. He does a great job featuring the running backs, so the biggest thing, I just want to continue to listen as a player and take coaching.”

With the Patriots on a break until preseason camp, Henderson told Guregian he has the rest of his offseason mapped out.

“The biggest thing is just staying in the playbook and making sure I stay conditioned,” Henderson said. “Once you come in, fall camp comes on you like that. You don’t want to be thrown off guard and out of shape.”

 
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Patriots Avoid Major Issue, Dish Out Unprecedented Rookie Contract​

TreVeyon Henderson signed his four-year pact with New England​

The New England Patriots reached agreement on a fully-guaranteed deal with rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Henderson’s deal is worth $11.14 million and will carry into 2029.
 
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Patriots Avoid Major Issue, Dish Out Unprecedented Rookie Contract​

TreVeyon Henderson signed his four-year pact with New England​

The New England Patriots reached agreement on a fully-guaranteed deal with rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Henderson’s deal is worth $11.14 million and will carry into 2029.
He's worth more than that. Probably a paycut for him.
 
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