He just doesn't stop. Most people looked at the 2025 NFL Draft and saw a "down year" for running backs after the big names went early. Then came TreVeyon Henderson. The New England Patriots grabbed him at 38th overall, and honestly, he’s making a lot of GMs look silly right now.
You’ve probably seen the highlights of him hitting 21 miles per hour on a 65-yard sprint against the Bills. It’s scary. But there is a lot more to the TreVeyon Henderson story than just a fast kid from Ohio State.
Why Everyone Was Wrong About the "Committee" Backfield
Before the season started, the talk in Foxborough was all about Rhamondre Stevenson. People assumed Henderson would just be a "change of pace" guy—sorta like a specialized weapon you only bring out for third downs.
That hasn't happened.
Basically, Henderson has forced his way into a 1A/1B situation that often looks more like a 1A/2. He finished the 2025 regular season with 911 rushing yards. That is no accident. He did it on 180 carries, which averages out to a massive 5.1 yards per attempt. To put that in perspective, he’s matching the efficiency numbers of guys like Saquon Barkley in their prime rookie years.
He isn't just a "speed back." He's a problem.
The thing is, Henderson’s game is built on something most rookie backs hate: pass protection. Most kids coming out of college want to carry the ball 30 times. They don't want to stand in the way of a 260-pound linebacker blitzing through the A-gap. Henderson actually enjoys it. Analysts like Brett Kollmann have even joked that drafting Henderson was like drafting an extra offensive lineman who happens to run a 4.43. This willingness to block is exactly why Jerod Mayo and the Patriots coaching staff couldn't keep him off the field. If you can't protect Drake Maye, you don't play. Henderson protects him better than most veterans.
The Ohio State Legacy and That National Title
It’s easy to forget that Henderson was a legend before he even stepped foot in Massachusetts. He arrived at Ohio State as the number one high school back in the country and immediately broke Archie Griffin’s freshman single-game rushing record with 277 yards.
He ended his college career with 4,614 all-purpose yards and a National Championship ring from the 2024 season.
There was a lot of noise about him splitting carries with Quinshon Judkins in Columbus. People thought it meant he couldn't handle a full load. In reality, it probably saved his legs. Henderson had a history of foot and rib injuries in 2022 and 2023 that made scouts nervous. By sharing the backfield at OSU, he entered the NFL with way less "tread on the tires" than your typical four-year starter.
What the Numbers Actually Say
If you look at his 2025 rookie stats, a few things jump out that the box score might miss:
- Home Run Ability: He joined Saquon Barkley and Lenny Moore as the only rookies ever to have four rushing touchdowns of 50+ yards in a single season.
- Ball Security: This is the big one. At Ohio State, he had zero fumbles over his last two seasons. In the NFL, he’s stayed incredibly "sure-handed," even when taking big hits in the cold at Gillette Stadium.
- Versatility: He caught 35 passes this year. He’s not just a runner; he’s a safety valve.
The November Breakout
Things got real for Henderson in November. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month, and for good reason. Against the Jets, he matched Rob Gronkowski’s rookie record by scoring three touchdowns in a single game.
Then came the Tampa Bay game. He ripped off a 55-yarder and a 69-yarder.
Watching him live is different than watching the tape. He has this weird "glidiness" to his running style. He’ll look like he’s stuck in traffic, and then—bam—he’s four yards past the safety. It’s that second gear. Most backs have a top speed, but Henderson seems to have a "top speed" and then a "get away from the police" speed that he saves for the open field.
The "Injury Prone" Label: Fact or Fiction?
We have to talk about the durability. It’s the one thing everyone mentions when they want to nitpick his game. Yes, he missed time in college. Yes, he had a concussion scare in Week 17 this year.
But he played in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
He’s roughly 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds. He’s not a bruiser like Derrick Henry. If the Patriots try to run him 25 times up the middle every Sunday, he probably won't last four years. But as a dynamic weapon who gets 12–15 carries and 4–5 targets? He’s arguably the most dangerous player on that roster. The Patriots have built an offense that mimics what the 49ers do with Christian McCaffrey—moving him around, using him in motion, and making sure he’s matched up against a slow linebacker.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Ceiling
The common "knock" is that Henderson is a product of the system. People said that at Ohio State because of the elite wideouts like Jeremiah Smith drawing coverage away. People say it now because the Patriots' offensive line has surprisingly improved.
That’s a lazy take.
Henderson’s "yards after contact" numbers tell the real story. In his game against the Jets, he actually had more rushing yards after contact (70) than he had total rushing yards (62) because he was getting hit so deep in the backfield and fighting back to the line of scrimmage. That is "dog" mentality. You can't coach that.
How to Value Him Moving Forward
If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager, the "sell high" window is closed. You keep him. Henderson is currently a finalist for NFL Rookie of the Year alongside guys like Ashton Jeanty and Jaxson Dart. He isn't just a flash in the pan.
He’s the blueprint for the modern NFL running back. Small enough to be elusive, fast enough to score from anywhere, and smart enough to block for his quarterback.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the Pass Pro: Next time the Patriots play, don't watch the ball. Watch #32 when a blitz comes. If he keeps stonewalling linebackers, his snap count will stay near 70%.
- The "Efficiency" Metric: Don't worry if he only gets 10 carries in a game. Henderson is a volume-independent player. He only needs one crease to change a game.
- Draft Strategy: In dynasty leagues, he is a top-5 asset at the position. His age (23) and his low college usage mean his peak is likely just beginning.
TreVeyon Henderson didn't just arrive in the NFL; he took it over. The transition from a "track star with a football" to a "complete NFL running back" is basically complete. Now, it's just a matter of seeing how many records he can break before his second contract kicks in.