Looking for Divine guidance? Tre’Veyon Henderson credits that to his decision to stay for his senior year as a Buckeye. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Running back TreVeyon Henderson says his faith and the things that happen off the field are the reasons he will play his senior year for the Buckeyes.
Columbus, OH – If you thanked God – sincerely or flippantly – when TreVeyon Henderson announced he would play another football season for Ohio State, you thanked the right person.
Henderson sat down in front of the media before the first day of spring practice on Monday and talked in detail about why his spiritual life as a Christian is the reason he changed his mind about going to the NFL.
Athletes, more and more, reference their faith in interviews. But few rarely and unashamedly tell a personal story the way Henderson did.
Veteran columnist Jeff Gilbert writes Ohio State basketball and OHSAA sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
Henderson, of course, knows he will become a better running back with one more year of college. He knows he might improve his draft stock and earn more money as a rookie. Something he didn’t know at the time of his decision is that new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly emphasizes the running game.
Henderson said those logical reasons to stay aren’t the reason he will play his senior year. Instead, two intensely personal events convinced him to stay. He realized his place was at Ohio State to be a spiritual leader and supportive brother to his teammates and to be a positive influence on coaches and football staff members.
Henderson’s shift in priorities began right after the Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri.
But before his shift could happen, Henderson had to play in the Cotton Bowl. He said he prayed about whether he should play, and the answer was yes. He said he realizes now that his redirection began with that decision.
“One day He led me to play in the game, and it just felt right in my heart,” he said.
Henderson felt at peace with his decision, but that hadn’t changed his mind about the NFL. He said he was focused on the wrong things and was swayed by advice that he should go pro.
“Physically, I was ready to go to the league,” he said.
Before the Buckeyes flew to Texas to play Missouri, Henderson expected that soon afterward, he would announce his intention to enter the NFL Draft. He couldn’t find a reason not to.
But while in Texas the same peace Henderson felt about playing in the game didn’t translate to peace about leaving the Buckeyes. The more he was with his teammates, he said, leaving just didn’t feel right.
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Henderson told teammates Gee Scott and Xavier Johnson how he felt, but they just listened.
“We encourage each other in our walk with the Lord, and Gee was always saying, ‘Man, I want to tell you something, but I’m going to wait,’” Henderson said. “During that time I would not have listened to him.”
The Cotton Bowl experience, a 14-3 loss, bruised the Buckeyes. So much so that it was one of many factors in the decisions made by many players to stay and put the NFL off for another year. But Henderson wasn’t moved to change his mind because of the loss. Or because of the unfinished business of not beating Michigan or winning a national championship.
The NFL dream that began when he was a little kid in Virginia was right there. What better way to forget such a miserable defeat.
“He’s ready to continue to change lives here on his team, and not just players, but coaches and staff. I see it.” – Tre’Veyon Henderson
“I felt like this was God showing me it was time to go, but I was looking at it the wrong way,” Henderson said.
Then Scott finally decided to speak.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you this,” Scott said. “Don’t look at it from the benefits, look at it from a spiritual standpoint. Where can you see yourself growing closer to the Lord?”
That got Henderson’s attention.
“When he said that it made so much sense how the enemy was attacking me during that process and trying to get me to go to the league,” he said.
Still, Henderson was confused and not ready to say he was staying in Columbus.
However, instead of going elsewhere to train for the NFL combine and draft, as he planned, Henderson found himself back in Columbus two days after the Cotton Bowl.
“I went to church that day, and I still had my heart on leaving,” he said.
Then the pastor’s message got to him, affirming what Scott had encouraged him to consider.
“I told Gee in the middle of the church service I’m coming back,” he said. “God used Gee at just the right time. God’s timing is always perfect.”
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And Henderson insists the decision is not driven by football on the field.
“God called me back here to do something much bigger than football, and that’s to continue to lead people to him and bring glory to his name,” Henderson said. “It’s my relationship with the Lord that truly matters.”
Now he is at peace with his immediate future of school and spring practice. The reason being is because he believes he made the right decision and that God rescued him from what would have been a poor decision.
“It was so much joy,” he said. “Like this weight lifted off my shoulders when I should’ve just been giving that burden to the Lord. He would have taken it away from me at the beginning.”
Henderson now focuses on the work to be done. Off the field, he wants to be a great friend to his teammates.
“I feel like he’s ready to do something much greater than what we’re trying to do,” Henderson said. “He’s ready to continue to change lives here on his team, and not just players, but coaches and staff. I see it.”
On the field, he is excited about the addition of Kelly as offensive coordinator. Kelly’s track record is one of high-scoring offenses structured around one of the nation’s best rushing attacks. Henderson admits he doesn’t pay much attention to who other coaches are, but he remembers how Kelly’s Oregon teams used to score lots of touchdowns.
“It’s good what he’s doing and what he’s added to this team, the value he’s added,” Henderson said. “I can’t wait to get coached up by him. It’s going to be amazing to see.”
And amazing, for one more season, to see No. 32 running the football in scarlet and gray.
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