Ohio State’s soon-to-be senior running back TreVeyon Henderson gathered before assembled media at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Monday, but if things had been slightly different, he would have instead been coming off a likely impressive performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Henderson announced on Jan. 12 that he was returning for a fourth and final season with the Buckeyes, but it was not a decision he arrived at easily. His announcement came after the Cotton Bowl, but leading into the contest, Henderson was leaning toward departing Columbus after three seasons.
“I was eventually supposed to leave and I was praying on it and things like that, but man, God rescued me in that decision,” he said. “I’m so thankful that He rescued me in that decision. Physically, I ready to go to the league, but spiritually, my relationship with the Lord and where I’m at with Him, I just wasn’t ready yet. There’s more I still needed to go through here.”
Henderson was so set on leaving that he had already lined up offseason training that would prepare him for the NFL Scouting Combine and constant evaluation from those at the next level. But as he prepared for the Cotton Bowl and discussed his next steps with teammates – namely Gee Scott Jr. and Xavier Johnson – Henderson was given more to consider once he arrived back in Ohio.
“It’s crazy because I came back to Columbus. I was supposed to go to training and everything, but I came back to Columbus,” Henderson said. “I just felt like the Lord led me back to Columbus to really continue to pray on it and continue to seek Him through it. I went to church that day, and I still had my heart on leaving, but I went to church going into New Years. The pastor had a sermon, and I felt like God was using the pastor to speak to me to get this message across to me.
“The Lord put on my heart, he was just telling me, ‘This is where I need you to be, right here. This is where you should be.’ In the middle of the church, I’m like, ‘Man, I’m coming back.’ “
The return is a significant one for Ohio State, which should have one of the deepest running back rooms in the country with the addition of former Ole Miss tailback Quinshon Judkins, who is expected to split carries with Henderson this season. While some would push back against giving up carries, Henderson is looking forward to what this season might bring with a talented group of running backs.
“I feel like it’s good,” Henderson said. “When you’re that guy and taking a lot of the reps, you know, of course you get tired and those things like that, but having another fresh back come in like Quinshon and of course we’ve got James (Peoples), Dallan (Hayden), Sam (Williams-Dixon), all those young guys can also come in and play also.”
