There was a lot to like about TreVeyon Henderson coming out of Ohio State. His defining attribute as a prospect, however, might have been hiss home run ability — something the New England Patriots were clearly drawn to in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.
“Extremely productive player, extremely good speed, pass protection, pass game,” said EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf about Henderson after he was selected 38th overall in late April. “He’s a threat with the ball in his hands, with the speed to take it the distance any time he touches the ball.”
On Friday, in the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Washington Commanders, Henderson wasted no time living up to Wolf’s description.
Receiving the opening kickoff at his own goal line, he accelerated straight ahead through an opening in Washington’s defense, made a cut at the second level, and was gone. It took him 12 seconds to cover the length of the field and give the Patriots a 7-0 lead. One touch, one touchdown.
“He’s like a lightning bolt,” said starting quarterback Drake Maye after the game. “I saw the crease and knew he was gone. Pretty cool the first time he touches the football, it’s a touchdown.”
“TreVeyon read it out and hit the hole,” said head coach Mike Vrabel. “Everybody else blocked and finished and did all those good things. It’s a step in the right direction. I think it’s exciting.”
His kickoff return touchdown to open the game against Washington was his biggest game of the night and an early tone-setter for the Patriots en route to a 48-18 victory. However, Henderson’s contributions did not stop there: he also touched the ball four times on offense, adding a combined 30 yards to his output.
The Commanders defense sniffed out his first offensive touch, resulting in a loss of a yard on a busted screen. He gained four yards on the very next snap as a check-down option for Maye, and had an 18-yard carry on the next possession that also resulted in a 15-yard facemask penalty. Henderson’s final offensive touch came later in that series in the form of a 9-yard catch.
Between offense and special teams, the rookie was on the field for eight snaps. He finished with 130 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
“This is something, since I was a little kid, I’ve just been dreaming about — to be in this position, to be in this opportunity,” Henderson said after the game. “I’m thankful. I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity that I get.”
On Friday night, in his first ever NFL game, Henderson did precisely that. Just as advertised.
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