Hopewell RB Treveyon Henderson (Video Still: Byron Jones/recruit804)
Treveyon Henderson solidifies his Buckeye commitment
by Byron Jones, recruit804
October 25th, 2018 is a day I’ll never forget. It was the eighth game of the regular season in my first year covering high school football in an “official capacity” with recruit804. It was a Thursday night contest that pitted defending Class 3 state champion Hopewell against Dinwiddie, a perennial title contender in Class 4. These two heavyweight programs exchanged blow after blow all night long.
After three quarters of play, the game was knotted at zero. With 4:06 remaining in the contest, a flash of lightning streaked 80 -yards down the field for the game’s only touchdown. That flash of lightning was sophomore TreVeyon Henderson.
TreVeyon’s rise to the nation’s number one running back has been an incredible story to follow. Henderson began his Blue Devil career as a true freshman, starting at defensive back for their state championship team in 2017. With his brother Ronnie Walker (Indiana – UVA) and Greg Cuffey (William and Mary) leading the charge on offense, Coach Ricky Irby believed TreVeyon would have the biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. Tre recorded 82 total tackles (65 solo), five pass deflections, and two interceptions.
During his sophomore campaign, Henderson saw a little more time on the offensive side of the ball. Tre rushed for 312 yards, 80 of which came against Dinwiddie, and five touchdowns. He continued to shine on defense, tallying 64 total tackles (47 solo), three interceptions, and three pass deflections. Henderson and the Blue Devils would be upset by I.C. Norcom in the second round of the playoffs, ending their bid for a second consecutive state title.
Hopewell opened the 2019 season on the road against Tabb. Henderson had just six carries for 115 yards and a touchdown in the Blue Devils 40-7 victory. Hopewell’s revenge tour was off to a dominating start, and chatter began to circulate about Tre’s potential as a featured back.
Over the next 14 weeks, the Blue Devils pummeled every opponent on their schedule and captured the Class 3 title for the second time in three years. Henderson would become a household name with his breakaway speed and elusive moves. He quickly turned into an internet sensation and people would travel from all over the state to catch a glimpse of the junior phenom. Henderson finished the year with close to 3200 all-purpose yards (2424 rushing), 53 touchdowns, and every accolade one could think of.
TreVeyon received offers from every big-time Division I program in the country. His Final 9 schools included Virginia, Virginia Tech, UNC, Georgia, Texas, Penn State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Ohio State. He chose the Buckeyes in late March and never wavered from his commitment. “What made me stick to them is the coaches talked to me every day. Other commits talking to me every day. It’s just special. The bond that we all share is special,” explained Henderson.
On Wednesday, in a socially distanced signing day ceremony held in the gymnasium at Hopewell High School, TreVeyon put pen to paper and made his commitment official. “Growing up in Hopewell has taught me a lot. I’m just blessed that I’ll be able to make it out. I’ve got a lot of love for my city, Hopewell, and I’ll never forget where I came from, and I’m going to continue to represent. It was always my dream growing up to go play Division I football. All of my life, I’ve been putting in the work and staying away from all the negativity to accomplish my goals,” stated Henderson.
He continued, “Knowing that I’m going to college for free and my mom or dad don’t have to pay a dime for me to go to college means a lot to me. I hope what I’m doing will inspire and motivate the younger ones in my city. My race is not over though and I’m just getting started.”
TreVeyon’s career is over at Hopewell and he intends to head to Columbus in January to begin classes and working out with the team. When asked how he felt to have the process complete, Henderson stated, “It feels great. It’s a lot of weight off of my shoulders now. Just knowing that it’s finally official, I’m finally a Buckeye.”
Once he arrives, he will be greeted by a familiar face. Dinwiddie’s K’Vaughn Pope is currently a junior linebacker for the Buckeyes. “I actually played against him when I was a freshman, so knowing that we are future teammates means a lot. I can’t wait to get to work with him and play with him,” he stated.
The 804 has produced two of the nation’s top backs in the 2020 and 2021 class. Thomas Dale’s Chris Tyree (Notre Dame) and now TreVeyon Henderson. There are rumblings that Ronnie and Tre’s youngest brother Kesean Henderson (2024 RB 5-11 185) has the potential to be the best of the trio. Could Kesean be the number one running back in the country for the 2024 class? To be continued……..
– Byron Jones
