New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson has a chance to follow up last year’s national championship at Ohio State by winning Super Bowl LX.
If he does, he’ll be the 10th player in NFL history to follow up his college football title with a Super Bowl victory in the successive season.
Henderson reflected on that.
“I’m grateful,” he said. “This is such a great moment, such a great opportunity.”
The first and most memorable player to accomplish this back-to-back feat was also a running back. Tony Dorsett won the 1976 national title at Pittsburgh and then won Super Bowl XII with the Dallas Cowboys.
The eight others include three players who were on the 2003 national champion LSU Tigers before winning it all with the Patriots.
- Derrick Lassic, running back
College: Alabama — 1992 national champion
NFL: Cowboys — Super Bowl XXVIII (1993 season)
- Danny Stubbs, defensive end
College: Miami — 1987 national champion
NFL: San Francisco 49ers — Super Bowl XXIII (1988 season)
- William Floyd, fullback
College: Florida State — 1993 national champion
NFL: 49ers — Super Bowl XXIX (1994 season)
- Tyrone Williams, cornerback
College: Nebraska — 1995 national champion
NFL: Green Bay Packers — Super Bowl XXXI (1996 season)
- Brian Griese, quarterback
College: Michigan — 1997 national champion
NFL: Denver Broncos — Super Bowl XXXIII (1998 season)
- Eric Alexander, linebacker
College: LSU — 2003 national champion
NFL: Patriots — Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season)
- Marquise Hill, defensive end
College: LSU — 2003 national champion
NFL: Patriots — Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season)
- Randall Gay, cornerback
College: LSU — 2003 National Champion
NFL: Patriots — Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season)
The downside of potentially making history is that it means Henderson played 16 games, spanning Aug. 31 to Jan. 20, at Ohio State before beginning the grind of his rookie season.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work,” he said. “It’s been the longest season of my life.”
Henderson’s Success and Speed
That long season, though, has been an impressive one.
He rushed 180 times for 911 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns during the regular season. In addition, he had 35 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown.
In the first year of his four-year, $11.1 million rookie contract, Henderson provides great value and an effective complement to 6-0, 227-pound Rhamondre Stevenson.
Much like the Quinshon Judkins/Henderson combo at Ohio State, Stevenson provides the thunder and the speedy, 5-10, 202-pound Henderson flashes the lightning.
In the third quarter of Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Henderson ran for a 55-yard touchdown and reached 22.01 mph — the sixth fastest time by a ball carrier (wide receiver or running back) all season, according to Next Gen Stats.
“His game on the field speaks for itself,” Patriots rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell said. “He’s explosive. He’s dynamic.”
Henderson’s Faith
Though Henderson would eventually win a national championship at Ohio State, he missed his first opportunity to win a playoff game in the 2022 season.
After playing through a fracture and torn ligament in his left foot, he had to undergo surgery, forcing him out of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.
It was after that season-ending injury as a sophomore that he became very religious.
“The Lord came to me,” he said.
Henderson mentions God frequently. No question during Tuesday’s 50-minute media session resulted in a longer, more involved answer than the query about when he became more spiritual.
“There’s not a better human being in our locker room than TreVeyon Henderson, just the way he carries himself,” Campbell said. “He’s awesome.”
Even if Henderson doesn’t accomplish the awesome achievement of winning a college title and Super Bowl back to back, he and Campbell look like two potential building blocks.
The Patriots drafted Campbell fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Their next pick was Henderson at 38th overall.
“I look forward to blocking for him,” Campbell said, “for hopefully a long time.”
