The joy exuded by TreVeyon Henderson was palpable.
On Friday the Ohio State running back hosted a youth football camp at Olentangy High School with the help of Buckeye tight end Gee Scott Jr., Olentangy football head coach Wade Bartholomew and Centric Sports Group.
“Just being able to interact with the kids and shine the Lord's light onto them, his love, his joy, his kindness toward them and just try to make as many interactions as I can with those kids, man,” Henderson said. “I'm just thankful that I was able to do so.”
Centric Sports Group organized the event with Henderson's assistance, the seventh total youth football camp that he has instructed at during his time with the Buckeyes. Henderson had a major hand in organizing this one though, Centric Sports Group owner Jacob Byrd said.
It was imperative for the Virginia native that there be a faith component to the camp.
“He had expressed that he wanted this event to be more than just about football,” Byrd said. “He wanted it to be an excellent football camp and was involved in the process with the camp agenda with both myself and Coach Bartholomew, who is the camp director here. Even last night he was giving us feedback on the camp itinerary. But it was his idea to put the cross and John 3:16 on the back of the T-shirts and to have Bibles available.”
It was also Henderson’s idea to distribute “Walk by Faith” wristbands, a reference to the Bible verse he wears on his eye black on gamedays, 2 Corinthians 5:7. It reads, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” The Walk Foundation, which Henderson and Scott are heavily involved in and Byrd is the COO of, helped provide those materials.
In addition to those items campers all got a photo with Henderson, autographs and prizes for winning individual competitions.
Henderson, Scott and Olentangy’s high school coaches ran players ages 6 through 18 through drills to teach agility, tackling, pass coverage, route running and a host of other skills. Afterward, the younger campers played speedball while there were 7-on-7 competitions for the older athletes, then each age group raced in either a 30 or 40-yard dash.
During all of it, Henderson participated with a huge smile.
“TreVeyon is a guy that has a huge heart, and what I’ve seen transpire in his life just having known him since his freshman year at Ohio State is, when he came to know the Lord a year ago, at that time he was in such a dark place in his life,” Byrd said. “But when he found Jesus, he felt so loved and he felt at peace and he found great strength and hope in the Lord. In communicating with him, he has shared that he wants to share that hope and share that love. ... So it’s impressive to see Trey pour into the lives of these young people.”
Henderson was so engaged that he cramped up during one activity and had to take a Gatorade break, partially the result of soreness from an exhaustive week of summer workouts with his Ohio State teammates.
“I'm feeling good, just a little tight, man, a little older,” Henderson said with a hearty laugh.
He added that this year’s round of summer workouts with strength coach Mick Marotti and company have been particularly intense.
“It's really tough, but we need it,” Henderson said. “We need it. Coach Mick, the things that he puts us through are very tough, and it brings us closer together. God has brought us really close, and I'm just so thankful to be back here and just get to experience it.”
Henderson feels he’s taken the biggest steps this year in being a leader for his teammates, specifically a servant leader who puts the needs of others first.
“The Lord is really helping me become the best leader I can be, and the right leader too,” Henderson said. “I know there are certain types of leaders out here. It can look like leading this way is the right way to lead, but following Jesus and allowing him to help me become the leader he wants me to be, that's the right leader to be.”
His guidance of dozens of Ohio’s youth on Friday is the latest example of that growth.
