For TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State’s win over Penn State on Saturday felt like a reward for the hard work he and his teammates have put in this season.
The Buckeyes’ excitement was palpable as they completed their 20-13 victory on the field at Beaver Stadium before continuing their celebration with a dance party in the locker room. The Buckeyes felt the validation of the work they’ve put in all year as they seized a road win over the third-ranked team in the country, and Henderson said that’s what made the victory so emotional.
“It was an exciting moment, man. It was a huge win for us,” Henderson said. “Penn State, man, they were a great team and it was a tough game and it was a battle, man. But really, just a lot of emotion after coming out with the victory ... there's been a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, and so really just the work that has been put in and just reaping the rewards after.”
Two days after Ohio State’s win over Penn State, Henderson sat down with Eleven Warriors for a one-on-one interview on behalf of Dr. Pepper, who Henderson has an NIL deal with. While Henderson won’t be appearing in a Fansville commercial, he’s partnered with the soda company for social media promotions and said he had the opportunity to tour the company’s headquarters.
“It's been great working with them,” Henderson said.
Henderson said it was a “great” feeling to be a part of Ohio State’s final drive on which the Buckeyes ran the ball 10 straight times to seal a victory over Penn State, and he gave the credit to the Buckeyes’ offensive line for leading the way.
“Those guys, they've been working hard all season, so it was exciting to see them put it out on the field, the work that they've been putting in,” Henderson said of the offensive line.
As for the team’s postgame celebration, Henderson said he didn’t break out any dance moves himself but enjoyed watching Ohio State’s coaches get in the middle of the team’s dance circle. Asked which coach is the best dancer, Henderson gave his vote to Jim Knowles, who was front and center in the celebration video shared by OSU on social media.
Goodnight Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/F1uZby92BG
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 3, 2024
Henderson’s position coach Carlos Locklyn also got in on the dancing, which fits his personality as Henderson described him as a “really funny guy.” Henderson was also complimentary of how Locklyn has made him and his fellow running backs better since becoming Ohio State’s RBs coach in April.
“He's been a really great coach and he's been really good here,” Henderson said. “The biggest thing is just how he mentors us and encourages us off the field. And so that's what I love about him. But on the field, he's a tough coach. He's always pushing us past our limits and helping us to grow and get better in all areas of our game.”
One area where Henderson’s improvement has been particularly noticeable this season is his blocking, as he’s pancaked defenders on several occasions this season including a knockdown lead block on Will Howard’s run that would have been a touchdown at Penn State if not for a fumble just before the goal line. Henderson says he’s put in a lot of work to improve in that area because he wants to help his team in every way possible.
“Pass protecting as a running back is not easy. It's a tough job, but I'm willing to do it, especially for the love of my brothers,” Henderson said. “That's something I've been praying on is just laying down my life for the love of my brothers and not being selfish. And I think when it comes to pass protecting, that is a huge part of not being selfish, willing to lay your life down for the quarterback so he can pass the ball to the receivers so they can get the ball.”
Look & more importantly listen to that block from TreVeyon Henderson pic.twitter.com/PZ6FW2uMKJ
— Sean Anderson (@SandersonRadio) November 2, 2024
Henderson was also complimentary of fellow Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, who he’s built a close bond with as they’ve shared the load in the Buckeyes’ backfield this year.
“Me and Quinshon, man, we just really had time to really get to know each other better and have a closer connection and build that bond together,” Henderson said. “He's been great, man. Quinshon, he's a funny dude. I love Quinshon.”
Henderson also spoke about the importance of staying humble and how he believes the team’s faith has brought it closer together, and answered some rapid-fire questions about off-field topics including his favorite restaurant for a postgame meal, what sport(s) he could have played if not for football and more. You can hear all of what Henderson had to say in the video at the top of the page.
