Ohio State Football: Ryan Day says TreVeyon Henderson can be special

The Ohio State football team has a stable of running backs. One of the freshmen has a chance to be special though.

A few months ago I wrote an article about the need for the Buckeyes to find a Special running back. I feel it is almost imperative to do so if they are going to make a real run at a national championship. I defined Special this way,

"Special is making something out of nothing. It is having that extra burst when you see daylight. It is being able to turn the corner when it looks like you won’t be able. It is running with your eyes, not just your feet. It is being elusive enough to make a defender miss in the open field, while also having the ability to be physical and run over a defender. It’s having comfort with being split out in the slot to create a mismatch on the defense. It is being as good of a receiver as you are a runner. It is all of those things and more. Special is the potential to impact the game every time you touch the football."

I made only a brief mention of true freshman TreVeyon Henderson at that time. It was before the Spring Game and before I began to watch videos of him in high school. About six weeks after that article was published, I wrote another entitled All Aboard the TreVeyon Henderson Hype Train, because I came to believe he can be Special. Ryan Day thinks so as well,

"He’s very serious about his football. It means a lot to him. He’s low-maintenance, high-effort. And he has a lot of talent … I think he has a chance to be special.”"

Now, I don’t know if Day’s definition of Special and mine are the same, but it is obvious Henderson is supremely talented and is making an impression. For some reason I’m beginning to be of the belief he isn’t just going to be a part of the running back rotation.

I’m beginning to believe the nation’s top running back recruit of 2021 is a serious threat to start the opener against Minnesota. VERY serious threat. Pass blocking is the one thing young running backs struggle with most. If he can master that phase of his game, I really think you may see him take the field for Ohio State’s first offensive play of the season on September 2nd.

This isn’t to say I don’t think Master Teague and Miyan Williams won’t play. Quite the opposite. It is a long season, so I think you’ll see plenty of those two. Marcus Crowley is another who has the talent to push his way into the rotation.

There is still a long way to go and a lot to be decided before that season-opener, but the Buckeyes may have a running back emerging who is Special.