Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson is part of one of the most formidable backfield duos in the nation and stands as one of the premier players in the Big Ten conference.
Last season, he assumed the lead role in the backfield and, alongside Marvin Harrison Jr., played a pivotal role in Ohio State’s offensive prowess. Despite being sidelined by injuries for several weeks, he came close to reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
However, Henderson’s injury setbacks pale in comparison to the challenges he has faced in his past. In a candid interview with Eleven Warriors, the Buckeyes standout disclosed his struggles with mental health, stemming from witnessing his mother’s difficulties in raising him and their family.
These struggles included battles with sleep paralysis and depression, with Henderson even acknowledging that at one point, he contemplated taking his own life.
Fortunately, football became a crucial outlet for Henderson, providing him with a means to cope with his issues. “It broke me at a young age. I wanted to help her,” Henderson shared with Eleven Warriors. “I’d just see her crying, there was nothing I could do being at that young age. I became so dark at the time. Sometimes, I’d be alone, and these evil thoughts would pop into my head about taking my own life… That’s why my mom put me in football. Football became a way that I could drive that anger.”
As he enters his final season with the Buckeyes, Henderson has discovered another avenue for managing his mental health issues and grappling with frustrations from injuries—his faith. Reflecting on his journey, Henderson expressed gratitude for the presence of God throughout his struggles. “When I look back on my life, I see that God was there the whole time,” he remarked in the interview. “He was there when I was feeling those suicidal thoughts. He was there when I was feeling depressed and hurt. He was there the whole time, just waiting patiently for me to see. I’m so thankful that, at just the right time when I lost all hope in my life, that he allowed me to see that he was right there.”
