Patriots' rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson is the real deal

Billy Heyen

Patriots' rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson is the real deal image

There's something different about TreVeyon Henderson.

That much has been true long before he arrived in New England as the Patriots' second-round pick this April. It was true before he even got to Columbus as an Ohio State freshman, although he quickly made clear his talent almost immediately with the Buckeyes.

It's safe to expect he might do much the same for the Patriots.

He already did, sort of. His first preseason touch came on a kick return, and he took it back 100 yards for a touchdown.

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And now, ESPN's veteran beat reporter Mike Reiss has called Henderson the "biggest strength" for New England entering the season, even before the rookie plays an NFL regular season snap.

"It is perhaps bold to highlight a rookie second-round pick, but he is unlike any RB the Patriots have had speed-wise in recent years, and he has also shown a knack for running between the tackles, as evidenced by his 100-yard return for a TD on the opening kickoff of the preseason and his 8-yard TD run in Week 2," Reiss writes. "The Patriots finally have a player who is a threat to score any time he touches the football."

The Patriots still have an established veteran RB in Rhamondre Stevenson, and he should see work in the early going, as well.

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But there really shouldn't be anything that stands in the way of Henderson reaching his potential.

The Pats know they've got a special player. They'll put him in position to touch the ball all over the field, including in the return game and as a receiving back.

And as Reiss writes, once Henderson has the ball, it's danger time for the defense. He's liable to reach the end zone at any moment.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle