COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eleven days after Ohio State added a four-star running back to its 2021 recruiting class, the Buckeyes secured the commitment of a five-star runner.
TreVeyon Henderson, a 5-foot-11, 195-pounder from Hopewell, Va., announced Friday night on Twitter that he would join next year’s class, which is already ranked first nationally. Henderson is ranked as the 17th overall prospect nationally and the second-ranked running back in the 247Sports composite rankings. He becomes the 15th member of Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class.
“Where I’m from, a lot of people don’t get to leave,” Henderson said in his Twitter announcement, “and walking away is hard to do. So I ran. I ran from trouble. Every challenge I saw, I ran through. The next challenge is the one I’m not running from. I’m running to.
“To my mother, my family, my friends, my coaches and teammates, I wouldn’t have been here without you. You’re the reason I’m running now, running for a chance to give back for all you’ve given to me. I may not know everything about where I’m going. But I know there’s a place I’ll be getting everything I need so that one day I can come back home and make a difference for those who need it.”
On March 6, North Carolina running back Evan Pryor committed to Ohio State. He’s ranked the No. 85 overall prospect in the 247Sports ratings and the No. 6 running back.
“He’s a guy who can be a game-changer, a home-runner hitter,” Bucknuts recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic said. “They basically have now with him and Evan Pryor a great duo. One can be the feature guy, a J.K. Dobbins-type guy, and the other — Pryor — can be the all-purpose back who can play in the backfield and the slot and is a great route-runner and pass-catcher. It’s a great combination.”
Henderson also considered Michigan, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Virginia.
Henderson played receiver and defensive back as a freshman and sophomore in high school until emerging last year as a running back. He ran for 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns for Hopewell, which went undefeated and won the state title.
“He has great speed and is a breakaway threat,” Kurelic said.
The additions of Henderson and Pryor come after Ohio State had to scramble to sign one running back, three-star Miyan Williams, in last year’s class after higher-profile prospects the Buckeyes expected to land backed away.
“When you went into 2021 recruiting, running back recruiting was Priority 1,” Kurelic said. “They only signed one last year when they wanted two. This year, to get two of the top five running backs in the country is a grand slam. You got two great ones at an absolute prime position.”
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