For TreVeyon Henderson, sleep can transform into a living nightmare.
There's nothing figurative about that statement. On any given night or morning, the Ohio State running back, known for his blazing speed on the football field, can find himself completely immobilized, caught in the terrifying grip of sleep paralysis. Fully conscious yet unable to move, he experiences vivid hallucinations and eerie voices.
Henderson has battled sleep paralysis for years, a condition that leaves individuals temporarily paralyzed while falling asleep or waking up. These episodes can last for several minutes, making it difficult for Henderson to get any restful sleep.
“It started when I was a kid,” Henderson shared with Eleven Warriors. “I’ve always had this, and when I got to college and had those workouts, I couldn’t go to sleep. I’d be up until it was time to go to training. I’d be up until it was time to go to practice, not getting any sleep because I was dealing with that.”
Warning: This article addresses topics such as suicide and self-harm.
Sleep paralysis is just one of many challenges Henderson has faced in recent years. It vividly represents his off-field struggles and his remarkable transformation.
Henderson found solace from his sleep paralysis, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues through his newfound Christian faith. This spiritual awakening led to increased selflessness and leadership within Ohio State's locker room.
“When I look back on my life, I see that God was there the whole time,” Henderson reflected. “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, he allowed me to see that he was right there.”
On a Saturday, dressed in a crisp white T-shirt, blue cross-engraved dog tag, black pants, and untied white-and-black Air Jordans, Henderson captivated an audience of hundreds with his life story. Speaking at The Walk Foundation’s Walk by Faith event at Upper Arlington High School, alongside teammates Emeka Egbuka and Gee Scott Jr., Henderson recounted his lifelong struggle with mental health and how his faith has been a beacon of hope.
Henderson grew up in Hopewell, Virginia, a town where 21.3% of residents live below the poverty line, double the state's average. He witnessed violent crime from a young age, and his parents' separation added to the turmoil. Raised mainly by his mother, Lakeesha Hayes, Henderson watched her work tirelessly to support him and his two brothers.
“It broke me at a young age. I wanted to help her,” Henderson said. “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. I had so much anger in my heart, I would go get a knife and slit my wrists, take that anger out. That’s why my mom put me in football. Football became a way that I could drive that anger.”
Football was Henderson's escape and his way to support his family. A five-star prospect with a 2,400-yard high school junior season, Henderson's talent was undeniable. He enrolled early at Ohio State due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting his senior year, and he quickly emerged as a key player.
As a freshman, Henderson set Ohio State records with 270 rushing yards in a single game and 19 total touchdowns. Despite his success, his internal struggles persisted. In his sophomore year, he fractured his foot but continued playing, worsening the injury and his mental health.
“After that game, I was just so broken,” Henderson said,
referring to a particularly challenging performance. “I felt like my life was taken away from me. Football wasn’t going my way anymore, I just felt like my life – it was going downhill.”
Unable to play against Michigan and struggling with sleep paralysis, Henderson reached a breaking point. Surgery forced him to rest and reflect. He turned to his Christian teammates for guidance and began reading the Bible.
Over time, Henderson’s faith deepened. He rejected medical solutions for his sleep paralysis, instead finding peace in prayer. Inspired by the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man, Henderson experienced a profound sense of relief.
“I went days and weeks and months without me having (a sleep paralysis episode),” Henderson said.
“I’m just like, ‘Man, he truly delivered me from this.’ Just seeing that there’s power in the name of Jesus, he is who he says he is.”
His faith provided a new perspective. When feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts resurfaced, Henderson turned to passages like Matthew 11:28-30 for comfort: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
"The Lord, he promises to give us rest for our souls," Henderson said. "All my life, I’ve been carrying that heavy burden living without him. Carrying that heavy burden of this life, weighing me down to the point that I couldn’t carry it anymore. I didn’t want to carry it by myself. But Jesus, this is what he promises. That heavy burden that we’re carrying, he will take that away and give us enough burden that we can carry (with him)."
In 2023, Henderson faced another injury but approached it with newfound patience and faith. Instead of rushing back, he allowed himself time to heal, leading to impressive performances upon his return.
“The Lord allowed me to go through that for a reason,” Henderson said. “That’s when I realized, when I came out of it, that same situation my sophomore year when I went through injury, I went through it without the Lord. I wasn’t allowing him to guide me through that injury. But this time, I was going through it with the Lord. I was in total peace, man, total peace.”
Henderson’s growth as a leader and his deepening faith motivated him to return for his senior year. Beyond football, his faith has granted him peace and rest, a stark contrast to the turmoil he once endured.
In 2024, he will share the backfield with a new star, Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss, and his leadership has already earned praise from head coach Ryan Day.
“I think TreVeyon's leadership so far this year as he's transitioned into his fourth year has been tremendous,” Day said. “The way that he's gone about his work, the way that he's holding guys accountable, he's got a different look in his eye, and I think that's important.”
For Henderson, his journey is far from over. His faith, leadership, and commitment to his team will guide him through his final season at Ohio State, with a newfound sense of purpose and peace.
