During his time with the Patriots, James White defined what it means to be a champion and versatile. He was one of the heroes of Super Bowl LI, racking up 14 catches for 110 yards and scoring both the game-tying and winning touchdowns on the ground. If you subtract Tom Brady's performance, White likely would've been that game's MVP.
Fast-forward eight years, and the Patriots used a second-round draft pick on Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson. Billed as a home-run threat during his time in Columbus, White feels the Patriots hit one over the fence in snatching Henderson.
Having played for Josh McDaniels, White knows what the Patriots' offensive coordinator expects from running backs regarding versatility and explosiveness. Henderson certainly has the traits to flourish in New England's scheme.
James White gives the ultimate seal of approval to Patriots' rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson
During a recent appearance on NBC Sports Boston's "Next Pats Podcast," the Super Bowl hero spoke about the Patriots' 2025 draft class, as it's receiving a lot of buzz, and had a lot to say about Henderson's fit on the offense and what he will bring on game day.
"When the dude was healthy throughout his career, all I could think is explosive plays. Checkdowns, running plays, he could take the ball 50-60 yards in a split-second. So I think this is great. ... I could count on my two hands the amount of times that I've seen him create explosive plays just last year, on screen plays or run plays, in big games, big-time moments where the team really needs him most."
An unheralded part of Henderson's game is his ability to block, another trait a Patriots' back must excel at in McDaniels' offense, which involves a lot of play-action passing. That alone should take additional pressure off quarterback Drake Maye, who was constantly under fire last year. White called Henderson the best blocking tailback amongst this rookie class, which is another huge compliment.
Henderson was a 1,000-yard rusher last season at Ohio State, a school that has had a reputation for churning out top running backs for generations. Henderson features the explosiveness the Patriots haven't had out of a running back for quite some time, and if he pans out, Henderson could be a faster, more dynamic version of White.
If that is the case, the Patriots truly hit a grand slam home run with the drafting of Henderson. New England struck gold with many picks in this draft class, and Henderson could be a central pearl in this collection of Patriots' gems.