Patriots Rookie Studying This Franchise Great

A New England Patriots newcomer aims to learn a few tricks by watching a former franchise mainstay.

The Patriots added another offensive playmaker when they drafted TreVeyon Henderson with the No. 38 pick. After winning a national title at Ohio State, the running back hopes to improve one facet of his game this summer.

Per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, Henderson said he has studied game film of former Patriots running back James White. Henderson noted White’s pass-catching success playing for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who returned to Foxboro, Mass., this offseason.

“He dang near looked like a receiver,” Henderson said of White. “But, man, he was a great running back here.”

Henderson broke down his findings from watching White.

“You know, one-on-one matchups, it seems like he was winning every time,” Henderson said. “But, man, he was such a great player. He’s made a huge impact to help his team win games. Just running routes outside the backfield and stuff, and so, yeah, I really want to continue to watch film, study and learn and grow as a player.”

The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Henderson is a similar size as White, who won three Super Bowl titles during his eight-year tenure in New England. While he never received 100 or more carries in a season, the former fourth-round pick caught 381 passes for 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns.

White’s trusted presence in pass-catching situations helped the Pats pull off arguably the greatest comeback in NFL history. Thrust into more snaps because of a 28-3 deficit, White turned 20 touches (14 catches, six carries) into 139 yards and three touchdowns during New England’s Super Bowl LI win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Henderson didn’t serve the same role in college. He never exceeded 27 catches in a season, but the 1,000-yard rusher scored a 75-yard touchdown reception in Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl win over Texas.

With Rhamondre Stevenson returning to New England for his fifth season, Henderson could follow in White’s footsteps as a change-of-pace complementary back.