IU Tight End Hendershot is a Different Player On and Off the Field
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Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by: @zachegreene
Senior Tight End Peyton Hendershot has one of the best seasons ever for an Indiana University tight end. On the season, Hendershot has 35 receptions for 400 yards and four touchdowns. He has single handily kept this Hoosiers football team in games. He credits a lot of his success to having his best off-season as a player. He broke the career receptions and yards record for an Indiana tight end last week.
Before the start of the season, Hendershot stated, "I feel probably the best I've ever felt in my life. My speed, my strength, everything." It’s safe to say the amount of work he put in during the off-season paid off.
Last season, Hendershot admitted that he was not fully invested in the program despite having one of the best seasons in program history. There was a lot of attention on the young man after being charged with four crimes, one of which he pleaded guilty. While that is long behind him, many still hold that against him. Hendershot was determined to get better. He did not only get better on the field but off the field. His teammates, before the season, chose him as a team award.
“Last year, I didn’t feel invested in the team. It was hard to go out there on Saturdays and give it my all. This year I feel invested. I feel like I’ve built a lot of relationships with my brothers on the team. I’ve hangout with the guys and got to know them. I wasn’t going to let what happened last year happen again, so I did everything I could. I cried when they told me that. Growing up, I never thought I would be a captain of the Big Ten Football Team. I am very honored and blessed, and I will do everything I can for this team.”
This season, it is clear of Hendershot's leadership and presence on the field. Hendershot has been productive and showed NFL scouts that he could play at the next level, no matter the Quarterback.
Last week in IU 38-35 loss to Maryland, Hendershot spoke highly of his 18-year-old freshman QB, who found six times for over 100 yards and two scores.
“He’s done a good job. Just a couple of months ago, he was a third/fourth string Quarterback. He wasn’t even taking reps with us. It shows a lot about him and his character. He was working every day. His time has come, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Hendershot looks like a completely different player. If he can continue the field and be a leader off the field, it will be hard for NFL teams not to take a shot on the young man. While he has performed fantastically this season, the NFL scouts still think he needs to keep up the production to be drafted and get better in pass protection.
All that said, the story of Peyton Hendershot is one of which someone who made a big mistake but did not let that define him. Instead, he used it as motivation. He grinded during the offseason and became a better teammate. He stuck to his craft and did not let what people had to say about him affect his ego.
As the season slowly winds down, Hendershot knows that he needs to continue producing in front of NFL Scouts. He will be keyed upon by opposing teams, so it will be more complicated than at the beginning of the season, but I expect the Hoosiers to continue to feed him the rock and let him run free.