“Slippery when wet,” said safety Trayvon Henderson, reading a sign from about 20 yards away. “I never failed an eye test. My vision’s at least 20/20.”
The top line of an eye chart — E, as in effort — is the bottom line for Henderson. His best efforts go into his favorite sport.
When he was 6, he told his grandmother he envisioned growing up to pursue a career in football. “I didn’t realize I was saying that stuff until two years later,” said Henderson, who appears to be on the right path.
An independent analyst ranked the Rainbow Warriors. Henderson, a fifth-year senior, was rated No. 1. The coaches named Henderson to the 14-player leadership council. Teammates selected Henderson as one of four co-captains. He received the most votes.
“He’s a great leader,” said Jacob Yoro, who coaches the safeties. “Trayvon is an athletic talent. What makes him special is his work ethic and attention to details. He’s a guy who takes this seriously, and is preparing himself to play at the next level next year.”
Asked about his qualities, Henderson, like a soldier confirming his name, rank and serial number, will recite his mantra: “alignment, assignment, technique and execution. That’s it. No special method.”
Henderson was second with 90 tackles last season, but 48 came on runs. He had nine backfield stops on running plays, and two sacks off safety blitzes.
“I like his leadership,” head coach Nick Rolovich said. “He’s an incredibly talented young man. He’s starting to do the most with his ability, how he prepares. You see the importance of this season with him.”
Henderson is complex and selective. He does not idolize anyone but instead admires certain traits from some people.
“If somebody is really good with communicating, that’s something I think is a good quality, so I might try to do some of the stuff they do as far as communicating with other people,” he said.
While he is a good student and has many interests, “I haven’t come across anything that I love besides football,” he said. “I enjoy doing other stuff … there are specific things that I like, but as a whole I’m not into it.”
But he does find comfort and support from his close circle: his mom, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. He said he reconnected with his father two years ago.
“We weren’t rich in material things,” said Henderson, who was raised in Sacramento. “My mom always told me we were rich in love. That was more important than having lots of clothing and lots of shoes.”
He also has a close bond with his other family.
“I do appreciate my teammates picking me to be one of the captains,” he said. “In all honesty, I was chosen to be captain by not pretending to be something I’m not. I’m myself every day, all day. That’s who I am.”
… The coaches told me at this point, it’s not about what I do as a captain but what I don’t do that will stand out more. The only thing is I have to mind my P’s and Q’s.”
SCOUTING REPORT: DEFENSIVE BACKS
It’s been unfortunate timing, but safeties Trayvon Henderson and Daniel Lewis have never started together. Both are fast, quick to react and smart. Henderson and Lewis were voted as two of the four co-captains. Keala Santiago can be used as a third defensive back in sub-packages. Both starting corners graduated after the 2016 season, but Roe Farris, who filled in when Jamal Mayo was injured, is now the lock-down defender. There’s a good battle at the other corner between Manu Hudson-Rasmusssen, who transferred from a JC in January, and Zach Wilson, who also is a nickel candidate. Cameron Hayes has been a reliable corner in the preseason.
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CORNERBACK
14 | Manu Hudson-Rasmussen | 6-1 | 185 | Jr. | Tigard, Ore.
20 | Zach Wilson | 5-11 | 170 | So. | Upland, Calif.
SAFETY
4 | Daniel Lewis | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | New Iberia, La.
13 | Keala Santiago | 6-0 | 200 | So. | Hau‘ula
SAFETY
39 | Trayvon Henderson | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | Sacramento, Calif.
37 | Austin Gerard | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. | Pearl City
CORNERBACK
18 | Roe Farris | 6-1 1 | 80 | So. | Coral Springs, Fla.
28 | Cameron Hayes | 5-11 | 180 | So. | Los Angeles
