NFL Draft Profile: Peyton Hendershot, Indiana Tight End

Peyton Hendershot’s dive for the pylon got here up a yard quick in Indiana’s matchup with Maryland on Oct. 30, 2020, however his 31-yard catch and run set the Indiana all-time tight finish report for receiving yards.

Regardless of Indiana’s 38-35 loss, Hendershot set the report in model, hauling in six catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Hendershot’s 136 profession receptions are additionally an Indiana tight finish report, which he set towards Ohio State on Oct. 23, 2020. 

“You imagine it and also you envision it in your thoughts,” Hendershot stated after the Maryland recreation. “However when it lastly begins to return to fruition, it’s eye-opening.”

In 5 seasons as a Hoosier, Hendershot was a three-time All-Massive Ten choice and completed second amongst Indiana tight ends with 14 touchdowns. As a senior, Hendershot was tied for first on the staff with 46 receptions and led all Hoosiers with 543 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. 

This record-setting season led to Hendershot incomes Indiana’s Anthony Thompson Most Beneficial Participant Award and the staff’s Most Excellent Offensive Participant of the Yr Award. 

Hendershot arrived in Bloomington as a three-star recruit, the No. 1,086 participant within the class of 2017 and the No. 53 tight finish within the nation. Standing at 6-foot-4, 254 kilos, Hendershot attended Tri-West Excessive College in Lizton, Ind. the place he hauled in 157 receptions, 2,170 yards, and 22 touchdowns. This led to Hendershot’s inclusion on the 2016 Indiana Related Press 6A all-state staff. 

And after etching his identify within the Indiana report books, Hendershot will now pursue an NFL profession with the draft starting on Thursday night time at 8 p.m. ET.

Hendershot obtained a 5.68 prospect grade from the NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, categorizing him as a “candidate for backside of roster or follow squad.” On the NFL mix, Hendershot recorded a 4.8-second 40-yard sprint, 32.5-inch vertical leap, 117-inch broad leap and a 4.25-second 20-yard shuttle time. 

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein stated Hendershot has small arms for a good finish, will not outrun many linebackers down the seam, fails to latch into his block and stick together with his arms and has a February 2020 arrest that may require examination from NFL groups. Hendershot confronted 4 fees after an altercation together with his ex-girlfriend and later pled responsible to a prison trespass cost as a part of a plea settlement.

Hendershot stated earlier than Indiana’s 2021 season that he labored on turning into a greater runner after the catch. His background as a basketball participant can be intriguing to Zierlein, who listed Hendershot’s strengths as being athletic and hard in his run after catch, a hands-catcher with fast pluck-and-go, current effort and willingness as run blocker and managed footwork on the break level.

Total, Zierlein initiatives Hendershot as a seventh-round choice or a precedence free agent.