Trent Hendrick was blinded, or so it seemed anyway.
He could see just two colors: purple and gold. But he could visualize much more.
As streamers blanked him, the Richmond, Virginia, native could picture a future at Bridgeforth Stadium where he stood during a recruiting visit. One where James Madison, the school that was pursuing him, was not just dominating its FCS competition. But one where it was competitive at the highest level of college football.
Hendrick recalled all of this years later, and reality has superseded expectations. He’s the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a Group of Five All-American. And his team is preparing for a College Football Playoff appearance.
“Getting a visualization as to what I’m going to do when I commit and when I end up playing in that purple and gold,” he recalled during a press conference this week. “That just goes to show how we’ve been able to make a seamless transition from the FCS to the FBS level to where we are now going to the College Football Playoff, and that’s just to dominate. Go dominate your opponent, and that’s what we’ve been able to do as a program.
“I’m glad to see this program be able to build from when I was getting recruited to where we are now.”
The JMU faithful who once covered Hendrick with streamers years ago should be thrilled with his journey, one that has been parallel with the Dukes’ year-over-year progression. They’ve gone from FCS national champions to earning the No. 12 seed in the CFP playing at No. 5 Oregon on Saturday evening.
JMU defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler was asked if there was a point when he realized Hendrick was capable of playing at the level he has in 2025. But there was no singular moment or story.
It’s been a destination reached through a collection of moments, ones that often weren’t easy or convenient. Extra weight training. Additional meetings and film study. But it’s led to an excess of accolades.
“The cool part about that kid is he gets better every single practice, every single walkthrough, every single meeting,” Hitschler said. “The intentionality that he has, his willingness to come in and sit in every single staff meeting we have and just learn and learn and learn. That’s what makes him great is he just keeps working to get better.”
Hitschler credited Hendrick for never being satisfied. For always being motivated. And for always being purposeful about the toil required to become the player he has.
Hendrick was an all-state high school player at St. Christopher’s and decided to go to James Madison after receiving just a few FBS offers.
In 2022 as a freshman, Hendrick played in 10 games and made one start. He totaled 20 tackles and two tackles for loss.
In 2023 as a sophomore, he played in 12 games with five starts. He totaled 29 tackles, one TFL, and a pass breakup.
In 2024 as a junior, he played in 13 games with 12 starts. He totaled 54 tackles, nine TFLs, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup.
You can see where this is going. Hendrick only continued to improve until he became the anchor for one of the best defenses in the country.
“It’s just so much growth, man,” Hendrick said. “I feel so good for this program and this area, this town. To be able to build and become a football powerhouse, because the talent is here. The talent is here, and the culture especially is here. I feel like this program will continue to rise.”
Hendrick has been nothing short of astounding in his senior season. Through 13 games, he has 96 tackles, six TFLs, three sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble.
Among FBS linebackers who have played at least 450 snaps, Hendrick ranks seventh in the country in Pro Football Focus grades. He’s also eighth for run defense and pass rushing as well as 24th for pass coverage.
“He’s a teammate everyone should want on their team,” JMU defensive back Jacob Thomas said. “I’ve had the privilege to be around him for four years now, and it’s been an awesome four years. He’s really the vocal leader of this team. When anything happens or we’re huddling on the 50-yard line, he’s making his voice heard and he does such a great job at everything he does as a leader.”
Hendrick has earned the right to become a vocal leader. Through his four years at JMU, his comprehension of the game has vastly expanded.
Hendrick emphasized how his performance is tied to the strides he’s made with his mental approach. In high school, he said, Hendrick didn’t fully understand the position. He didn’t need to. He was simply bigger, faster, and stronger than most anyone he faced.
JMU’s staff – both with former head coach Curt Cignetti and current head coach Bob Chesney – helped him become the player he was meant to be. He’s the quarterback of a Dukes defense which is statistically one of the best in the country.
JMU is second in the FBS in total defense (247.6 yards per game allowed), second in rushing defense (76.2 YPG allowed), fifth in third-down defense (28.7%), 10th in scoring defense (15.85 points per game allowed), and 12th in passing yards allowed (171.5 per game).
Now he doesn’t just understand his responsibility. He knows everyone else’s, too. He doesn’t just anticipate what offenses are trying to do. He acts on that knowledge by ensuring everyone else on his team is where they should be.
All of those meetings with JMU’s coaches and film study prepared him for a variety of offenses. He knows when opponents are lining up for a run to the outside. When they’re trying a counter. What they could call on third downs.
“To get to the elite level is, what is the offense doing, how they’re going to attack me based off what defense I’m in and what they need out of this down,” Hendrick said. “Just being able to do that and see the picture, knowing what you’re going to get on certain downs out of certain formations with certain players in certain spots has been able to just take my game to the next level.”
Hendrick was far from done becoming faster and stronger when he arrived in Harrisonburg. He noted how JMU’s staff, including strength and conditioning coach Adrian Guardado, set him up to become the best player he could be.
When asked what Hendrick’s physicality and leadership mean to the team, Chesney didn’t provide a specific example or clear-cut answer. He couldn’t, and nor should he.
“It’s everything,” Chesney said. “The way he inspires others. … He’s just an ultimate competitor, the ultimate leader, and he’s the defensive player of the year for a reason.”
