Before he was wrecking backfields for the Cincinnati Bengals, Trey Hendrickson was just a kid from Apopka, Florida, tearing up the Sun Belt and Conference USA. Honestly, it’s kinda wild to look back at his journey. Most people see the Pro Bowls and the massive contract extensions and assume he was some blue-chip recruit at a massive program. He wasn't. He played for Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
While the SEC and Big Ten were getting all the TV time, Hendrickson was busy becoming the most dominant defensive player in Owls history. You’ve probably seen the highlight reels of him chasing down Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes, but the foundation of that speed-to-power rush was built in Boca Raton.
The numbers he put up in college weren't just "good for a mid-major." They were elite on a national scale. By the time he left FAU, he hadn't just broken records; he’d basically rewritten the defensive record book for the entire program.
💡 You might also like: Where is Sam Darnold going? The truth about his Seahawks future and those 2026 rumors
Trey Hendrickson College Stats: Breaking Down the Career Totals
If you look at the raw data, Hendrickson’s trajectory at FAU was a steady climb from a rotational piece to an absolute nightmare for offensive coordinators. He played four seasons for the Owls, from 2013 to 2016.
Here is the thing: a lot of guys have one "flash in the pan" season. Hendrickson wasn't that. He was consistent. He finished his career with 29.5 sacks, a school record that still stands. To put that in perspective, he had 13.5 sacks in his junior year alone. That season, he was second in the entire country, trailing only Carl Nassib from Penn State.
But it wasn't just sacks. He was a "stat sheet stuffer" in the truest sense.
- Total Tackles: 127
- Tackles for Loss (TFL): 42.5 (School Record)
- Forced Fumbles: 8 (School Record)
- Quarterback Hurries: 31
- Blocked Kicks: 4 (led the nation as a senior)
Basically, if the ball was moving, Hendrickson was trying to stop it, strip it, or block it. His 42.5 tackles for loss show a player who wasn't just a "speed rusher" but someone who could diagnose a run play and blow it up in the backfield.
The Breakout Year: 2015
If 2014 was the year Hendrickson proved he belonged, 2015 was the year he proved he was a pro prospect. He was a First-Team All-Conference USA selection, and for good reason. He recorded 13.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss.
📖 Related: Green Bay Packers: What Most People Get Wrong About America's Team
What made that 13.5 sack season so impressive was the context. FAU wasn't a powerhouse. They didn't always have the lead, which meant opposing teams weren't always forced to pass. Usually, pass rushers get their stats when the other team is desperate. Hendrickson got his stats because he was simply unblockable.
He had a four-sack game against Charlotte that year. Four. In one game. You don't see that often at any level of football. He also managed to record a sack against the Florida Gators, proving that his talent translated even when he played against "Power 5" competition.
2016: The C-USA Defensive Player of the Year
Heading into his senior season, the secret was out. Every offensive line coach in the conference was circling #91 on the film. He was double-teamed. He was triple-teamed. Teams would literally run the ball to the opposite side of the field just to avoid him.
Despite the extra attention, he still produced:
- 9.5 sacks (ranking 21st nationally)
- 15.0 tackles for loss
- 50 total tackles (a career high)
- 4 blocked kicks
That last stat—the blocked kicks—is what really speaks to his motor. Most star defensive ends take a breather on special teams. Not Trey. He was out there jumping over lines and getting his hands on field goal attempts. That level of effort is why he was named the 2016 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year.
He left FAU as the school's all-time leader in sacks, TFLs, and forced fumbles. He was also the first defensive lineman in the school’s history to ever be drafted into the NFL when the New Orleans Saints took him in the third round.
Why Did Scouts Overlook the Stats?
It's a fair question. If a guy has nearly 30 sacks in college, why did he fall to the third round (103rd overall)?
💡 You might also like: Who is the quarterback for Alabama? The Ty Simpson era ends and a new battle begins
Scouts often fall into the trap of "level of competition" bias. They saw Hendrickson dominating Conference USA and wondered if he could do it against NFL-caliber tackles. They also questioned his arm length. In the NFL, scouts love "long" defenders, and Hendrickson’s 32-inch arms were considered short for an edge rusher.
They were wrong.
What they missed was his 1.58-second 10-yard split. That is the measurement of how fast a player is over the first ten yards of a 40-yard dash. It’s the most important stat for a pass rusher because it measures "get-off." Hendrickson was, and still is, one of the fastest players off the ball in football history. His college stats were a direct result of him being in the backfield before the tackle could even get into his pass set.
What These Stats Teach Us About His NFL Success
Looking at Trey Hendrickson’s college stats today, his NFL dominance feels inevitable. The high forced fumble numbers (8) in college translated directly to the NFL, where he’s been a strip-sack specialist. The "motor" that led to 4 blocked kicks in a single season is the same motor that allows him to get "effort sacks" in the fourth quarter of NFL games.
He wasn't a "project" player. He was a finished product that just happened to be wearing an FAU jersey instead of an Alabama one.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are tracking Trey Hendrickson or looking to evaluate similar small-school prospects, keep these three things in mind:
- Production vs. Competition: Don't ignore a player just because they aren't in the SEC. If they are putting up double-digit sacks and leading the nation in blocked kicks, the talent is real.
- The 10-Yard Split Matters: For edge rushers, ignore the 40-yard dash time. Look at the 10-yard split. Hendrickson’s elite "get-off" was visible in his college tape and confirmed at the Combine.
- Look for Multiple Impact Areas: A defensive end who plays special teams and leads the nation in blocks usually has the mental makeup to survive the grind of an NFL season.
Hendrickson's time at FAU was a masterclass in how to dominate a lower level of competition. He didn't just play well; he made it impossible for the NFL to ignore him. If you're ever in Boca Raton and see a #91 jersey, now you know why that guy is a legend in the 561. He didn't just have stats; he had the kind of stats that change a program's history.