Trey Sermon: From College Standout to NFL Journeyman
St. An'treyon "Trey" Sermon (born January 30, 1999) is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner. His college career, marked by flashes of brilliance at both Oklahoma and Ohio State, paved the way for his entry into the NFL.
Early Years and High School Career
Sermon attended Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he showcased his talent by running for 1,227 yards. Billy Shackelford, Sermon's former coach, attributed much of his success to the strength of his mother, Natoshia, highlighting her resilience and her work supporting victims of domestic abuse through her book "When My Soul Cried" and her nonprofit organization Arise By Faith.
Oklahoma Sooners (2017-2019)
2017: Freshman Impact
As a true freshman at Oklahoma in 2017, Sermon immediately contributed to the team's success. He played in all 14 games, making three starts. A memorable moment came early in his college career against Ohio State, where he accounted for 85 yards of total offense and a touchdown in a 31-16 victory. "I remember everything about that game," Sermon said. "To me it felt like my first big college game, so I remember it vividly. I mean, I just remember just being able to make plays. It was just an exciting moment." He finished the season with 121 rushes for 744 yards and five touchdowns, along with 16 receptions for 139 yards. Following three straight conference games with at least 90 rushing yards, the first half of Sermon's freshman season seemed to signal the start of a brilliant college career.
2018: Sophomore Success
In 2018, Sermon appeared in all 14 games, starting 12. He recorded a career-high 947 rushing yards on 164 carries and 13 touchdowns. Additionally, he contributed 12 receptions for 181 yards.
2019: Injury-Shortened Season
Sermon's 2019 season was cut short due to injury. He appeared in nine games, recording 385 rushing yards on 54 carries and four touchdowns, along with eight receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown. Overall, in his three years at Oklahoma, Sermon appeared in 37 games (15 starts), amassing 339 carries for 2,076 yards and 22 touchdowns, along with 36 receptions for 391 yards and three touchdowns.
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Transfer to Ohio State (2020)
A New Chapter
In April 2020, Sermon transferred to Ohio State, seeking a fresh start after his injury-plagued season at Oklahoma. The Buckeyes hoped he would fill the void left by J.K. Dobbins, who had rushed for 2,003 yards in 2019. However, the transition was not seamless. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted team activities, making it difficult for Sermon to acclimate. "It was pretty rough in the beginning, just coming here and not being able to be around everybody, and then everything gets shut down and then picks back up," Sermon said.
Slow Start
Sermon began the season in a secondary role behind Master Teague III. In the first four games, he never had more than 13 carries or exceeded 68 rushing yards. He had just four touches in the second half of the Buckeyes' 42-35 win against Indiana on Nov. 21. Offensive lineman Josh Myers noted Sermon's resilience during this period: "The start of his career at Ohio State didn't exactly go perfectly. Never not one time did he complain. Never not one time did he ask for more carries. He never had a bad attitude, he just kept coming to work."
Breakthrough Performance
The turning point came during practices leading up to the Michigan State game. Feeling more comfortable with the scheme and in sync with Ohio State's offensive line, Sermon earned a larger role. He capitalized on this opportunity with his first 100-yard rushing game in over two years. "Once I got that feeling, again, I just started to just try to be consistent, continued practicing hard, running a little extra, just doing all of that," he said. "I felt like it translated over, and, I mean, it kind of showed in the Michigan State game."
Record-Breaking Performance and Championship Push
Sermon's season transformed dramatically. He ran for 232 yards in his first four games and 636 yards in his next three. Against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game, Sermon exploded for a program-record 331 yards and two scores, leading the Buckeyes to their fourth consecutive Big Ten title. He followed that performance with 193 rushing yards against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, helping Ohio State avenge their previous loss and advance to the national championship game. "Trey Sermon, he set the world on fire," said former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin. "I’ve been watching him all the way. This kid’s got it. He’s got it."
National Championship and Legacy
In the national championship game against Alabama, Sermon was injured and taken to the hospital for evaluation. His final season at Ohio State saw him appear in eight games, rushing for 870 yards and four touchdowns. Despite the championship game injury, Sermon's late-season surge drew comparisons to Ezekiel Elliott's performance during the Buckeyes' 2014 championship run.
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NFL Career
San Francisco 49ers (2021)
Sermon was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year deal with the team. He entered his rookie season as the third-string running back behind Raheem Mostert and fellow rookie Elijah Mitchell. He made his first career start in Week 3, rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown with two catches for three yards and another touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve on December 4, 2021. He was activated on January 11, 2022. As a rookie, he appeared in nine games and started two.
Philadelphia Eagles (2022-2023)
On September 1, 2022, Sermon was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and subsequently reverted to injured reserve. On September 15, 2023, he was released from injured reserve.
Indianapolis Colts (2023)
On September 19, 2023, Sermon was signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts. He was promoted to the active roster on September 23. He appeared in 14 games for the Colts in the 2023 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2024-Present)
In 2024, Sermon signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was signed to the practice squad after being released during final roster cuts.
Read also: McBride's Rise to the NFL
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