Hoosiers Now

WATCH: Former IU Tight End Peyton Hendershot Catches First NFL Touchdown

Dallas Cowboys tight end Peyton Hendershot hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception on Sunday against the Lions, marking the first touchdown of his NFL career. Hendershot is in his rookie season after five-year career at Indiana University.

Jack Ankony

In this story:

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott faked a handoff and found a wide-open Peyton Hendershot in the back of the end zone. 

The 2-yard touchdown secured Dallas' 24-6 win over the Lions on Sunday, and represented Hendershot's first touchdown of his NFL career. 

"It has a little something sweet to it," Hendershot said. "But you know I'm just thankful regardless.

It was also the first passing touchdown of the season for Prescott, who hadn't played since Week 1 due to a fractured thumb.

The Cowboys signed Hendershot as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana University before the 2022 season. Through the first seven weeks of Hendershot's rookie year, he's caught seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. 

Dallas has rotated a trio of tight ends this season with Dalton Schultz, Jake Ferguson and Hendershot. Schultz leads the group with 14 receptions for 129 yards, and Ferguson has caught eight passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. 

Dallas Cowboys tight end Peyton Hendershot (89) celebrates with teammates after catching a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Hendershot graduated from Indiana University with the most receiving yards (1,479) and receptions (136) in program history among tight ends. He joined Indiana in 2017 and played the first four games, but received a medical redshirt after a season ending injury.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Hendershot started 10 games for Indiana, He made his first career catch, a 3-yard touchdown, in the season opener at Florida International. In 2019, he set Indiana single-season tight end records with 52 receptions and 622 yards, starting all 13 games. He was tied for fourth in the nation among tight ends with 52 catches, and totaled 67 yards in the Gator Bowl.

In 2020, Hendershot finished second on the team in receptions and touchdowns, including a score that helped Indiana defeat Michigan. Hendershot was a team captain during the 2021 season, and led the Hoosiers with 46 receptions, 543 yards and four touchdowns. 

He earned Indiana’s Anthony Thompson Most Valuable Player Award in 2021, as well as Indiana's Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year. Across his five-year collegiate career, Hendershot garnered All-Big Ten honors three years in a row.

Related stories on Indiana football:

  • INDIANA IN THE NFL: Seven Indiana football alumni made 53-man NFL rosters and six more Hoosiers are on practice squads this season. CLICK HERE
  • TIME FOR A QUARTERBACK CHANGE?: Indiana football suffered its fifth consecutive loss on Saturday at Rutgers, which raised questions on a possible change at quarterback away from Connor Bazelak. CLICK HERE
  • HOOSIERS FALL TO RUTGERS: After two quick touchdowns, Indiana punted seven times, and a Connor Bazelak pick-six doomed the Hoosiers in their fifth-straight loss, falling 24-17 to Rutgers on Saturday in New Jersey. CLICK HERE
Published
Jack Ankony
JACK ANKONY

Jack Ankony is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation writer for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Indiana University's Media School with a degree in journalism. Follow on Twitter @ankony_jack.

Home/Football