Xzavier Henderson – Syndication Server

No. 14 Sooners vs Cincinnati Bearcats: How to Watch, key players, weather forecast for gameday

The Sooners are going to be in for a battle this weekend, let’s take a look at how you can watch, the impact players, injury report and what’s the weather going to be like.

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to take on the [autotag]Cincinnati Bearcats[/autotag] on Saturday. This is the first conference game for both teams.

The Sooners are coming off a 3-0 nonconference slate whereas the Bearcats are coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to in-state foe Miami (Oh.). But don’t let that game fool you. The Bearcats had seven trips to the red zone and only scored on four of them, two of which were field goals.

That’s how you beat yourself in a game you should win. This game is going to be a lot more interesting than people think. This is the best defensive line the Sooners have faced to date and could be the best they face all season.

But that doesn’t mean the offense isn’t any good. They rank No. 12 in the nation in total yards and No. 8 in the nation in rushing. The Sooners’ 15th-ranked rushing defense is going to be tested once again and the Bearcats have a very good dual-threat quarterback at the helm.

Not to mention this is going to be Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff game, the only time Oklahoma is making the trip as conference foes, and is expected to be a blackout for Cincinnati.

But without giving too much away, let’s dive into how you can watch the Sooners on the road.

Former Florida WR transferring to Cincinnati Bearcats

After three years at the University of Florida, wide receiver Xzavier Henderson is transferring to the University of Cincinnati to play for the Bearcats.

Former Florida wide receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] is headed to the Midwest to play his junior season at the University of Cincinnati, according to 247Sports.

Henderson joined Florida as a member of the recruiting class of 2020. 247Sports graded him out as a four-star and top-100 (No. 60) prospect out of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He played in all but one game for Florida in the shortened 2020 season and started three of 13 games in 2021.

Once Billy Napier took over the program, Henderson stepped into a starting role. He was mostly utilized in screenplays but finished the year with 38 receptions and 410 yards.

Coming into 2023, Henderson was expected to be a starter once again for the Gators, especially with Justin Shorter off to the pros. Only slot receiver Ricky Pearsall threatened to take significant targets from him.

There might not be that much opportunity in Cincinnati, either. The Bearcats have added 21 players from the transfer portal so far, including five wide receivers.

Henderson joins former Florida quarterback Emory Jones at Cincinnati. It will be the Bearcats’ first season in the Big 12 and having a quarterback-receiver tandem with SEC experience should help. Henderson will have two years of eligibility remaining with his new program.

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Former University of Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson reveals transfer destination

The Cincinnati Bearcats added one of the best wide receivers in the transfer portal to their roster.

Former Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson has found his next destination., The 6-foot-3 wide receiver announced on Friday that he will be continuing his collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati after spending the last three seasons with the Gators.

Henderson announced his decision by quietly posting a picture on his Instagram story saying “Today I woke up a Bearcat.”

Henderson during his time with the Gators played in 30 games, totaling 73 receptions for 835 yards and five touchdowns. He’s coming off a career season in Gainesville with 38 receptions for 410 yards and two touchdowns. He was the Gators’ third-leading receiver this past fall behind Ricky Pearsall and Justin Shorter.

Cincinnati is entering its first year under head coach Scott Satterfield who took over the Bearcats’ head coaching job this offseason following the departure of Luke Fickell to Wisconsin. Satterwhite made his way to Cincinnati via Louisville where he spent the las four seasons collecting an overall record of 25-24.

Former UF wide receiver Xzavier Henderson committed to Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/VxaA9XeMJv

— Patrick Conn (@PatrickConnCFB) May 26, 2023

The Bearcats under Fickell and interim head coach Kerry Coombs were 9-4 last season including 6-2 in AAC play. The program is just two years removed from a College Football Playoff berth, being the first Group of Five teams to earn their way into the four-team playoff in 2021.

This upcoming season will also be Cincinnati’s first in the Big 12 as they will officially join the conference on July 1. They’ll join the conference alongside Central Florida, BYU, and Houston.

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Florida losing WR Xzavier Henderson to transfer portal

Florida’s third spring transfer is a big one. Wide receiver Xzavier Henderson, who started 11 games for the Gators in 2022, is hitting the portal.

Florida wide receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] is entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from Swamp247.

Henderson started 11 games for Florida last year and was expected to step into a bigger role with [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] moving on to the NFL. 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner said that sophomore [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag] had strong springs behind Henderson, which may have influenced the decision to leave.

[autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] is the clear leader of the receiver room, but [autotag]Marcus Burke[/autotag], Douglas and Jean are all young players showing promise.

Henderson leaves Florida with 835 career receiving yards and five touchdowns on 73 catches over 35 games. His best game in the Orange and Blue came against Georgia when he hauled in five receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Receivers coach Billy Gonzalez reported strong spring scrimmage performances from Henderson, and head coach Billy Napier also spoke highly of him during the spring. The transfer is somewhat surprising, but he’s not the first player to leave the team during the second portal period of teh year.

Offensive lineman [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] and edge rusher [autotag]Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr[/autotag]. were the first two Gators to leave the team in the spring. Following Henderson’s departure, Florida will have five open scholarship spots to hand out to transfers.

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Florida has one of college football’s 12 most lethal rosters in 2023

Florida has a ton of talent on its roster heading into the 2023 season, but that doesn’t guarantee success.

The Florida Gators finished tied for 12th in 247Sports’ recent list of the most lethal rosters heading into the 2023 season.

247Sports’ Brad Crawford used the site’s team composite ranking to rank the teams. He took the average position of the team’s finish over the past five years and Florida finished with a 12.4 average, the same as Michigan.

Florida finished 14th in the country during the most recent cycle. Losing five-star quarterback Jaden Rashada hurt a class that had a chance to break the top 10. Florida’s first class under Billy Napier in 2022 ranked No. 18 overall, and Dan Mullen brought in the No. 12 class in 2021 and the No. 9 class in 2019 and 2020.

“When Florida is winning national titles, the Gators are one of the nation’s elite recruiting teams,” Crawford wrote. “And while this program has a top-12 roster based on talent heading into coach Billy Napier’s second season, there are certainly depth concerns that the coaching staff must contend with following a disappointing 6-7 finish under the new regime.”

The problem with using this metric to rank teams is that transfers come and go, and the bulk of the Mullen classes has moved on from the program in one way or another. The class of 2020 features some team leaders, such as receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag], but much of the class has transferred out or declared for the upcoming draft.

Florida also added a ton of transfer over the past two offseasons. Quarterbacks [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag], running backs [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Cameron Carroll[/autotag], receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag], offensive linemen [autotag]Damieon George[/autotag], [autotag]Kiyaunta Goodwin[/autotag] and Micah Mazzccua, defensive linemen [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] and [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] could all play significant roles for the team next season.

Florida could end up playing like a top-12 in the country by the season’s end, especially if the transfers help make up for the talent lost over the past few years, but it’s unwise to think of the Gators as a top-12 program in terms of actual talent heading into the season.

There’s been too much turnover in the program over the past couple of years for this metric to work for the Gators. A team like Michigan has a much better chance of living up to the expectations created by this list.

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Florida WR Ricky Pearsall inks deal with Gator Collective

Ricky Pearsall is back in the Swamp for another year and the Gator Collective is taking care of him.

One of the biggest decisions of Florida’s offseason came from wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] when he decided to pass on the NFL for another year and return to the Swamp.

Part of that decision was financial. Players can now make comparable money in college to what a late-round pick might receive, and it’s kept underclassmen from declaring early for the most part. Pearsall inked a deal with the Gator Collective this week, according to Gators Online, and it’s hard to imagine that name, image and likeness compensation didn’t play a factor when it came time to decide.

Pearsall’s deal comes at a time that he’s expected to take over as the primary receiver at Florida. [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] is off to the NFL and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] is the only returning receiver with significant playing time under his belt. Pearsall could be a star in the slot for whichever quarterback Florida ends up with as the starter in 2023.

The Gator Collective has focused heavily on compensating current Gators rather than incoming players, and Pearsall’s numbers warrant the increased attention he’s getting. He led the team in 2022 with 661 yards and five touchdowns and finished second with 33 receptions.

His NIL deal with the Gator Collective wasn’t the only reason Pearsall came back, but it certainly made the decision easier.

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Gators getting major offensive piece back in 2023

He’s coming back for another year! Florida is getting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall back for the 2023 season.

The Florida Gators got a major piece of their offense back on Saturday as wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] announced his return to the team for the 2023 season on Instagram.

Pearsall appeared in all 13 games for Florida and started 10 of those, mostly in the slot. He hauled in 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns and added another 113 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on eight attempts. With [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] headed to the pros, Pearsall should improve on those numbers in 2023 and serve as the leader of Florida’s wide receiver room.

Behind him will be Thai Independence CC transfer [autotag]Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag], which further highlights how badly Florida needed Pearsall to return.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnZ7IU2KzsT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Pearsall, also a transfer, spent his three years at the collegiate level playing for Arizona State. He broke out as a junior and caught Billy Napier’s eye in the transfer portal. After four years, Pearsall could have opted to leave for the NFL, but another year in the SEC should boost his draft stock.

He won’t have [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] passing to him, but Florida has added former Wisconsin quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] and has [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] also competing for the job. [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] will also get a fair share of targets out wide, but Pearsall should have a big year with Shorter out of the picture.

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Florida WR invited to 2023 NFL combine despite undecided future

Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall hasn’t officially declared for the NFL draft yet, but he has received an invitation to the 2023 combine.

It’s currently unknown whether Florida wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] will use up his final year of college eligibility before turning pro, but there’s no question that the NFL draft is calling him.

On Monday, Pearsall posted a screenshot of his invitation to the 2023 NFL combine on Instagram with the caption, “thank you Lord,” according to 247Sports. While that post does not serve a confirmation of his departure, Florida fans should consider a reality where Pearsall doesn’t return for a second year in the Swamp.

He joined the team in spring through the transfer portal after moving on from Arizona State and served as the Gators’ starting slot receiver all year. He finished the season with 33 receptions, 661 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 113 more yards and a score on the ground. If Pearsall did return, he’d be the unquestioned leader in Florida’s 2023 wide receivers room.

Reporters questioned Pearsall on Dec. 17 about his future after Florida’s Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State, and he was noncommittal at the time.

“There’s a lot of aspects that go into it,” Pearsall said. “But, you know, I’m still thinking about it, being patient with it.”

Losing Pearsall to the pros would be another major loss for the Gators after [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] declared for the draft and [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag] entered the transfer portal. It would leave [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] as the team’s lone returning starter with [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] behind him, assuming his recovery goes as planned.

Florida’s bringing in a decent crop of freshmen receivers, but dipping into the transfer portal might be necessary if Pearsall leaves.

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WATCH: Anthony Richardson connects with WR for 78-yard TD against Georgia

Florida’s got something brewing in the second half against Georgia. Anthony Richardson just connected with Xzavier Henderson for a 78-yard TD.

Florida came out of the first half down 28-3 against Georgia, but the Gators weren’t ready to give up. UF is in the middle of what would be a comeback for the ages, and quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] just provided the highlight play of the game.

After opening up the second half with a touchdown drive to make it 28-10, [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] forced a pair of turnovers that swung the momentum in Florida’s favor. The first possession only ended with three points, but Richardson connected with wide receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] for a 78-yard touchdown, a career-long for both men.

Florida’s chances to win were slim entering halftime, but the Gators have played well enough to put the nation on alert. Whatever Billy Napier said to the team during the break sparked something in the players, and it’s been a completely different game since.

Those Florida fans who left at the half are likely kicking themselves for missing out on an incredible third quarter. Here’s a look at the play in question and some reactions from the Florida faithful.

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Wide Receivers

Let’s take a look at Florida’s options at receiver for the 2022 season. Behind Justin Shorter and Xzavier Henderson, who else can we expect to contribute?

As we move through our position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida Gators fall roster, one of the bigger question marks on offense is the wide receiver room.

Florida lost three of its top five pass catchers from last season during the offseason, leaving [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] as the presumed starting tandem out wide and [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] as the natural successor to [autotag]Rick Wells[/autotag] in the slot. Transfer [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] was brought in via the transfer portal and should be a valuable asset as well.

These are the four players expected to make an impact at the receiver position in 2022 for the Gators, but there’s always room for someone to break through with 18 players in the position room. The top of the depth chart here is pretty thin, so the backup spots are almost all up for grabs at this point.

Here’s a look at all the wide receivers listed on the 2022 Florida Gators’ fall roster.