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Name: Xzavier Henderson
Number: 3
Position: Wide Receiver
Class: Sophomore
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 191 lbs
Hometown: Miami, Fl.
High School: Colombus High School
2020 statistics:
| REC | YDS | TD | LNG | AVG |
| 9 | 148 | 1 | 43 | 16.4 |
Overview:
Henderson played in nearly every one of the Gators’ games as a true freshman, but he wasn’t prioritized for touches in an offensive system monopolized by Kadarius Toney and Kyle Pitts. The fact that he was able to get his hands on nine passes is impressive in the context of his youth and status among a crowded batch of offensive skill position players.
Henderson comes from football family. Most notably, his older brother is a cornerback who parlayed a career at Florida into a first-round draft selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The younger Henderson was identified quickly as a high-end prospect on the offensive end of the ball. He was offered on by a number of great programs, and in the end, his college destination was narrowed down to Florida and the then-reigning champion Clemson Tigers.
The traits make Henderson an exciting prospect for the Gators’ offense are twofold. Most obvious is his dynamic movement on the gridiron. He launches off the line of scrimmage with explosiveness and gets downfield in a blur. The whole field is available to him if he turns on the jets. More than just a track runner, Henderson is also able to cut routes. His high school tape is filled with instances of second-level separation being crated at the sideline by means of his suddenness and ability to reverse direction.
Where he could stand to improve is his contested catch ability. Henderson’s long arms and long frame are the building blocks to be a nightmare for defensive backs. However, he’s not the strongest guy and may not be willing to sacrifice some of his speed for added bulk.
The Gators’ offense is taking on a new shape in the upcoming season. They’re unlikely to get punch-drunk on wheel routes under the stewardship of Emory Jones, who will presumptively herald a run-centric offense. That’s not the kindest system for a player like Henderson, but he has the requisite skills to add more complex intermediate routes to his repertoire.
The ceiling for Henderson is an absolutely dominant downfield threat and a quarterback’s best friend. If everything clicks, he’ll be the guy the signal caller defaults to when the offensive scheme is disrupted. That’s an immensely valuable player to have in the system, but he’s not that player yet. In-game reps in 2021 will go a long way toward discerning whether can become the best version of himself.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H8bn-u90nA