From Columbus High to UF to top-10 draft pick. CJ Henderson’s NFL dream is a reality
CJ Henderson spent the days leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft back home in Miami and occasionally working out alone at the field where his football dream slowly morphed into reality.
It manifested at Christopher Columbus High, where he received close to three dozen college scholarship offers. It continued at the University of Florida, where he emerged as one of the country’s top cornerbacks despite not taking up the position until his final year of high school.
It has resulted in Henderson reaching this point, a first-round NFL draft talent.
“It feels great,” Henderson said in an interview with ESPN’s Maria Taylor. “It still hasn’t hit me yet. Been dreaming about this all my life. Being able to achieve it is going to be a great moment. I’m ready for it.”
Henderson’s dream became reality Thursday.
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Henderson with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making him the latest first-round draft to come out of UF and the second ever from Columbus High.
And Henderson certainly has the credentials for it.
He has the size at 6-1 and 204 pounds.
He has the speed with a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
He has the track record, with 92 tackles, six interceptions and 22 pass breakups in 33 games (27 starts) over three years at UF.
“If you look at that combination,” Gators coach Dan Mullen said, “it makes him a very, very special player.”
He made an early impression early in his college career, returning interceptions for touchdowns in consecutive games against Michigan and Tennessee to open his freshman season. He became a starter midway through his freshman season.
“What separates me is I’m a competitor,” Henderson said at the NFL combine. “I’m very smart and very athletic as well. I’m passionate about the game. I’m a good tackler, as well. That’s not being said a lot after a few games of bad tape.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay ranked Henderson as the second-best cornerback in this year’s draft behind Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, who was selected third overall by the Detroit Lions. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Henderson as the draft’s No. 13 overall prospect.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Henderson as a “silky smooth boundary cornerback with mirror-and-match footwork and the agility and athleticism to stay connected to routes.”
“He has NFL recovery burst and the long speed to track vertical routes downfield,” Zierlein added. “He has the twitchy acceleration to jump a throw and take it away if the quarterback lingers on the target, and he’s quick to wrap and finish after the catch.”
Henderson’s areas for improvement, per Zierlein: Avoiding mental mistakes and improving as an open-field tackler.
Adding to UF draft trends
Henderson’s first-round status continued two Gators NFL Draft trends that have developed over the past decade.
His selection marks seventh time in the past eight years that UF has had at least one player drafted in the first round. He is the 10th Gator overall to be drafted within the first 32 picks in that span. Nine of those 10 picks were defensive players.
Henderson is also the 15th UF defensive back taken in the draft since 2010. Joe Haden (seventh, 2010) is the only Gators defensive back picked higher than Henderson.
At least four of Henderson’s UF teammates are expected to be drafted over the course of the final two days, including edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga, wide receiver Van Jefferson and running back Lamical Perine. Receivers Freddie Swain, Tyrie Cleveland and Josh Hammond (a Hallandale alum) could also wind up as late-round selections.
Henderson’s high school days
But before he became a first-round pick and before he was a starter for the Gators, Henderson was a four-star prospect out of Columbus High who ultimately became the No. 24 player in Florida during the 2017 signing class, according to the 247Sports Composite ranking.
Henderson was primarily a running back in high school before adding reps at cornerback as a senior. He chose UF over the Miami Hurricanes among a slew of other Power 5 schools.
Henderson is the second Columbus High alumnus to be drafted in the first round, joining Alonzo Highsmith who the Houston Oilers selected third overall in 1987.
Two more Columbus High alums are expected to be drafted in Michigan edge rusher Josh Uche and Miami Hurricanes defensive back Trajan Bandy.
.JPG)