Four-star cornerback Chris “C.J.” Henderson (6’1, 175 pounds, from Miami) has made up his mind. On Signing Day, Henderson announced his commitment to Florida, choosing the Hurricanes over Miami and Alabama.
4-star CB Chris ‘C.J.’ Henderson commits to Florida over Miami and Alabama
The Gators land a good one over some rivals.
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Henderson is the No. 15 cornerback in the country and a Top 25 prospect from the state of Florida. During the month of January, Henderson took visits to Miami, Alabama, and Florida.
Henderson was once a Miami commit. He committed in February 2016, and decommitted in October. Henderson’s high school coach, Chris Merritt, said Florida’s interest may have spurred the decision.
“He was born, raised and grew up there (in Miami),” Merritt told AL.com. “I think they’re going to be in it, somewhat. That’s where his first commitment was to and then Florida is a place that he’s always been attracted to. I think it was the interest in the University of Florida that got him to decommit.
After Henderson’s Florida visit, his father told Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it went well.
“My wife and my other son, this was their first time,” Chris Sr. said. “So this trip was basically to let my family get familiar with Florida and just for C.J. to make sure this is or is not where he wants to be.”
He added that there were a few things that stand out about the Florida.
“The facilities and the college atmosphere,” Chris Sr. said. “The academics are great. Coach Shannon and Coach Gray are great coaches.”
For Florida, this is a huge commitment for Jim McElwain and company. Florida lost a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball, and the recruiting on that side of the ball hasn’t been up to par when Will Muschamp is around. But picking up Henderson is a big get for this Florida secondary, where it could use him as soon as possible.
Henderson choosing Florida came as somewhat of a surprise. The Miami-based CB was once committed to the University of Miami but decommitted in October, shortly after unofficially visiting UF. It was believed then that Henderson’s decommitment may have been due to growing interest in the Gators, and for months, he was regarded as a Florida lean.
But Henderson had been increasingly considered a Miami lean in recent weeks, with most outlets reporting that he was trending towards recommitting to the hometown Hurricanes even after Henderson was part of the group to officially visit Florida on January 20 — a group which contained six Gator commits and four undecided recruits, three of whom have since pledged to the Gators.
