Former Florida Gators cornerback CJ Henderson did not have to wait long to hear his name called during the 2020 NFL draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Henderson with the No. 9 pick.
Henderson was considered the second-best cornerback in the 2020 draft class, behind Ohio State's Jeff Okudah. When Detroit selected Okudah with the third pick Thursday night, Henderson moved to the front of the line for teams seeking a player with the potential to become a lockdown cornerback.
The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Henderson's length, speed and aggressiveness in coverage position him to thrive in the pass-heavy NFL.
A preseason All-SEC first-team pick, Henderson had an inconsistent junior season before deciding to skip the Orange Bowl and leave for the NFL. The native of Miami did record a team-leading 11 pass breakups. But after missing three games due to an ankle injury sustained Sept. 7 vs UT-Martin, Henderson was beaten several times down the field.
Henderson ultimately allowed five catches of more than 40 yards on the season, half of the Gators' total (10) all season.
Henderson bounced back with a strong showing at the NFL scouting combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, benched 225 pounds 20 times and had a 37.5-inch vertical leap.
Henderson is the first Gators cornerback selected during the first round since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Vernon Hargreaves III with the 11th pick in 2016. Joe Haden (2010), Lito Sheppard (2002) and Steve Tannen (1970) are the only other UF CBs selected during the draft's opening round.
He also is the Gators' 10th first-round draft pick since 2013.
"I like his length and his vision, he can read the quarterback well," said longtime draft analyst Frank Coyle of draftinsiders.com. "He always seems to be sound in his position. For a guy with length, he can close on the ball. He can plant and drive. I think the kid is scheme diverse, he can play man and zone. He can excel in zone because he can recover against possession receivers and has the suddenness to keep up with the fast guys so if he had to run deeper.
"I think he's developed. I think he's been so battle-tested in the SEC."
