South Florida invaded Gainesville on Monday and Tuesday as eight prospects from that area visited the Florida Gators for unofficial visits.
Miami cornerback commit Chris Henderson (6-1, 175, Miami, FL Columbus) was one of those eight visitors and he had the chance to see and do several different things while in Gainesville.
“It was nice, it was a good trip,” Henderson said of his two-day trip to Florida. “Yesterday [Monday] we just got to watch spring practice and tour the facilities. Today [Tuesday] we just got to do the same thing and watch film with the team and coaches.”
Henderson had never seen the Gators practice before, so Monday was his first chance to do that and he liked what he saw from defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.
“Practice was real nice and high tempo,” he said. “I got to watch the defensive backs in practice and watch Coach Gray. Coach Gray is real hyper out there and he interacts with them a lot during practice.”
Henderson plays several different positions in high school is being recruiting on the defensive side of the ball and Gray explained why they like him there.
“Coach Gray says he wants me at cornerback,” Gray said. “This was my first time actually meeting him in person, so he was more trying to get to know me and talking to me about that. He’s a real cool guy though and he said that he likes my speed.”
This was the second visit to Gainesville this offseason for Henderson and the cornerback had the chance to hear Jim McElwain’s message again.
“I got to talk to Coach McElwain and he always tells me that I’m going to be a Gator when he sees me,” he said. “He told me that he needs me a lot and that he will see me on signing day when I’m a Gator.”
Henderson, who committed to Miami in February, is keeping his options open and he says Florida is a school that he’s watching.
“This trip helped Florida out but they were already high on my list,” Henderson said of Florida’s chances. “I’m going to watch this season and compare Miami to Florida’s season on the field.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Henderson says that he will visit Florida again this spring either for a practice or for the spring game. The Gators helped their chances a lot for Henderson and I feel like Florida has a chance to land the South Florida prospect.