Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain was in South Florida on Friday checking out multiple schools with linebackers coach Randy Shannon.
While down there the two Gators coaches visited top defensive back target C.J. Henderson (6-1, 175, Miami, FL. Columbus) at his school.
“Coach Shannon and Coach McElwain both came by to see me,” Henderson said. “It was good to see those guys and they got to talk to my coaches. It was a good feeling to see Coach McElwain come by because that shows they’re making me a priority.”
McElwain wasn’t able to speak with Henderson in person but spoke for a little bit with him over the phone.
“I talk to Coach McElwain over the phone and he was just asking me how I was doing and stuff like,” he said of McElwain’s message. “He’s always just telling me to come in and make an early impact for them. He wants me to come in and play on special teams too.”
Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray also spoke with Henderson this week and explained how big of a need the defensive back was to Florida.
“I talk to Coach Gray a lot, we talk about a lot,” Henderson said. “He was just telling me that they may have five defensive backs this year come in and that he wants me to be one of them. He wants us to dominate the SEC together.”
Henderson just recently decomitted from Miami and now he says he has a top three and a decision date in mind.
“Florida is in my top three right now with Miami and Tennessee,” he said. “I’m thinking about committing on January 1st at the Under Armour game. That’s my plan.”
Before Henderson commits, he plans to see several schools including multiple trips to Gainesville.
“I should be up to Florida for the South Carolina game for an unofficial visit then I’m going to take my official visit in January,” Henderson said of visits. “Georgia, Auburn, Florida and Miami are all going to get official visits. Auburn will be in November and Georgia will be in December.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida remains the team to beat for Henderson with Miami running in second place. The Gators just need to continue to make Henderson feel like a priority and they should stay in good shape.