Florida WR Xzavier Henderson Transfers to Cincinnati

Former Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson reunites with former Gators quarterback Emory Jones in Cincinnati.

Zach Goodall

Photo: Xzavier Henderson; Credit: Zach Goodall 

Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson has transferred to Cincinnati, he revealed via Instagram on Friday.

"Today I woke up a Bearcat," Henderson posted from the University of Cincinnati Sports Medicine department. 

The rising fourth-year junior officially entered the portal on April 3 and elected to reunite with former Gators quarterback Emory Jones, who joined the Bearcats this offseason following one season at Arizona State, after surveying his transfer options. 

Former Florida cornerback Jordan Young also joins Henderson and Jones at Cincinnati via transfer.

A class of 2020 product of Miami (Fla.) Columbus, Henderson signed with Florida over offers from programs including but not limited to Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and Ole Miss. 

His commitment kept orange and blue in the family. Henderson's brother, C.J., played cornerback for the Gators from 2017-19 and was a first-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Henderson appeared in 35 games for the Gators, making 14 starts and compiling 73 receptions for 835 yards and five touchdowns over three seasons. He led Florida with 38 receptions in 2022, completing his final season in Gainesville with 410 yards and two touchdowns in 11 appearances. 

RELATED: How Florida’s wide receiver room changes without Xzavier Henderson

An incumbent first-teamer during Florida's 2023 spring camp, the Gators are now tasked with filling the void Henderson leaves behind in head coach Billy Napier's offense. Although starting experience is limited in the receiver room, the program is excited about a youthful infusion of pass-catching talent from recent recruiting classes. 

Fifth-year senior Ricky Pearsall returns as Florida's top pass-catcher and slot option after posting 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns in 2022. Rising sophomore Caleb Douglas appears to be the next man up for one of Henderson or NFL Draft-bound receiver Justin Shorter, at an outside position, after a two-touchdown freshman debut. 

Junior Ja'Quavion Fraziars, redshirt sophomore Marcus Burke, sophomore Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman and true freshmen Andy Jean and Aidan Mizell comprise the rest of Florida's scholarship wide receiver unit. 

2023 recruit Eugene Wilson III is expected to enroll at UF and join the group this summer. Walk-on Kahleil Jackson also earned offensive snaps in four games last season and could factor into the position's rotation or playable depth. 

Fraziars, Burke and Chiaokhiao-Bowman combined for 16 receptions, 228 yards and one score in 2022. 

Jean and Mizell drew praise from teammates and coaches during Florida's 2023 spring camp as mid-year enrollees. Mizell is considered one of the fastest players on the Gators' roster already, while it has been suggested that Jean could carve out a role in year one thanks to his prior development. 

"Gator fans should be excited about him," Pearsall said about Jean on Apr. 1. "He came in right away, and the first thing I noticed is he’s really polished. I can tell he’s been coached by a lot of good coaches, and he’s already so polished at a young age, so he’s got a big future.” 

Florida's 2023 roster currently holds 83 scholarship players with eight wide receivers including Wilson. 

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