Top 2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Miami vs. Florida

1. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

The primary defender on Thomas on Saturday night will likely be Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson. At 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, Henderson has nice size and great length at the cornerback position. He uses said length extremely well in coverage, commonly knocking passes away through the receiver and from long distances.

Athletically, Henderson is as impressive as it gets. He has tremendous closing speed, moves well in short spaces and is smooth in his backpedal. He can flip his hips and change directions quickly and is fantastic in jump ball situations.

Henderson is a slight defender and that can cause him issues against bigger and physical receivers. However, this is not due to a lack of effort. Henderson will step up and fight against any receiver.

His ball skills are his best attribute, as Henderson simply has a nose for the ball. He has come away with six interceptions throughout his two-year college career, returning two of them for touchdowns as a freshman in 2017. Henderson has incredible hands for a defensive back and attacks the ball in the air extremely well. He is a true defensive playmaker who can impact the game in a big way at any time.

Henderson is an extremely likely first-round pick and has a chance to become the best cornerback in the 2020 NFL draft class. He is undoubtedly a player who we all will be watching closely, as Henderson’s matchup against Thomas is the most interesting part of this game between the Gators and Hurricanes.