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Florida Football: 3 breakout candidates for 2021 season

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Xzavier Henderson (3) runs with the ball against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Warren Burrell (4) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Xzavier Henderson (3) runs with the ball against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Warren Burrell (4) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver Xzavier Henderson #3 of the Florida Gators is tackled by linebacker DaShaun White #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 30, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver Xzavier Henderson #3 of the Florida Gators is tackled by linebacker DaShaun White #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 30, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

I’ll go on record as saying that I think Xzavier Henderson will be one of the best receivers in the entire country this season.

The Miami native came to Florida in the 2020 class as the No. 68 recruit in the country. He was one of the Gators’ top-ranked commits and he had a decent first season despite it being shortened due to COVID-19.

Henderson caught nine passes for 148 yards and a touchdown which doesn’t seem all that great, but he did average 16.4 yards per reception, showing that he can be explosive.

Jumping into a projected starting role, Henderson looks like he could be one of the top breakout players in the entire conference. He will be one of the top targets for Emory Jones this season and while it would have been a safe bet to have the first-year starting quarterback on this list as a breakout candidate, I went with more outside-the-box choices.

Everyone needs to buy Henderson stock now before he breaks out as a top 2023 NFL Draft prospect and before he approaches 1,000 yards this season.

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