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Florida Football: Top 3 breakout candidates for 2022

By Connor Muldowney

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 30: Xzavier Henderson #3 of the Florida Gators runs for yardage during the first quarter of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at TIAA Bank Field on October 30, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 30: Xzavier Henderson #3 of the Florida Gators runs for yardage during the first quarter of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at TIAA Bank Field on October 30, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Florida football is hoping to bounce back from a forgettable 2021 season to kick off the Billy Napier era. Who will break out for the Gators?

The Billy Napier era has begun and Florida football fans are hopeful.

The end of the Dan Mullen era was disappointing, especially since he led the Gators to the SEC title game in 2020 but it just felt like the ceiling was reached. Now, Napier comes over from Louisiana with a fresh vision for how things should be run.

Florida has some big shoes to fill with the top passer, top three rushers, and two of the top three receivers moving on. The leading tackler from last year returns as well as the sacks and interceptions leaders as we should see the defense improve drastically from the No. 51 overall group.

There’s plenty of talent left over on the roster and these three guys should see major breakouts.

Xzavier Henderson signed with Florida a couple of years ago after he was the No. 68 overall recruit and 12th-best receiver in the 2020 class. He committed to the Gators and Dan Mullen over Dabo Swinney and Clemson and has yet to really scratch the surface.

A big-bodied receiver at nearly 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, Henderson has the potential to be that big-play threat that the Gators need with Jacob Copeland and Kemore Gamble moving on.

Henderson had 26 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns last year but he returns as the team’s projected No. 2 receiver and I could actually see him overtaking Justin Shorter on the list of targets. He has the size, potential, and skillset to become one of the best young receivers in the SEC and a true breakout star of immense proportions.

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