Randy Shannon calls CJ Henderson the best CB he's coached

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Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham made an eye-opening statement in 2018 when he called C.J. Henderson the best cornerback he’s ever coached.

Grantham doubled down in the spring of 2019 and again this past season, saying Henderson tops the list of his former NFL corners as well.

“He’s the best player I’ve coached, college or pro,” said Grantham, who coached Jaire Alexander at Louisville and former first-round picks Jeff Burris, Aaron Glenn, Mike Jenkins, Terence Newman, Tyrone Poole and Dunta Robinson in the NFL.

Grantham’s comments caught the attention of fans and media alike, but came as no surprise to his predecessor, Randy Shannon.

“Nope. Not at all,” said Shannon, now the defensive coordinator at UCF. “Coach Grantham has been around a lot of guys just like I have. He knows what to look for. So I wasn’t surprised when he said that.”

Shannon also shares the same opinion.

The former Miami coach (2007-10) and defensive coordinator (2001-06) had six defensive backs drafted in the first round during his time with the Hurricanes. Shannon singled out just one cornerback with Henderson’s sub-4.4 speed, but said his size and athleticism is unmatched.

“I’ll put it to you this way. Speed-wise, him and Phillip Buchanon are probably about the same,” Shannon said of Henderson. “But athletically and with his height, I don’t think nobody has that (combo). He’s got to be my top one or two corners I’ve coached. Just athletically with the height he is at 6-foot-1, there’s nobody like him with that kind of ability.”

Buchanon was one of three first-round picks for Miami in the 2002 NFL Draft, along with cornerback Mike Rumph and safety Edward Reed. Shannon also produced first-rounders Kelly Jennings and Antrel Rolle, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and the No. 8 pick in 2005.

“Sean Taylor, Phillip Buchanon, Antrel Rolle, Kelly Jennings, there’s a lot of elite guys I coached at Miami. But C.J. has the height,” Shannon said. “He’s 6-foot-1, runs a 4.3, can do punt and kickoff return and has unbelievable hips. Usually when you have a guy who’s tall like that, they don’t have the hips C.J. has. Usually a tall guy like him can only go play safety. But he’s a first-round corner."

Shannon was Henderson’s primary recruiter in high school and beat the Hurricanes for the Miami native in the Class of 2017. Despite spending just one season together, Henderson left a strong impression on Shannon as a true freshman.

“I saw a very competitive young man who played hard and wanted to do whatever it took to win,” Shannon said. “He wasn’t someone who complained at all. He made some mistakes that year, but he took it to heart and didn’t dwell on the negative. That attitude and work ethic has helped him get to this point.”

As for Grantham’s comments, he gave Henderson the nod because he embodied the ‘Gator Standard’ and set an example for the other players to follow over the past two years, helping the team win 21 games. Chris Henderson Sr. said Grantham’s repeated praise gave his son a ton of exposure.

“That meant a lot. I wasn’t expecting that,” Henderson’s father said. “You know how some coaches will rave about their players and sometimes be a little biased. But Coach Grantham kind of went overboard and extra just to let him know how much he felt about him.

“I think it was a very good compliment. I thank him a lot for it because it took off from there. But, C.J. does work like that. He puts in the extra work because he wants to be that good.”