Receiver Justin Shorter and running back Dameon Pierce celebrate at Vanderbilt last season. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
The Opening Kickoff (Part IV): End Zone Party Boyz, They Said It, They Wrote It
Thursday, September 2, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Xzavier Henderson played in all but one game as a freshman last season, but catches were difficult to come by. You may remember why: tight end Kyle Pitts and receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes.
With those three around, Henderson was a secondary receiver who finished with nine receptions for 148 yards and one touchdown. Henderson is striving for more as a sophomore and revealed this week that so are others in his position group. In fact, fourth-year junior Jacob Copeland has dubbed the receivers the "End Zone Party Boyz" for their production in preseason camp. Xzavier Henderson
"We just be in the end zone a lot this past camp and he just made it up one day after practice," Henderson said.
With COVID-19 protocols still in place for the media that cover the team on a daily basis, as soon as Henderson shared the receivers' nickname this week, nearly every outlet on the Zoom call wrote about it.
It was new. It was different. It was some much-needed variation with the obvious storylines explored over and over in camp.
Henderson, Copeland, Justin Shorter, Trent Whittemore, Ja'Markis Weston and Ja'Quavion Fraziars are among the group expected to get the bulk of receptions this season as the No. 13 Gators get set to face Florida Atlantic on Saturday night in the season opener. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Henderson is optimistic the "End Zone Party Boyz" will become more than a catchy slogan that fades away as the season progresses.
"I feel like we all the deep threat," he said. "We all fast and all a deep threat. I consider myself a deep threat as well."
So does Shorter: "I've seen him make plays I'm just like in my head, I watch the tape back when I got back home because I didn't know even how he made that play,'' Shorter said of Henderson's development. "I'd say him, he's going to definitely step up this year and make a lot of great plays."
Let's take a look at what they are saying and writing as the Gators and Owls prepare to meet for the fourth time overall, and first time since 2015: THEY SAID IT
"We argue every day. Me and Zach [Zachary Carter] been arguing about who's going to have more sacks. So we argue. All of us. Me and B-Cox [Brenton Cox Jr.], we all argue who's going to have more sacks. We all respect each other's game. We all know we're all really good pass rushers." -- Gators linebacker Mohamoud Diabate on the competition among UF's pass rushers
"They are some of the top athletes in the country. They've done a great job recruiting, so we know what we're up against when it comes to talent. You are going to be up against the best of the best, you know, so our guys understand that I understand the challenge." -- FAU coach Willie Taggart on facing the Gators
"I am very grateful for the Gator nation and I really appreciate everything that the University of Florida has done for me. I am now announcing that I will be entering the transfer portal and my recruitment is officially open. Thank you to the Gator nation." -- Fourth-year junior linebacker Andrew Chatfield Jr., who had 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2020, via his Twitter account
"I love playing the in-state [schools]. People love national matchups and national matchups are fantastic. … On a local stage, it is great when you see guys who played against each other or together in high school on the same field in 'The Swamp.' There are going to be some bragging rights for guys, who they've played with or against in the past." -- Gators head coachDan Mullen on facing in-state FAU in season opener
"You can't just open the gates and give people a 12-inch piece of wood to sit on anymore." Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin on the University Athletic Association's perpetual quest to improve the fan experience, via the Orlando Sentinel
