Washington State star linebacker Daiyan Henley, an NFL draft prospect, opts out of L.A. Bowl

PULLMAN – Washington State’s Daiyan Henley, a first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker and NFL draft prospect, will watch the Cougars’ season finale from the sideline.

The senior outside linebacker has opted out of the Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl, thus concluding a short but impactful playing career at WSU.

Coach Jake Dickert confirmed the news during a media session Friday evening. Henley will provide guidance for the Cougars’ linebackers on Dec. 17 against Fresno State at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

“Daiyan is going to be helping me coach the bowl game,” Dickert said. “He’s our new assistant linebackers coach. … He’s going to be down there with the team. He’s still a main leader on the team. I’m excited for this next phase, finishing it off then watching him be a professional.”

Henley came to WSU this offseason after spending five years at Nevada – initially a receiver and return man for the Wolf Pack, he took reps on both sides of the ball in 2018, then settled in at defensive back in 2019 before converting to linebacker in 2020. Henley earned All-Mountain West second-team honors last year.

At WSU, Henley emerged as a complete package at the linebacker position and quickly established himself as the most talented player for a Cougar defense that was among the Pac-12’s best.

The 6-foot-2, 232-pounder from Los Angeles led the team and finished second in the conference with 106 tackles. He registered 12 tackles for loss – third in the conference – and paced the league with three forced fumbles. Henley added two fumble recoveries and one interception.

A sideline-to-sideline defender boasting an impressive blend of speed, physicality and an endless supply of energy, Henley posted one of the most memorable campaigns for a linebacker in WSU history. He is the first Cougar LB to land on the all-conference first team since Will Derting in 2003. Henley is the first player in program history to be named a finalist for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the top LB in the country. That prize went to Iowa’s Jack Campbell on Thursday.

Widely projected to be selected in the 2023 NFL draft, Henley will take part in the Senior Bowl all-star showcase in February to boost his stock. Early last month, ESPN tabbed Henley the No. 5 LB and No. 54 overall NFL draft prospect.

“I don’t know if you can put it into words right now,” Dickert said of Henley’s importance to the team during his one-year stay. “What he’s done in 11 months, the impact he’s had on this program, the impact he’s had on the Cougs – I know our fans feel like he’s been one of us for a really long time.

“That’s him, that’s his attitude, that’s his personality, that’s the fun he has with the game and it’s the work he has put in to get to this point. I think he’s a sure-fire All-American, and he’s really earned it. I’m proud to be just the smallest part of his journey and hopefully, he looks back at his time here at Washington State … and really loves this place. I think he’s given us everything he has and I’m just excited for the next phase of his journey.”

Henley’s opt-out is another major blow to WSU’s linebacking corps, which recently lost two key contributors to the NCAA transfer portal. Middle linebackers Francisco Mauigoa and Travion Brown, who shared reps at the position throughout the year, both joined college football’s free-agency market last week.

Kyle Thornton, a fourth-year Cougar who tallied 31 tackles off the bench this season, will shift to middle linebacker for the L.A. Bowl and make his first-career start. Senior Ben Wilson, who did most of his work this year on special teams, is set to make his first-career start. Wilson, a second-year Cougar who played for TCU from 2018-20, will replace Henley at outside linebacker.

Senior strong safety Jordan Lee, known most for his hard-hitting abilities, is making a change in positions. The Nevada transfer will serve as Wilson’s backup, Dickert said.

“He’s been working with me this last week and we just went through his first practice (at linebacker),” Dickert said of Lee. “It’s amazing how smart that kid is. It blew me away today to watch him go out there and practice that way.”

Junior Joshua Erling, a career backup, and true freshman Hudson Cedarland will come off the bench in relief of Thornton, according to Dickert. Cedarland, a Gig Harbor native and one of WSU’s top recruits of the 2022 class, has not made an appearance this year. He underwent surgery in the middle of the season.

“(Cedarland) is back after a midseason surgery, so he’s been getting some great reps and he’s got a high ceiling,” Dickert said. “That’s the crew we’ll go into the game with. Coaching them in that room will be fun.”