KANSAS CITY (April 28, 2023) – Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley was selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2023 NFL Draft Friday.
 
Henley, taken as the No. 22nd pick in the round and No. 85 overall, is the second Cougar defensive player drafted in as many years after cornerback Jaylen Watson was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round last season. Henley is the first Cougar linebacker drafted since Raonall Smith went to Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2002 draft.  
 
Henley transferred to Washington State prior to the 2022 season after four seasons at Nevada and in his only season with the Cougars earned All-American second-team honors from College Football News and was WSU's first Butkus Award Finalist in program history. Henley was also named to the All-Pac-12 Conference First Team as a linebacker and to the All-Pac-12 second team as an all-purpose/special teams player, WSU's first all-conference first-team linebacker since Will Derting in 2003.
 
Henley, also a Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist and Midseason All-American, was second in the Pac-12 with a team-high 106 tackles, fifth in the league with 12 tackles-for-loss and added three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The Los Angeles native recorded five double-digit tackle games this season including game-highs of 11 at No. 6 USC, 13 at Oregon State, 12 against No. 14 Utah and 10 against Arizona State, and paced the team with six special teams tackles.