Daiyan Henley, out of Washington State, has yet to receive much attention, and unrightfully so. His undervalue is likely due to his conference play and his lack of experience in the position. The film indicates a player with a natural and instinctive feel for the game. His combine didn’t blow people away, but it backs up what was seen on film. Henley was a former Receiver who transferred to Linebacker just in 2019. His experience as a Receiver shows up playing as a Linebacker, as he seems a step ahead of everyone else. As he’s a projected third-rounder, whoever steals Henley is getting remarkable value.
Two all-22 games, two broadcast games, and his highlights were evaluated. This scouting report includes grades on all relevant traits based on his film. His scouting report also factored in stats and analytics, such as PFF grades. Use promo code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Please gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.
| Profile |
|---|
| 2nd LB / 2nd RD | 6’1 / 225 | Class – RSx2-SR | College – Washinton State |
| Pro Comparison |
|---|
| E.J. Speed/ Deion Jones |
| Scheme |
|---|
| Will |
LB Stats
2022:
REC – 34
TGT – 46
INT – 1
FF – 3
TKL – 106
TFL – 12
2021:
REC – 26
TGT – 38
INT – 4
FF – 0
TKL – 94
TFL – 2
Clip Analysis
In this clip above, Henley makes an impressive run stop. He uses his elite burst to close up the gap he was responsible for, then tracks down the back in the backfield. This is a testimony to his athleticism.
In this one, he covers a wheel route beautifully. He has excellent route recognition and shows off his fluid hips.
In this Twitter clip, he makes an incredible coverage stop on Dalton Kincaid. The quickness and agilty here are outstanding.
Daiyan Henley Grades
Traits/ Skills (see bottom of the page for scale)
Each trait/attribute is graded 1-7.
| Traits | Immediate | Potential |
| SPD | 6 | 6 |
| ACC | 6.4 | 6.4 |
| AGI | 6 | 6 |
| STR | 4 | 4.3 |
| SIZ | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| IQ | 4 | 5.8 |
| MAN | 3.8 | 5.4 |
| ZCV | 4 | 5.8 |
| INS | 4.5 | 6 |
| BKS | 3.4 | 4.8 |
| PUR | 5 | 6.2 |
| TAC | 5 | 6 |
| PRM | 4.3 | 5.2 |
| LB Key | LB Key Cont. |
|---|---|
| SPD – Speed ACC – Acceleration AGI – Agility STR – Strength SIZ – Size/ Length IQ – Football IQ/ Awareness MAN – Man Coverage | ZCV – Zone Coverage INS – Instincts BKS – Block Shedding PUR – Pursuit TAC – Tackling PRM – Pass Rush Moves |
Player Notes
- Daiyan Henley is an undersized Will Linebacker with an elite burst and fluid hips. Henley is your guy if you want a player who can make up ground and tackle. He is currently ranked 50th on The FBI 2023 Draft Board.
Pros
- Range for days; truly plays like a heat-seeking missile.
- Hard-hitting and secure tackler; tackles with aggression.
- Play speed is even better than his testing speed.
- Explodes into gaps and has an outstanding change of direction.
- Very instinctive in zone coverage and shows a natural feel.
- High-level field awareness, especially for a former Receiver.
- Proper length that allows him to wrap up with ease.
- Plenty of fluidity to excel in man coverage.
- Flys to the ball with intention.
- Has a solid pass-rushing ability.
Cons
- Doesn’t consistently get quite enough depth in zone coverage.
- Doesn’t always accurately react to misdirection.
- Sometimes pursues too hot to the ball.
- Lacking an anchor in run defense.
- Not a lot of experience and is a sixth-year Senior.
Final Conclusion
Henley is a very intriguing evaluation and one that was also fun. He has some bust potential as he isn’t a finished project, but teams in the second round could pass up a future star if they don’t take him. He’d be an exceptional fit on many teams picking in the second. His instincts in coverage and run defense are hard to come by for such a stellar athlete.
Combine
40 yd: 4.54
Ten yd: 1.55
Shuttle:
Three cone:
Broad: 125
Vertical: 35
Bench:
Arm Length: 33
Hand Size: 9 1/2
Scales And Keys
Grading Key
POT – Potential: players’ highest upside
IMP – Impact: player’s immediate impact
| Draft Grade Formula | |
| Age: 21-22: | POT=(28%) IMP=(72%) |
| Age: 23-24: | POT=(26%) IMP=(74%) |
| Age:-25+: | POT=(24%) IMP=(76%) |
| Good/ bad character: | POT=(+2%/-2%) IMP=(-2%/+2%) |
| Injury: | POT=(-1%) in increments |
| OVR Grade Weight: |
|---|
| Coverage=35% Run Defense=35% Hybrid=30% |
| Individual trait scale (1-7): |
|---|
| 7 – Rare world-class skill; best in the league and no room for improvement | 6 – Great-elite skill; one of the best at that given trait but still has some room to improve | 5 – Very good; above average and has potential to be elite | 4 – Average; able to suffice but, not ideal long-term | 3 – Below average; able to suffice at college level | 2 – Poor; hinders overall play and is a liability to the team | 1 – Awful; not good enough to play given position at any level above D2 | Note: Consistency plays a large factor. |
| Overall Draft grade scale (15-100, realistically: 50-86): |
|---|
| 85 – Perfect prospect | 83 – Perennial all-pro | 81 – Bluechip prospect | 80 – Likely all-pro | 79 – Day one quality starter or superstar potential | 78 – Day one starter w/ all-pro upside | 77 – Day one starter w/ high-end upside | 76 – Day One Starter | 75 – Boom or bust | 74 – Will become quality starter within 2-3 years | 73 – Boom or bust (high risk) | 72 – Will become starter within 2-3 years | 71 – Day-one backup with starter upside |
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