Daiyan Henley named 2022 Butkus Award semifinalist
In addition to playing football for the Cougars, Daiyan Henley studies criminal justice.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/WSU ATHLETICS
CHICAGO - Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley is one of 15 players named a semifinalist for the 2022 Butkus Award, The Butkus Foundation announced Tuesday.
The Butkus Award is presented annually to the best linebacker in college football. Note on criteria: The Butkus Award is focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional LB form. (Outside linebackers primarily rushing the passer in 30 fronts are regarded as pass rushers, not linebackers.) Henley is one of two semifinalists from the Pac-12 (Noah Sewell, Oregon) and is the first Cougar linebacker named a Butkus Award semifinalist in program history.
Henley enters the week second in the Pac-12 Conference and No. 15 in the country with 80 tackles while his 11 tackles-for-loss are tied for No. 13 in the country and are second-most in the Pac-12. According to Pro Football Focus College, Henley owns the second-best pass-rush grade, third-best overall defensive grade and with the fourth-best tackling grade among Pac-12 linebackers.
The Los Angeles native is eighth in the Pac-12 with four sacks and owns four double-digit tackle games this season including a game-highs of 11 at No. 6 USC, 13 at Oregon State and 12 against No. 14 Utah. Following the win over Colorado State week three, Henley earned Bednarik Award, Reese's Senior Bowl and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week accolades after making 13 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Henley earned a criminal justice degree from Nevada and graduate transferred to WSU this past January after earning All-Mountain West Conference second-team honors last season.
Earlier this season, Henley was added to the Bednarik Award Watch List, presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football and was named a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Henley was also named to the Midseason All-America Team by The Associated Press.
The Butkus Award was established in Dick Butkus' honor in 1985 to celebrate the nation's best collegiate linebacker. High school and pro honors were added in 2008. The Award is characterized as the "Defensive Heisman" recognizing the critical yet frequently overlooked role of defensive leaders.
The winner of each award will be named on or before Dec. 7 after finalists are named on Nov. 21 by the award committee. The 2022 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a televised event on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The event will again feature namesake Dick Butkus and numerous noted NFL Alumni. Ticket and sponsorship information is available by contacting the Butkus Foundation.
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process. The Butkus Foundation has presented the high school and professional awards since 2008. The collegiate award is now in its 38th season.
2022 Collegiate Butkus Award Semifinalists • Jack Campbell, Iowa
SirVocea Dennis, Pitt
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
Dayian Henley, Washington State
Mikel Jones, Syracuse
Jackson Mitchell, UConn
• DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Drew Sanders, Arkansas
• Noah Sewell, Oregon
Trenton Simpson, Clemson
DeAndre Square, Kentucky
Henry To'o To'o, Alabama
• Denotes repeat selection