Daiyan Henley's Versatility Fits Steelers' Needs at Linebacker
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MOBILE -- The Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to take a chance on a converted linebacker during last year's draft when they took Ole Miss' Mark Robinson, who moved across the line of scrimmage from running back to backer for his senior season. Robinson has thrived at his new position, giving the Steelers precedent to check out another offense-to-defense convert in former Washington State Cougar Daiyan Henley.
Henley will be a different kind of player - more athletic and versatile than Robinson's bruising style - but he is embracing his new role as a hunter. Long before he was flying all over the turf at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama and standing out as one of the more impressive linebacker prospects at the Senior Bowl, Henley was a wide receiver - dodging body blows instead of delivering them.
“It feels better for sure to be the one on the opposite end of that punching bag," Henley said. "I want to be the one delivering that blow and I think that’s the biggest thing for me and why I ended up becoming a defensive player - not just a linebacker. My wide receiver room used to tell me ‘Bro, you’re too physical to be a wide receiver,’ so I guess that was just a way to get me out of the room.”
The conversion process was by no means simple. Over his six-year college career, Henley went from wideout to slot receiver to kick returner to free safety to strong safety before settling in at linebacker. Midway through his college career, Henley began to doubt himself and his future in football but finding a home on the field came with confidence.
Looking back, Henley can be grateful for the experience of switching positions. He said playing multiple positions helps him see the field better and dissect plays. Heneley has been behind enemy lines before and believes his path gives him insight that other players don't have.
"I would say that’s why I stand out is that different level of athleticism," Henley said. "To be able to be so versatile, be an every down guy, that’s what I want to show - that I have this speed, this shiftiness because I’ve done things that other guys haven’t done yet.”
There's no denying that Henley is athletic, but he arrived at the Senior Bowl hoping to prove that he can bring power to the table as well. Henley doesn't think he'll ever have to come off the field but needs the teams to know that too. Even as a former receiver, he's not soft and hopes to demonstrate that on the field in front of the many coaches, scouts and executives in attendance.
“I wanted to show I was physical, wanted to show that I could play with my hands, wanted to show I could scrape," Henley said. "I just wanted to basically prove that I’m more than capable of being an every down linebacker, which means in coverage against a tight end, running back - whoever it may be - that I can be an every down linebacker."
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