PRO COUGS TRACKER: Henley drafted to NFL, Thompson advances in NBA Playoffs

Pro Cougs Tracker May 1, 2023

WSU+recognizes+senior+linebacker+Daiyan+Henley+before+the+Apple+Cup%2C+Nov.+26.

COLE QUINN

WSU recognizes senior linebacker Daiyan Henley before the Apple Cup, Nov. 26.

SAM TAYLOR, Evergreen sports co-editor

We all knew it was coming; on Saturday, Daiyan Henley got a call from the Los Angles Chargers informing him that he was an NFL player.

The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Henley No. 85 overall Friday in the 2023 NFL Draft. Henley’s selection was nearly inevitable as in 2022, the transfer linebacker led the Cougs in tackles with 106 and was second in the Pac-12 in tackles per game (8.8) and total tackles (106) 

He joins USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu (drafted in the second round) as the newest members of the Chargers’ rising defense.

Henley will play his first NFL game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, just 12 minutes away from where he played high school football.

“I’m a Charger,” Henley said to his room full of family and friends while on the phone with Chargers’ leadership.

Derrick Langford Jr. went undrafted but signed as a rookie free agent with the New York Jets hours after the Draft concluded.

XFL

It was XFL Division Championship weekend and plenty of former Cougs got the spotlight. In the battle of Texas between the Arlington Renegades and the Houston Roughnecks, the Renegades won 26-11. Pro Coug Brandon Arconado hauled in Arlington’s third touchdown in just the first half.

Arconado caught seven touchdowns in his breakout 1100-yard college season in 2019 three-and-a-half years later picked up right where he left off.

Arconado beat a fellow Coug Saturday, as the Houston Rognecks were home to Max Borghi.

Borghi rushed for 310 yards (fifth-most in XFL) on 78 carries and was on the more productive end of the spectrum with an average of four yards per carry.

Coug nation showed up for these pro Cougs all year long, but especially for Borghi when Houston faced the Seattle Sea Dragons at Lumen Field in Seattle.

When most players had gone to the locker room after the game, Borghi lingered in the Seattle air to pose for pictures with avid Coug fans.

NBA

Klay Thompson has never lost a playoff series. On Sunday, Coug fans and Warriors fans alike held their breath and witnessed history.

While the Kings are a nice story (breaking the longest active playoff drought in North America of 17 years to get to this point), Klay has done so much to put Wazzu basketball on the map that you have to root for him.

Thompson finished the regular season averaging 21.9 points per game, his highest since the 2016–17 season.

In the first round of the playoffs, Thompson averaged 21.3 points per game and shot over 38% from beyond the arc.

Of course, it was Thompson’s teammate Steph Curry who stole the show, delivering an all-time 50-point performance to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 120-100 Game 7 victory. Curry’s 50 points are the most points scored in a Game 7 in NBA history.

NWSL

Pro Cougs continue to dominate the National Women’s Soccer League, with National Champion Morgan Weaver headlining the extraordinary group with this elite goal Saturday.

MLB

Pro Coug Ian Hamilton is a member of the New York Yankees bullpen. He has pitched in nine games with a 1.72 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.

Pro Coug Kyle Manzardo is rising in the Tampa Bay Rays system with epic games such as this one.

This week for Pro Cougs was full of playoffs, pristine plays and promise. The following weeks figure to contain much of the same. Good luck and go Cougs!!!