A slew of recent former Jayhawks will work out at Kansas’ Pro Day event on Wednesday in an effort to demonstrate their merits as professional prospects ahead of next month’s NFL Draft.
This is KU’s first on-campus Pro Day since 2023, after the Big 12 experimented with centralized, leaguewide Pro Day events in Frisco, Texas, each of the last two seasons.
Included on the list of 23 attendees, which is subject to change, are offensive tackle Enrique Cruz Jr., quarterback Jalon Daniels, wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. and kicker Laith Marjan, who rank among KU’s top pro prospects for the upcoming draft and will return to action on Wednesday after their stints at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, which wrapped up on March 1.
Cruz, who spent one season as KU’s starting right tackle after transferring from Syracuse, has impressed throughout this offseason. He participated in the American Bowl in its inaugural edition in Lakeland, Florida, in January, but made an even bigger splash at the combine.
His 40-yard dash time of 4.94 seconds placed him in a tie for sixth among 39 participating offensive linemen, and he had the seventh-best 10-yard split. Cruz also tied for the second-best vertical jump at 35 inches and second-best broad jump at 9 feet, 8 inches. He did not take part in the three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle or bench press.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook named him to its all-combine team as a guard prospect, with the Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders listed as the best possible fits for his services, and called him “one of the best testers of the entire OL class.
“Cruz backed up his speedy 4.94 40 by proving he can also move swiftly along paths common to guard play,” Shook wrote. “With a firm base and quick feet, Cruz glided up field during drill work and separated himself from most of his counterparts with a visually superior pace. At 313 pounds, Cruz defied logic in how he covered ground and how fast he fired his feet. He could use a bit more weight in his hands, but the foundation is undoubtedly there.”
Daniels, KU’s longtime starting quarterback, took part in the East-West Shrine Bowl and went 8-for-14 for 52 yards with a rushing touchdown. At the combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds, which was fifth of seven quarterbacks, with the fifth-best 10-yard split. He did not participate in any other drills. Daniels reportedly met with the Green Bay Packers during his time at the combine.
Henderson, a transfer from Alabama who served as Daniels’ top target in 2025, went to the Shrine Bowl but did not play in the actual game. He showed plenty of speed in his lone year with the Jayhawks, although his 40 time of 4.44 ranked in the middle of the pack at 19th of 34 wideouts, and his 10-yard split tied for 18th. Henderson’s 35-inch vertical jump was 22nd of 30, and he came in 23rd of 25 receivers in the broad jump at 10 feet. Those were his only drills. NFL.com gives him a prospect grade about even with Cruz’s, with both ahead of Daniels.
KU’s kicker from last season, Marjan, also appeared in the combine’s auxiliary Specialist Showcase. He had been at the Hula Bowl earlier in the winter.
Other listed participants on Wednesday include guard Kobe Baynes and center Bryce Foster, previously at the American Bowl, as well as defensive tackle Tommy Dunn Jr. and running back Leshon Williams from the Hula Bowl. Linebacker Bangally Kamara, who will be at the Pro Day, also had an invitation to the American Bowl at one point, though he was not on the event’s final roster. Wide receiver Levi Wentz and defensive tackle D.J. Withers took part in the College Gridiron Showcase and will attend the Pro Day.
The rest of the group for Wednesday includes defensive tackle Kenean Caldwell, wide receiver Bryson Canty, safety Devin Dye, safety Jalen Dye, wide receiver Doug Emilien, defensive end Justice Finkley, offensive tackle Nolan Gorczyca, cornerback D.J. Graham II, tight end Boden Groen, tight end DeShawn Hanika, running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. and punter Finn Lappin.
