Kansas football coach Lance Leipold reacts to home loss against Utah
Check out some of what Kansas football coach Lance Leipold had to say Friday following a Big 12 Conference loss at home against Utah this season.
LAWRENCE — Emmanuel Henderson Jr. took advantage of his opportunity for an increased role with Kansas football, and will now look to use that to embark on a professional career in the NFL.
Henderson, who spent his senior year with the Jayhawks after transferring in from Alabama, announced Saturday in a social media post on X that he will be entering the 2026 NFL Draft. The wide receiver was one of a number of new additions at the position ahead of the 2025 season, and he stepped up amid some pretty lofty expectations for him.
According to the Big 12 Conference honors voted on by the league’s head coaches, he was All-Big 12 first team as a returner, third team as a wide receiver and honorable mention as offensive newcomer of the year.
“This journey has been about more than football,” Henderson wrote, in part. “None of this happens alone and I’m thankful to God, my family, and everyone who has supported me along the way. Having the right people around me made all the difference.”
Henderson continued: “I’m truly grateful for my experiences at both the University of Alabama and the University of Kansas. My three years at Alabama taught me what it takes to prepare, compete, and carry myself at the highest level. My Jayhawk family, you welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to step into my game to truly take off as a player. Each program played an important role in my journey, and I’ll always appreciate the coaches and staff who invested in both on and off the field.”
Henderson continued: “To my brothers, thank you for the push to be better. The daily battles, shared goals, and moments are memories I’ll always carry with me. Those lessons helped me grow into who I am as a player and as a man.”
Henderson added: “I am excited to be entering the 2026 NFL Draft. I’m incredibly grateful for the path that led me to this point. And looking forward to the opportunity to continue playing the game I love at the next level.”
Although Kansas fell short of the team success it entered the fall searching for, with a 5-7 record, Henderson proved to be one of the focal points of its offense. He led the team in receiving yards with 766, and finished tied for first in receptions with 45 and tied for first in receiving touchdowns with five. Among his highlights was his 93-yard touchdown catch against Cincinnati, on a day he’d finish with five catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, as the Big 12 coaches outlined, Henderson’s talent extended to the return game, too. That included a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against West Virginia. Henderson, a 247Sports Composite four-star running back out of high school, has the speed and play-making ability to put him in position to potentially draw attention from NFL organizations.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.