Concordia University, Nebraska Football prides itself on that old-school lunch-pail mentality that favors substance over style. But it’s okay to flash a little glitz and glamor when you make plays like the ones safety Daylon Henson rolls out on Saturdays. Designer of his own clothing brand, the Houston area native has an affinity for rhinestones on his off-field attire.
Make no mistake, Henson is a worker. It’s the only way he could have lifted himself out of the shadows of the great high school players who star underneath the Friday night lights in football-crazed Texas. Since beginning his high school career, Henson has journeyed in search of schools and places where he felt appreciated.
“I just felt at home,” said Henson of the opportunity at Concordia. “I wanted to get away from Houston. There’s so much going on in Houston as a big city. I wanted to go somewhere small so I could get away where it’s peaceful. I saw it was like that at Concordia. Even though it’s a small school, the facilities are up to par. It was the best facilities I saw out of all the schools that offered me.”
The one teammates and coaches call “Daylo” burst onto the scene as a junior in 2024 when he became one of the most prolific playmaking safeties in all of the NAIA. In just one season, Henson went from a key player on the two deep to an Associated Press NAIA First Team All-American. No. 11 filled the stat sheet with 11.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. In the win at Briar Cliff, Henson returned a pick 35 yards to paydirt.
Not bad for someone who struggled to find playing time as a prep until he ultimately transferred to Lutheran North Academy in Houston for his senior season. Finally, someone had paid attention. Lutheran North Head Coach Christopher Speed was happy to welcome Henson to his squad after watching him play at a summer 7-on-7 tournament. Henson earned first team all-district accolades and put himself on the radar of college football coaches. His third high school was a charm.
As Henson says, “I finally got my varsity chance. You have to keep grinding until you get to where you want to be.”
Specifically, Henson caught the attention of Concordia Defensive Coordinator Corby Osten. In Concordia, Henson saw a school that could help him flourish over four years. No more hopping around. The fact that Henson was underrecruited played in favor of the Bulldogs. As Henson recalls, Osten was the only college coach to actually visit his high school and talk to him face-to-face.
When Osten turned on the film and watched Lutheran North, Henson stood out, just as he does in the present as the guy wearing highlighter green playing gloves. Says Osten, “He was clearly their best player and the best player on the field in most of the games that we watched. From a recruiting standpoint, it was a no-brainer. Within our staff, it was more: is he defense or is he offense? We had some more needs on defense so we kept him there. He’s always played hard. He takes advantage of every opportunity he has on the field. He plays fast and plays confident.”
Son of Calvin Henson and Shaneal Hill, Daylo calls his father his role model and his mother one of his strongest influences (along with his two grandmothers). In turn, Daylon is a role model for four much younger siblings, each five years of age or under: Logan, Lenox, Rae’lee and Ryan.
Says Daylon, “I went home (this summer) and my little brother just started playing football. That was fun teaching him and helping him. He’s not in the serious part yet. He’s just trying to get out there and run around. It’s fun helping him out.”
The Business Administration major can model what success and perseverance looks like for his young siblings. As Henson told an entity called Draft Diamonds, “The hardest moment in my life to overcome was dealing with personal loss and learning to stay focused and strong in the face of pain and adversity.”
Pain has given way to plenty of joy these days for Henson, who smiled often while previewing the upcoming season in an on-camera interview that took place on Aug. 27. The trust the coaching staff has developed in Henson was evidenced in Head Coach Patrick Daberkow choosing him as one of the team’s three representatives at a media availability in mid-July.
While there, Henson deflected credit for his monster junior season. As he told the media, “First, I just give praise to God. That was like the best d-line I ever played with. You can’t get picks or pass breakups without pressure. I give my praise to the d-line – and God.”
Though he may dress with flair, Henson is clearly humble in his words and actions. Don’t let the rhinestones get you wrong. Fashion is his passion, along with playing his favorite video games, Madden Football and NBA 2K. He also roots for the Chicago Bears – not the Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans. From an NBA perspective, Henson roots for Russell Westbrook.
Perhaps someday he’ll share his sports opinions and knowledge via his own podcast while fitting people with the threads he’s designed.
“I love fashion,” Henson said. “As you see around campus, I stand out because I don’t wear that Midwest (attire). No shade against that, but these are clothes that are going to pop out. I put rhinestones in my clothes. I don’t know how they feel about that around the Midwest, but I want it to pop out and for people to be able to express themselves with my clothing. In the future, I’d really love to get into that.”
Oh yeah, Daylo can cook too. Rather than spend money going out for meals, Henson routinely cooks meals. One of his best dishes is a Cajun pasta mixed with sausage and chicken. It’s mom’s recipe, of course. If it seems like he can do it all, there’s one thing he would still like to try during his time in Nebraska: hunt and fish. Henson hopes to venture into the great outdoors with teammates sometime after football season.
But his Saturdays this fall are booked. Throw near Henson at your own peril. If he gets his hands on the football, he’s making a beeline for the end zone. Says Henson of his favorite individual play from last season, “I have to say the pick-six at Briar Cliff. On defense, we don’t really get the ball too many times, so I’m trying to score any chance I can touch the ball. That Briar Cliff pick-six was probably my favorite.”
In additional signature outings, Henson plucked two interceptions in the monumental win at No. 2 Northwestern and later stifled the Midland passing attack with a pick and three pass breakups. The do-it-all safety can also stuff the run. He came up to make three stops in the backfield in the demolition of Doane.
“The year before when he wasn’t the guy, he still took his opportunities,” Osten said. “He kept working. He worked every drill. He wasn’t the starter to begin last season. Daylon came in and he was ready for the moment. When his number was called, he took full advantage.”
The personal accolades are an added bonus, but Henson and his teammates are hoping to take another step and qualify for the postseason. If that happens, it likely means that Henson has risen to the occasion just as he did as a junior. However, he isn’t feeling the pressure. Henson is simply tasked with doing his job.
“It means a lot, but that was last year,” said Henson of being tabbed an All-American. “I’m not worried about that anymore. I’m trying to be there for my team and do my 1/11th and don’t worry about playing hero ball. Just worry about what I’ve got to do and trust my teammates to do what they do, and everything will fall into place.”
Jokes Osten, “He needs to wear normal colored gloves this year.” With Henson, you get a little of the sizzle with the steak.