Despite the Kansas Jayhawks finishing the 2025 season without a bowl game for the second straight season, things were not all bad, as two Kansas players received invites for the 101st Shrine Bowl. The first was quarterback Jalon Daniels, who impressed mightily in practices leading up to the bowl. The second, former Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
A season to remember
Henderson played a bit-part role in his time as a member of the Crimson Tide, as the former five-star largely spent time on the special teams, with rare appearances as a wideout. Henderson finished his 2024 season with Alabama with just four receptions for 82 yards.
However, the minute Kansas football kicked off, Henderson quickly showed his hidden potential. The Hartford, Ala. native notched 130 yards on six receptions with two touchdowns in Kansas’ second game of the season, a week one 46-7 win over Wagner.
To keep things going, Henderson put up video game numbers in Kansas’ heartbreaking 37-34 loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats. Despite the loss, Henderson notched 214 yards on just five receptions with an additional two touchdowns.
Henderson would continue his stable production as the season wore on and finished his collegiate career with another elite performance as his 113 yards and touchdown came up just short as Kansas fell to the No. 13 Utah Utes in a 31-21 loss, which ensured no postseason for the Jayhawks.
Henderson still kept his production with elite kick returning as he finished the season with 25.3 yards per return on 18 kickoffs, with a touchdown in a blowout 42-31 win over West Virginia added on. Henderson finished the year as a First Team All-Big 12 (Kick Returner) and Third Team All-Big 12 (Wide Receiver).
Henderson is listed as a wideout for the East ahead of the Shrine Bowl, the opposite team of Daniels. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT with streaming available on the NFL Network
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