Football

Cyclones at the 2025 NFL Combine

Jaylin Noel takes questions from reporters at the NFL Combine. Photo Courtesy John McGlynn.

Iowa State has five players competing this weekend at the annual NFL Combine, with action beginning Friday for the group.

Wide receivers Jaylin Noel & Jayden Higgins, along with defensive backs Malik Verdon & Darien Porter as well as offensive lineman Jalen Travis are all in Indianapolis to showcase their skills.

Below is a compilation of everything that the players have said at the microphone, teams they’ve met with, measurements and more that will be updated throughout the weekend.

NFL Combine Schedule
Televised by NFL Network
Thurs. Feb. 27 | D-Line, Linebackers (2 p.m.)
Fri. Feb. 28 | D-backs, Tight Ends (2 p.m.)
Sat. Mar. 1 | QB’s, RB’s, WR’s (Noon)
Sun. Mar. 2 | O-Line (Noon)

Jayden Higgins, WR

Drill Numbers
40-yard: 4.47 (24th among WR)
Vertical: 39.0″ (18th overall, 6th among WR)
Broad Jump: 10’8″ (8th among WR)
3-cone:
20-yard shuttle:

Measurements
Height: 6-foot-4.1
Weight: 214
Arm length: 33 1/8′
Hand: 9 1/8″

Has met with: San Francisco, Houston

Noel showed out in his numbers – with his 41.50″ vertical ranking No. 2 out of everyone at the Combine and No. 1 amongst receivers.

Higgins told reporters that he caught 100 balls on the JUGS machine after practice every day.

“I’m a big red-zone threat,” Higgins said. “If somebody needs someone to go score, that’s me.”

“Just being able to move like a smaller receiver,” Higgins said. “I can play inside and out.”

Jaylin Noel, WR

Drill Numbers
40-yard: 4.39 (21st overall, 10th among WR)
Vertical: 41.50″ (2nd overall, 1st among WR)
Broad Jump: 11’2″ (3rd overall, 1st among WR)
3-cone: 6.82 (9th overall, 6th among WR)
20-yard shuttle: 4.17 (8th overall, 5th among WR)
Bench: 23 (22nd overall, 1st among WR)

Measurements
Height: 5-foot-10.2
Weight: 194
Arm length: 29 1/2′
Hand: 8.75″

Has met with: Washington, Seattle, Houston, and New England

“You’ve got to move edges,” Noel said on how he performs as an undersized receiver. “Making them [DBs] feel uncomfortable. Changing in tempo — being able to decelerate and accelerate very fast.”

Noel also mentioned the Cy-Hawk catch as one of his favorite plays as a Cyclone.

Darien Porter, DB

Drill Numbers
40-yard: 4.3 (3rd overall, 1st among CB)
Vertical: 36.5 (9th among CB)
Broad Jump: 10’11” (8th overall, 2nd among CB)
3-cone: 6.71 (2nd overall, 1st among CB)
20-yard shuttle: 4.04 (2nd overall, 1st among CB)

Measurements
Height: 6-foot-2.7
Weight: 195
Arm length: 33 1/8′
Hand: 9″

Saturday update: Porter’s impressive numbers continued Sunday, when he brought home the fastest 3-cone drill time and second-fastest shuttle run.

Has met with: Pittsburgh, Chicago, Denver, Carolina, Kansas City, Atlanta, Detroit

Friday update 2: Porter’s drill numbers scored as the No. 4 rated cornerback in NFL history going back to 1987 by the R.A.S. fomat.

It ranks athletes by numbers comparative to athletes in the current combine as well as in the past.

Keep in mind former Iowa State running backs coach Tyler Roehl is with Detroit now.

Porter told reporters that he has goals of being the fastest runner of anyone at the Combine in the 40-yard dash this week.

Then he put down a 4.3.

Malik Verdon, DB

Drill Numbers
40-yard:
Vertical:
Broad Jump:
3-cone: 7.06
20-yard shuttle: 4.34

Measurements
Height: 6-foot-3.5
Weight: 218
Arm length: 32 1/4″
Hand: 9 1/2″

Has met with: Las Vegas Raiders

He later amended his choice, to mention his little brother Trey, who’s now playing for Iowa State.

Jalen Travis, OL

Travis won’t compete until Sunday, but offensive line coach Ryan Clanton will be in attendance to see all the former Cyclones go.

@cyclonefanatic