Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State wideout Jaylin Noel (WO35) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
AMES — When Jaylin Noel strode onto Iowa State’s campus as a true freshman in 2021, coaches paired him with a veteran player for winter workouts.
“Just so happened, it was Brock (Purdy),” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said.
Noel, then a three-star wide receiver prospect from Kansas City, made an immediate impact his first season at ISU, hauling in 38 passes from his record-breaking senior quarterback. Purdy, of course, went on to become “Mr. Irrelevant” as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — and Noel’s likely to be a much higher selection when this season’s draft spans Thursday through Saturday in Green Bay.
“I think the one thing about Jaylin Noel is he always knew who we was,” said Campbell, who will likely see a minimum of four of his players get drafted, which would match the number of Cyclones taken in 2022. “He was never trying to be somebody else. Man, I think he was on such a great mission to impact his family and make a difference in the lives of others, and by his senior year, I don’t know between him and (former Cyclone safety) Beau (Freyler), I don’t know if I’ve ever seen two authentic leaders who were (more) selfless. Didn’t care how many catches he had. His whole thing was how could he impact his team and impact winning.”
Now Noel — along with fellow former ISU standout receiver Jayden Higgins — projects as a likely early second-day draft pick. Add former Cyclone cornerback Darien Porter to that mix, as well, along with offensive tackle Jalen Travis and even oft-injured but talented safety Malik Verdon. All five were invited to the NFL Combine and if all of them get picked in this year’s draft, it would set a modern program record. The 1974 NFL Draft featured six former Cyclones — but there were 17 rounds then, instead of a mere seven.
“(It’s) a credit to those young men, right?” Campbell said. “I think you’ve seen that happen in our football program now over 10 years. I think this group — you’re probably (looking at) four or five guys (who) maybe can get drafted in the top 100 in the next couple of days. It’s really impressive.”
Noel, Higgins, Porter and Travis all became rapid risers thanks to eye-popping numbers in various areas at the combine. Noel and Porter rank sub-4.4 40-yard dashes while excelling in several other drills. Higgins and Travis also put up impressive numbers at the combine — and even though Verdon couldn’t go through drills because of a lingering injury, he could be a late third day selection or highly-prized undrafted free agent.
“When you look at last year’s team, who made all the plays in the moment?” Campbell said. “Boy, it was all those guys.”
Campbell also said former defensive tackle J.R. Singleton and offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford should get an opportunity as undrafted free agents or long-shot late third-day picks, as well, so the Cyclones should once again be well-represprtned in NFL training camps this summer.
“If you’re willing to stay the course and just keep plugging away you can reach your full potential,” Campbell said. “Now, you’ve gotta have the talent to do it, and those guys certainly have had it, but it’s certainly a credit to them. We’re just a beneficiary of their success.”
Soon, several NFL franchises will become those beneficiaries — but what Noel and company did for the team will leave a legacy that continues to benefit ISU.
“I just want to leave them with the mindset that you can’t settle,” Noel said late last season. “If you settle to be average, that’s what you’re gonna get on the field: Average. So never settle, always push each other, and hold guys accountable.”
And for Noel, it all started with a chance paining with Purdy, which gave Campbell a glimpse of what would come.
“I remember watching those guys running downs and backs across the field,” Campbell said. “I’m just like, man, watching (Noel’s) competitiveness at a young age — and he had a really great mentor early.”
