Completed Event: Football versus Southeast Missouri on September 5, 2026 , Win , 38, to, 10
Iowa State University Athletics
Photo by: Andy Kenutis / Minnesota Vikings
Cyclones in the NFL: 2026-27 Preview
09.08.2026 | Football
14 former Cyclones have earned spots on active 53-man NFL rosters for the 2026-27 season, which is set to kick off this Wednesday, Sept. 9. Iowa State's 14 active players are the fourth most in the Big 12, trailing just TCU (19), Texas Tech (18) and Utah (16).
In total, 19 former Cyclones will be members of NFL organizations, with five currently on either the IR (injured reserve) list or on a practice squad. Those 19 Cyclones are part of 11 NFL teams.
Brock Purdy – QB, #13, San Francisco 49ers (fifth year)
Purdy and the 49ers will face their division foe, the Los Angeles Rams, to open the season on Thursday evening in Australia. Purdy is coming off a season where he had 20 passing touchdowns in nine contests and will look to down preseason Super Bowl favorite LA in Melbourne.
Up Next: Sept 10, vs. LAR (7:35 pm on FOX – game played in Australia)
David Montgomery – RB, #32, Houston Texans (eighth year)
One of a few Cyclones to swap teams this offseason, Montgomery joined the multitude of other Cyclones in Houston with the Texans. After sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs the last few seasons, Montgomery figures to be the lead back for Houston as he's back to his college roots in number 32.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)
Jake Hummel – LB, #33, Houston Texans (fifth year)
Hummel joins Montgomery as another offseason addition for Houston, as he spent 2025-26 in Baltimore. With Hummel and Montgomery, Houston now has six former Cyclones between its active roster/practice squad/injured reserve.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)
Xavier Hutchinson – WR, #19, Houston Texans (fourth year)
Hutchinson, along with Noel, will have big shoes to fill as former Cyclone receiver Jayden Higgins went down with a torn ACL in training camp. With the injury, Hutchins will more than likely see more time and an expanded role in his fourth season.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)
Jaylin Noel – WR, #14 – Houston Texans (second year)
After working his way into the trust of quarterback C.J. Stroud as a rookie, Noel will look to earn more targets in his sophomore campaign. Noel is again expected to be another key part of the Texans' special teams unit in the return game.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)
Kene Nwangwu – RB, #3, New York Jets (sixth year)
Speaking of return game, kickoff return specialist Kene Nwangwu is back with the Jets for his sixth season in the league. Nwangwu leads all active players with five kickoff returns for touchdowns, more than double the next closest player.
Up Next: Sept. 13, at Tennessee (12 pm on CBS)
Breece Hall – RB, #20, New York Jets (fifth year)
Though he didn't change teams, Hall had himself a busy offseason as he signed a multi-year extension with the Jets. In May, Hall inked a three-year contract extension worth up to $45.75 million. He'll open the season against his former head coach, Robert Saleh, in Tennessee.
Up Next: Sept. 13, at Tennessee (12 pm on CBS)
Will McDonald IV – EDGE, #9, New York Jets (fourth year)
McDonald, ISU's most recent first-round pick, had a solid fourth season with the Jets, leading the team in sacks (8) and tackles for loss (10) before being placed on injured reserve and missing the final three weeks of the season. The Jets picked up his fifth-year option for 2027-28 over the summer.
Up Next: Sept. 13, at Tennessee (12 pm on CBS)
T.J. Tampa – CB, #27, Baltimore Ravens (third year)
Tampa enters his third year in the league after being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He's part of a deep secondary in Baltimore and will surely be moved around as part of new head coach Jesse Minter's defensive scheme.
Up Next: Sept. 13, at Indianapolis (12 pm on CBS)
Jalen Travis – OL, #75, Indianapolis Colts (second year)
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Travis spent much of his rookie campaign as a backup. Now, though, he's slated to be the team's starting right tackle heading into his sophomore campaign after starting four times in 2025-26.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Baltimore (12 pm on CBS)
Charlie Kolar – TE, #88, Los Angeles Chargers (fifth year)
Kolar was one of the handful of Cyclones to cash in and find himself on a new team this offseason. After spending four years with the Ravens who drafted him, Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Chargers and is expected to be a big part of coach Jim Harbaugh's passing and running game.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Arizona (3:25 pm on CBS)
Darien Porter – DB, #26, Las Vegas Raiders (second year)
Porter spent much of his rookie season as a rotational corner, picking up a handful of starts and quality reps along the way. In his second season, Porter is listed as one of the Raiders' three starting cornerbacks.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Miami (3:25 pm on FOX)
Domonique Orange – DT, #97, Minnesota Vikings (first year)
Iowa State's lone draft pick this spring, Orange was selected 82nd overall in the third round by Minnesota. Orange, along with rookie first-rounder Caleb Banks, figures to play a meaningful role in the Vikings' defensive line rotations.
Up Next: Sept. 13, vs. Green Bay (3:25 pm on CBS)
Enyi Uwazurike – DL, #96, Denver Broncos (fifth year)
An All-Big 12 First-Team member back in 2021, Uwazurike is entering his fifth year with the Broncos. Last season, Uwazurike helped anchor one of the league's best defensive lines as Denver made it to the AFC Championship game.
Next Up: Sept. 14, at Kansas City (7:15 on ESPN/ABC)
The five additional Cyclones who are members of NFL organizations include both Jayden Higgins (Texans) and Malik Verdon (Falcons), who are on IR and will miss the season, while Julian Good-Jones (Commanders), Tyler Miller (Broncos) and James Neal III (Texans) find themselves on practice squads.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
