At the end of the month, a number of former Cyclone football players entering their rookie season in the NFL will participate in the NFL's "rookie readiness program," which is designed to help new NFL players gain the tools necessary to succeed on and off the field in the NFL.
Six former Cyclones are set to enter their first season in the NFL, while a long list of players over the last decade are preparing to play another season in the NFL in 2026, with preseason training camp set to begin in mid-July across the league.
Here is where each former Cyclone now in the NFL is set to begin the 2026 season.
-- DL Domonique Orange – "Big Citrus" was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 82 overall selection. A 6-foot-4, 325-pound interior defensive lineman, Orange was a four-year contributor for former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell between 2022-25. Orange was a starter for the Cyclones during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons at Iowa State. As a senior, he was an All-Big 12 third-team selection after earning All-Big 12 honorable mentions from conference coaches in 2023 and 2025.
-- OL Dylan Barrett – The former Wisconsin transfer will go back to the cheese state with the Green Bay Packers after spending the last two seasons with the Cyclones. He played in 20 career games at Iowa State and made 16 starts with 14 coming at left guard.
-- OL Jim Bonifas – The Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with the former Cyclone following the NFL Draft. Bonifas started all 13 games for Iowa State at center in 2023 before playing a backup role in 2024. He returned to the starting lineup in 2025 at center and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention.
-- DL Tamatoa McDonough – The Cyclones had McDonough for just one year after the Yale transfer came to the program as a graduate transfer. Now with the Denver Broncos, McDonough will best be remembered for two sacks to help Iowa State defeat rival Iowa in Week 2 in Jack Trice Stadium. It was Campbell's only home win over Iowa in his decade leading the Cyclone program.
-- OL Tyler Miller – The Broncos also agreed to terms with former right tackle Tyler Miller, who was an All-Big 12 third-team selection during his senior season. Miller started 50 of his 55 games in six seasons as a Cyclone. His 39 consecutive starts to end his career was the longest active streak by a Big 12 offensive lineman.
-- TE Tyler Moore – The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms with Moore, a Des Moines native who spent five seasons at Iowa State. Moore played in 44 games with the Cyclones and made 12 starts. He had 21 career catches for 245 yards and was part of the 2020 and 2024 Cyclone teams that went to the Big 12 championship game.
-- OL James Neal III – A former junior college prospect, Neal made 32 career starts for Iowa State at left tackle. Neal was a starter throughout the 2023 and 2025 seasons. Similar to Bonifas, Neal lost his starting position in 2023, but he helped Iowa State rush for 150 yards in the 2025 season's final seven games, the longest streak for the program since 2008-09.
-- LB Malik Verdon – A 2025 undrafted free agent to the Atlanta Falcons, Verdon was on the reserve/non-football injury list last season. Verdon left the Cyclone program with one remaining season of eligibility following the 2024 season.
-- LB Jake Hummel – The former standout linebacker is among a laundry list of Cyclones with the Houston Texans. Hummel had nine tackles in 2025 while playing for the Baltimore Ravens. Hummel started his career with the Los Angeles Rams from 2022-24.
-- TE Charlie Kolar – The former Baltimore Raven signed a new contract with the San Diego Chargers this offseason. Kolar had 10 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns last season with Lamar Jackson and Baltimore.
-- DB T.J. Tampa – A standout defensive back for the Cyclones in 2023, Tampa was a fourth-round selection by the Ravens in 2024. Tampa had 21 tackles last season for the Ravens and an interception.
-- DL Enyi Uwazurike – Uwazurike is set to play his fourth season with the Denver Broncos this fall. Uwazurike is coming off the best season of his career in 2025 when he recorded a personal-best 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
-- RB David Montgomery – The former Chicago Bear and Detroit Lion running back will play outside of the NFC North for the first time in his career in 2026 after signing with the Houston Texans this offseason. Montgomery has more than 6,110 career rushing yards with nearly 60 career rushing touchdowns.
-- WR Jayden Higgins – One-half of Iowa State's 1,000-yard receiving tandem in 2024, Higgins is entering his second season with the Texans in 2026 after catching 41 passes for 515 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. The six scoring plays ranked among the top 30 in the NFL.
-- WR Xavier Hutchinson – Another former Iowa State receiver in a Texans uniform, catching balls from C.J. Stroud. Hutchinson hauled in 35 passes and three touchdowns last season. He is set to enter his fourth season with the club this fall.
-- WR Jaylin Noel – The other half of the 1,000-yard tandem in 2024, Noel is set to enter his second season with the Texans this fall. Noel made an impact as a punt returner last season, but he also caught 26 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.
-- S Ben Nikkel – The former Cyclone defensive back and impressive athlete spent the 2025 season on the Colts practice squad. He did not play a game with Indianapolis this past fall.
-- OL Jalen Travis – A Princeton transfer, Travis was a star left tackle for the Cyclones in 2024 when Campbell's team won 11 games and the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Travis became a fourth-round NFL Draft selection in April 2025.
-- DB Myles Purchase – A multi-year starter with the Cyclones, Purchase was a member of the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad during the 2025 season. He was the only corner on the practice squad at one point last season.
-- DB Darien Porter – The Las Vegas Raiders selected Porter in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Porter, who was a special teams stud for the Cyclones throughout his career, had 29 solo tackles and three passes defended last season.
-- DB Anthony Johnson Jr. – With the New York Giants in 2025, Johnson entered the year on the physically unable to perform list. He started his career with the Green Bay Packers in 2023, but he is now with the Chicago Bears.
-- RB Breece Hall – A former fan favorite and Cyclone superstar, Hall just signed a new deal in New York that could pay him $47.5 million over the next three seasons. Hall carried the ball 243 times last season for just over 1,000 yards and four touchdowns. His 4.4 yards per carry was top 30 in the NFL.
-- DL Will McDonald IV – One of two first-round NFL Draft picks in school history, McDonald is preparing to enter his fourth season with the Jets in 2026. McDonald had eight sacks last season. Over the last two seasons, he has combined for 18.5 sacks.
-- RB Kene Nwangwu – Hall isn't the only former Cyclone in the Jets' backfield as Nwangwu is preparing to play his third season in New York in 2026. The Vikings rostered Nwangwu from 2021-2023.
-- DL J.R. Singleton – The former Cyclone captain was with the Seahawks' practice squad last season after going undrafted. Singleton hopes to earn a roster spot with the reigning Super Bowl champions this season.
-- QB Brock Purdy – The most famous former Cyclone in the NFL, Brock Purdy will be the San Francisco 49ers starter full-time for the fourth straight season. Purdy was limited to nine games last season because of injury. The former seventh-round selection has played in multiple Super Bowls and thrown for at least 20 touchdowns in the last three seasons.
-- WR Allen Lazard – Lazard played the 2025 season with the New York Jets, but he is currently an NFL free agent after spending the first five years of his career with the Packers. He then moved with Aaron Rodgers to the Jets in 2023.