Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel Thriving Under The Radar (2025 NFL Draft)
2025 NFL Draft

Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel Thriving Under The Radar

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
author image

Tornadoes are one of the most unpredictable forces of nature in existence. You never know exactly when one will form, how quickly they can touch down, or what path they will follow. That makes them the perfect mascot for the 2024 Iowa State football team. 

The Cyclones have jumped to No. 11 in the AP Top 25 thanks mainly to their surprisingly explosive offense that can score at any time, from anywhere on the field. They average 31.2 points per game and are coming off a 43-21 victory against Baylor. What makes this offense so dynamic? They are led by the most underrated wide receiver duo in the country: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

Together, they have 54 catches for 854 yards and seven touchdowns through five games. They can play anywhere in the offensive formation, and Iowa State will move them around to get the matchups they want for every game. Higgins has recorded a touchdown in every game this season and comes off his best performance against Baylor with eight catches for 116 yards and a score, while Noel added five catches for 98 yards. They have been a consistent force for the Cyclones and are highly competitive when the ball comes their way.

They just want it more. 

Playing at Iowa State, where the national media doesn’t give them the attention, the focus is on getting better every week and winning as a team. These two are significant reasons why the Cyclones are undefeated to this point and, with the expansion of the College Football Playoff, have a real shot at making it. 

Higgins is listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and plays like a ball-winning big-bodied wide receiver when asked to, but he’s more than that. He’s got an excellent feel for timing and space, whether with the ball in the air or knowing exactly when to break off a route into space. 


He has three games with eight catches this season, and the trust is there with their quarterback, Rocco Becht. Higgins moves well for his size, runs routes with smooth intention and hand usage in his stem, and has underrated speed.

Noel is the “do it all” man for the offense. He lines up wide, in the slot, in the backfield, wherever he’s asked. Always one of the fastest players on the field, Noel takes advantage of space created and runs into space to make big plays for Iowa State. 

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 lbs, Noel is quick in and out of breaks with exceptional ball-tracking skills and is an underrated route-runner. Putting that together with his speed makes it tough on a defense trying to keep up with him moving all around the formation. Don’t get caught triggering on the play-action fake, or you could see this happen to you. 


Noel’s tracking downfield makes him a legitimate downfield threat. He also times the comeback on this catch perfectly; he doesn’t give the corner chasing him any sign he’s coming back to the ball until it’s about to arrive, and comes down with the catch. Here he goes again, just flying by corners like they are standing still


They complement each other incredibly well from a game plan perspective; as one of them gets more attention from the defense, it removes defensive gravity and creates more space. Both of these guys will be playing on Sundays soon, and even though they broke out in 2023, they are both building on those performances and making each other and their team better in the process. The way they attack the football and play the game with such energy and focus shows that they have the work ethic and compete level to make an impact. Their versatility opens up their offense in so many ways, and defenses must know where they are on the field or they can wreck a defense immediately. 


Iowa State loves to use them both on the same side of the field, and they can free each other up. Here, they line up Noel in a reduced split to the right side of the formation and have him clear out the linebacker vertically up the seam. Higgins runs a short slant underneath the clear-out right into the space created by Noel and gets an easy first down. 

Take some time to get to know these players. They lead this high-scoring Iowa State offense, and it’s not smoke and mirrors. They are competitive, want to get better, and know how to use their skills to dominate. I wouldn’t be shocked if both were drafted on day two of the 2025 NFL Draft. Unlike Tornadoes, defenses can see them coming, have time to prepare for them, and might be able to predict where they are going, but they leave destruction in their wake all the same.



Loading...
Privacy Policy

© Copyright 2025 The Draft Network