The Iowa State Texans? Houston Goes All-In on Cyclone Duo in 2025 Draft
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It’s not often an NFL team doubles down on a college connection, but that’s exactly what the Texans did this year by grabbing both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel out of Iowa State. Call them the “Iowa State Texans” if you want. What matters is this: Houston just added two wideouts with real chemistry, real production, and very different skill sets that could both shine in Nick Caley's offense.
Jayden Higgins: Nico Collins Reborn...
With the 34th overall pick, the Houston Texans kicked off Day 2 of the NFL Draft by selecting Jayden Higgins, a 6’4”, 215-pound outside receiver built to dominate the boundary. Higgins isn’t just a jump-ball specialist, he’s a technician with elite hands. Over the past two seasons, he had just three drops on 209 targets, earning him the title of PFF’s highest-graded outside receiver in college football in 2024.
His senior year at Iowa State was nothing short of dominant: 87 catches, 1,183 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Higgins brings a blend of size, physicality, and reliability that makes him an ideal chain-mover and contested-catch weapon. He is a perfect complement to Christian Kirk and Nico Collins in this Houston offense.
Off the field, Higgins is already making headlines. He became the first second-round pick in NFL history to sign a fully guaranteed rookie contract — a four-year, $11.7 million deal. That’s typically reserved for first rounders, signaling how much belief the Texans have in his potential.
If Nico Collins is the blueprint, Higgins might just be the sequel, and with C.J. Stroud throwing downfield, he can make quite an impact.
Jaylin Noel: Slot Speed, Big Game Mentality
With the 79th pick in the third round, the Texans grabbed Jaylin Noel, Higgins’ college teammate — and one of the most explosive slot receivers in the country. Noel is an inside threat. At 5’11”, 200 pounds, Noel might not tower over defenders, but he’s a nightmare to cover. His final season in Ames was proof enough: 80 catches, 1,194 yards, and 8 touchdowns — ninth-most among all FBS receivers. At the NFL Combine, he tested very well.
40-yard dash: 4.39s
Vertical jump: 41.5 inches (1st among WRs)
Broad jump: 11'2" (1st among WRs)
Bench press: 23 reps (1st among WRs)
Noel separates at the line of scrimmage with ease, thrives on crossers and mesh concepts, and adds value as a return man on special teams. He was also a locker room leader and clutch performer — evident by his 117-yard, 1-TD outing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl after Higgins opted out.
Cyclone connection could give Houston Texans rookies an edge in a wide-open WR competition.
The bonus here? Chemistry.
Higgins and Noel already know how to work off each other and that comfort could be a real advantage as they break into the NFL together.
Before rookie camp even officially began, the two Cyclone wideouts were out on the field tossing passes and warming up side by side. It wasn’t for show; this is just what they’ve always done. The familiarity, the timing, the ability to read one another on the fly, that kind of relationship doesn’t need to be built. It’s already there. According to The Houston Chronicle, both players arrived early to rookie minicamp and immediately began working together.
They’ve run thousands of routes together in college. They’ve been through the grind. Now, they’re entering the league the same way they left Iowa State — as a duo. “Having that brother from college to be with you throughout this process is only going to help those guys,” said head coach DeMeco Ryans. “I think it speeds up their transition to the NFL.” (Houston Chronicle)
With Tank Dell sidelined with a knee injury, the WR depth chart behind Nico Collins and Christian Kirk is wide open. Higgins and Noel both topped 1,000 yards last season at Iowa State and bring different, but complementary, skill sets to the Texans’ receiver room. Higgins is the reliable possession target; Noel is the dynamic separator with return game upside.
But it’s not just about filling roster spots — it’s about pushing each other to be better. As Higgins told the Chronicle, “He knows how to push my buttons… and I know how to push his.”
They’ve done it before. Now they get to do it at the next level.
No flashy nicknames. No gimmicks. Just two Cyclones ready to make an impact in Houston.
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