Latest news with #JaylinNoel
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Nico Collins Issues Four-Word Assessment of Texans' Rookie WR Jayden Higgins
Nico Collins Issues Four-Word Assessment of Texans' Rookie WR Jayden Higgins originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With the Houston Texans beginning Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Wednesday, veteran players were able to get a first-look at the team's new draft picks in action. Advertisement This included Texans' Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins, who was more than impressed with the team's top draft pick Jayden Higgins. "Boy is nice man," Collins said, in reference to the former Iowa State standout Higgins, who was drafted 34th overall by Houston. Collins went on to voice his excitement about both Higgins and Jaylin Noel, a Cyclones teammate of Higgins, who the Texans selected in the third round. "The type of guys we got bringing in, these playmakers man. It's an honor to share the field with them. It's only right we go out here and just get each other better, and learn from each other man," Collins said. National team wide receiver Jaylin Noel of Iowa State (12) and National team wide receiver Jayden Higgins of Iowa State (9) work through drillsVasha Hunt-Imagn Images Both Noel and Higgins turned heads in their final season in Ames, Iowa. Advertisement The 5-foot-11 shifty Noel led the Cyclones with 1,194 receiving yards, averaging 14.9 yards per catch. Higgins, who, like Collins is 6-foot-4, recorded 1,183 receiving yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns. With Collins and Higgins, the Texans have a pair of receivers that could create issues for opposing cornerbacks. "The size, length, physicality and athleticism now found in Houston's passing game is impressive and creates matchup nightmares." Bleacher Report's Brent Sobieski wrote in a recent article. Collins is also enjoying playing the role of mentor to the young wideout. "I'm here for him to lean on, I'm here to learn from him as well," Collins said. "I feel that's the only way you can improve on your game, just having an open mindset and being a book." Advertisement For Collins and Higgins, that chapter is just beginning. Related: Texans' Among Teams Projected to Trade for New York Jets Star Related: Texans' Will Anderson Jr. Gives First Impression of C.J. Stroud's Newest Protector This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Iowa State star Brock Purdy evaluates two Cyclones NFL Draft prospects
It's likely not a matter of if Iowa State Cyclones receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins will hear their names called in this year's NFL Draft, but when. ESPN has the pair on its top 50 players list heading into this week's draft, and most other sites project the former All-Big 12 players to be selected before the third round. Advertisement "(Higgins) is a reliable pass catcher, wins 50-50 balls and can be an impactful runner after the catch," ESPN Draft Analyst Steve Muench wrote on its draft website. "(Noel) impresses on tape, tracks the deep ball well and takes the top off the coverage." If all NFL scouts and general managers thought like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Noel and Higgins might be the first two taken at their positions this year. While speaking recently with Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network, Purdy expressed his appreciation for the two draft hopefuls. What did Brock Purdy say about Jaylin Noel? As a freshman in 2021, Noel caught passes from Purdy when the latter was a senior, and the 49ers quarterback didn't hold back in praising his former teammate. Advertisement "He's a playmaker. Get the ball in his hands, and he'll break tackles and get away from guys," Purdy said. "He can return kicks and punts and make plays for whoever he's playing for." Noel was named to the USA TODAY Sports Network All-Big 12 team after catching 80 passes for 1,194 yards in his senior year. He made USA TODAY's All-Big 12 as a returner, recording 252 yards on 16 total attempts on punt and kick return. Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs with the ball against the Miami Hurricanes in the first quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. The Athletic has the Kansas City native as the No. 42 overall player in the draft. ESPN's Mel Kiper predicts the Green Bay Packers will draft him with the 54th pick. "Everybody that I talked to about Jaylin, the first thing that comes to mind is his mindset and how mature he is for his age," Purdy said. "As a quarterback, that's a guy that I can trust in the heat of the moment, you know, third downs and trying to convert, that's the guy I want to be on the field with." What did Brock Purdy say about Jayden Higgins? "With what he can do on the outside, I think he can come in and play in the slot as well, and get some really good matchups against safeties in man coverage," Purdy said. "He is really good at going up and getting the ball, and I'm excited to see where he goes." Advertisement Higgins put up 1,183 yards on 87 catches and scored nine times in 2024. In two seasons with the Cyclones after transferring from Eastern Kentucky in 2023, the Miami native scored 15 touchdowns and recorded 2,166 yards. The Athletic has Higgins as the sixth-best wide receiver behind Noel, though Kiper has Higgins getting drafted first, predicting the Tennessee Titans to select him at No. 35. When is the 2025 NFL draft? The 2025 NFL draft will begin with the first round on April 24. Rounds 2 and 3 are held on April 25, and the draft will conclude on its third day with Rounds 4-7 on April 26. How to watch the 2025 NFL draft Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network. Coverage is also available on ESPN+, NFL+, Fubo TV and CBS Sports HQ. Advertisement April 24: Round 1 starts at 7 p.m. CT April 25 : Rounds 2-3 start at 7 p.m. CT April 26: Rounds 4-7 start at 11 a.m. CT Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@ or follow him on X @CooperAWorth. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Brock Purdy praises Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins ahead of NFL Draft
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jaylin Noel might jump to WR2 quickly in the Houston Texans offense
Jaylin Noel might jump to WR2 quickly in the Houston Texans offense | NFL Draft Live Yahoo Sports' 'Draft Live' crew reacts to the Houston Texans selecting Iowa State WR in the third round of the draft. View more Video Transcript Uh, Jalen Noel, you said, whoa, for the Texans. Uh, OK, two things are hilarious. Advertisement Wa't they draft Higgins earlier? Yes, number one, they drafted the other Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins earlier, so one of them will work out. Straight up. I, I just like Jalen Noll a little bit better as a player, even though I, as I said, I love the, the, this landing spot for, for Jayden Higgins. The second thing is. I compared Jalen Noel to Josh Downes, who went 79th overall the two drafts ago, so late to the Indianapolis Colts. Jalen Noles's being taken at the 79th overall pick here. Like it just makes too much. sizeism is still rampant in the NFL, the receiver position. These guys are going too late. Advertisement Uh, Jalen Noel, people compare him to Christian Kirk, who is currently on the Texans roster, so, uh. There's clearly a and again this is a sign that they're not counting on Tank Dell at this point, which I think unfortunately that is where we have to be. But he can bring you a lot of those same routes like vertical stuff from the slot or the flanker position. Man, again, just Nico Collins is that ex-receiver, and then these two guys, uh, Jayden Higgins and Jaylen Noel working as like big slot, little slot, big flanker, little flanker. They did college a little bit. Works it's, it's perfect. Like that's that is so fun. Advertisement If I'm CJ Stroud right now, I'm, I'm feeling great, fantasy fit gotta ask. Yeah, I mean, I honestly, I, it wouldn't be surprising if he's better than Jayden Higgins or more productive in time, but I, again, this is a great landing spot for both of these guys. Uh, they would both be on kind of, I, I'm just gonna watch the training camp report, see who's running mostly with the ones now. Kirk is probably the favorite to be the #2 receiver this year, but. He's a one year rental player and also coming back from an injury. So, uh, man, I, I, I'm really excited for both these guys. I again, late round sleeper. Advertisement I, I know you can sell me on either one of these. Noel is he gets the useful tag complimentary, and yeah, Christian Kirk was my comparison for him, but it was Christian Kirk if he could block and that's what I like about them. They're gonna want to block too. Yes, and he can do the dirty work stuff. That's what I love. He's a vertical guy. His ball skills are better than Higgins in the weirdest way. As far as like contest to get stuff, uh, Higgins doesn't drop a lot, but, uh, Noel doesn't either. Uh, it brings the deep ball element. Good route runner. It's got some yak, good punt returner as well, won Special teams player of the Year in a Big 12 last year. Advertisement I do, I do love it when teams look at a position. You talk about the Jets with the offensive tackle last year. Look at a position, they say never again. We are never going to go through what we went through last year. So we go, yeah, Chrisian Kirk, you add the two Iowa State receivers and you joker pulls or pulls Qs and say. Tryouts. I mean they had like Xavier no disrespect to these players, but they had Xavier Hutchinson and John Meche like multiple times like, oh like, these guys again like they're running the main routes in the games like that just can't continue to happen to a quarterback and see who has so much problems. This is gonna be a safety blanket. He's gonna love this guy.
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans rookie PFF grades from 2024 college season
Texans rookie PFF grades from 2024 college season The Houston Texans added nine new rookies to the roster during the 2025 NFL draft, including a couple of playmakers for quarterback C.J. Stroud as Nick Caley steps in the new offensive coordinator. The Texans had four picks on Day 2 after trading with the New York Giants for the No. 25 overall pick. The quartet of talent included some impactful additions of Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery and defensive back Jaylin Smith They also added some high upside rookies in running back running back Woody Marks, defensive back Jaylen Reed, defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton and tight end Luke Lachey on Day 3. Several of the Texans' draft picks posted great Relative Athletic Scores (RAS). But how did they grade out at Pro Football Focus during the 2024 college season? Here's a look: Round 2, No. 34: WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State 2024: 90.3 (4th of 1040) Round 2, No. 48: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota 2024: 77.5 (55th of 643) Round 3, No. 79: WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State 2024:62.8 (4th of 1040) Round 3, No. 97: DB Jaylin Smith, USC 2024: 82.6 (31st of 848) Round 4, No. 116: RB Woody Marks, USC 2024: 83.0 (57th of 444) Round 6, Pick 187: DB Jaylen Reed, Penn State 2024: 65.6 (28th of 912) Round 6, Pick 197: QB Graham Mertz, Florida 2024: N/A Round 7, Pick 244: Kyonte Hamilton, DL, Rutgers 2024: 63.3 (17th of 860) Round 7, Pick 256: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: WR Jaylin Noel reacts to being drafted by Texans in 2025 NFL Draft
WATCH: WR Jaylin Noel reacts to being drafted by Texans in 2025 NFL Draft When Jaylin Noel got off the phone, the first thing he said was about the "other" guy from Ames. "I'm going to be with Jayden [Higgins] in Houston!" Noel exclaimed following the Houston Texans' selection of the Iowa State slot receiver in the third round of the NFL Draft. After moving down nine spots from No. 25, the Texans selected Noel's Iowa State teammate with the No. 34 overall pick. He should compete for the No. 2 job with fellow former Cyclone Xavier Hutchinson for reps on the outside as the next big playmaker for Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud. But then came pick No. 79 and a chance to reunite the "Twin Torandos" as weapons for Stroud while taking pressure off Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins on the outside. Noel, a constant force in the Big 12 over his final two seasons, already had been a security blanket for one pass-heavy offense and worked well with Higgins. The pick became obvious once general manager Nick Caserio picked up the phone. Iowa State athletics made sure to capture the moment for one of their top playmakers in program history. A former All-Big 12 receiver, Noel ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and had a 41.5-inch vertical jump, which ranked No. 1 among receivers at the combine. He was also one of college football's top weapons, totaling 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season at Iowa who finished his college career with 245 receptions for 2855 yards and 18 touchdown receptions, was one of the better wide receivers left on the board. Serving as a safety net for Rocco Becht, the 5-foot-10 shifty option should provide the same value in Houston. Caserio and DeMeco Ryans were fired up to take Noel, who should become a valuable weapon in the passing game for Nick Caley's new pass-heavy offense. If he's able to reach his potential, Noel could become the next slot receiver destined to be a 1,000-yard playmaker. And yes, Iowa State made sure to let Cyclone Nation across the country know the dou is "back" like it never left. The Texans have five picks on Saturday to close out their draft class.
