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Iowa State Football: Top 3 early prospects for 2022 NFL Draft

By Jackson Caudell

AMES, IA - DECEMBER 5: Running back Breece Hall #28 of the Iowa State Cyclones runs the ball in for a touchdown as Linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers, and defensive end VanDarius Cowan #8 of the West Virginia Mountaineers defend in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 42-6 over the West Virginia Mountaineers. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - DECEMBER 5: Running back Breece Hall #28 of the Iowa State Cyclones runs the ball in for a touchdown as Linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers, and defensive end VanDarius Cowan #8 of the West Virginia Mountaineers defend in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 42-6 over the West Virginia Mountaineers. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Last season was a dream year for Iowa State football. The Cyclones made it to the Big 12 title game and almost beat Oklahoma and then they went on to beat the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Cyclones kept winning in the offseason when head coach Matt Campbell stayed away from other high-profile college jobs and NFL teams to return to Ames for another season. The reason that Campbell returned? The majority of the starters from last year’s record-setting team return on both sides of the ball and it has some thinking that Iowa State could be a possible playoff contender.

The top returning player for Iowa State is running back Breece Hall who led the nation in rushing in last year’s pandemic-shortened season and that is actually amazing considering that he had other elite running backs like Najee Harris and Travis Etienne trying to catch for the rushing title. Hall is a darkhorse Heisman candidate and is one of the best players in the country that returns in 2021.

The Cyclones might not be the most explosive offense in the country, but they execute as well as anyone in the country and the reason for that is quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end Charlie Kolar. Purdy took a slight step back last season after a great 2019 and that is a major reason why he decided to return to Ames, to boost his draft stock. Kolar is one of the best tight ends in the country and could challenge for a spot on the All-American team.

Here are the top three prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft from Iowa State.

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