Cyclones Sending Six to Big 12 Pro Day Hoping to Boost Draft Stock

The NFL and Big 12 Conference are teaming up to put on the first conference-wide Pro Day March 27-31, 2024. The Conference Pro Day will replace each school hosting its own Pro Day. The Iowa State Cyclones and coach Matt Campbell will send six players to the Big 12 Pro Day. More than 130 prospects will participate in the conference.

Player workouts are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 28 and March 30 if you can make the trip to the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. The Pro Day will be many of the players' last chance to show what they are made of for NFL scouts. Below is a highlight of the six Iowa State players and where they stand on the draft boards.

Wide Receivers

Dimitri Stanley is the lone receiver from the Cyclones going to the pro day. Despite having a breakout season in 2022 with 420 yards on 33 receptions, Stanley took a step back last season registering only 15 receptions for 139 yards. He is hoping his workout will provide a chance to show out and raise his draft stock. Stanley is not currently projected to be drafted.

Tight Ends

Representing the tight ends will be Easton Dean. The 6-foot-6 Oswego, Kan., native racked up an impressive 171 yards on just 16 catches and 3 touchdowns. Dean is currently projected as an undrafted free agent but has a chance to show an NFL team he is worth a draft pick.

Linebackers

Gerry Vaughn did not disappoint on the defensive side of the ball in his career at Iowa State. In 2022 he had a total of 71 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Last season was a down year for Vaughn but still a good season with 20 solo tackles, 26 assisted tackles, and 2 TFLs. Currently, Vaughn is not on any draft boards but that does not mean he cannot get himself there.

Defensive Backs

Iowa State is sending two DBs in T.J. Tampa and Ben Nikkel. Tampa is coming off his best season with the Cyclones with 33 solo tackles, 2 interceptions, and 7 passes defended. Tampa is currently projected to be a late second-round pick and with his physicality off the line of scrimmage, any team would be lucky to get him.

Nikkel logged 40 total tackles, 23 of which were solo, and 3 passes defended. Unfortunately for Nikkel, he has a lot of ground to make up as he is projected to go undrafted in 2024.

kicker

Chase Contreraz had a good season making 21 field goals with 80.8 percent of them good, he had his longest made field goal at 56 yards and accounted for a total of 99 points with the Cyclones. At this time, he is not projected to be drafted but if he can show his physical abilities he may start to get some looks from the next level.

What Pro Day means for these Iowa State Cyclones

Going to Frisco represents a huge opportunity for many of these players to show their skills, in almost the same way as if they had been invited to the NFL Combine. Draft stocks could rise or fall depending on what happens in the next few days, but one thing is for certain, these players will be going all in!