John Steppe

Solon native Cam Miller was one of only eight FCS players to be drafted in 2025. It helps that he has quite the track record of winning from his four seasons as North Dakota State’s starting quarterback.

When Matt Campbell advocated for Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in a phone call with the Houston Texans general manager, it helped that Xavier Hutchinson has experienced success since his sixth-round selection in 2023.

Iowa football fans got their first glimpse of the 2025 Hawkeyes during Saturday’s open practice. Here are 15-plus minutes of highlights from Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa’s remaining transfer portal activity is “not going to be headline news necessarily,” Kirk Ferentz said, “but it’s going to make our team better and our roster better.”

With all 257 picks of the 2025 NFL draft complete, this year’s batch of undrafted free agents include some Iowa and Iowa State players with impressive resumes.

Wide receiver KJ Parker was among the younger players who stood out during Saturday’s open practice.

It did not always seem like it, but Iowa football is well represented in the 2025 NFL draft class. Five former Hawkeyes heard their names called during the three-day event (with three of them being selected in the final 25 picks).

Luke Lachey is the 14th Iowa tight end drafted in the Kirk Ferentz era and the sixth Iowa tight end drafted since 2017. It is the first time that Iowa has had tight ends drafted in three consecutive drafts since 2003-05.

Connor Colby’s football journey has taken him from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City, and now to San Francisco. The 49ers selected the Iowa offensive lineman in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft with the 249th overall pick.

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Iowa’s Mason Richman in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft with the 234th overall pick. He is the third Hawkeye drafted, following running back Kaleb Johnson and defensive tackle Yahya Black.

Yahya Black is the sixth Hawkeye defensive lineman to be drafted since 2020.

Jalen Travis is the first Iowa State offensive lineman drafted since 2013.

Kaleb Johnson is joining a Pittsburgh offense that could be leaning heavily on its rushing attack in 2025.

Pittsburgh’s selection of Johnson follows a breakout 2024 season, as he rushed for 1,537 yards while accumulating a program-record 23 total touchdowns

The Houston Texans selected Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel with the 79th overall pick in the third round of the NFL draft.