March 19, 2024

Four Cyclones land on NFL rosters

AMES (ISU) — Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein and offensive lineman Carter Bykowski were drafted by the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49er’s respectively, in Saturday’s NFL Draft.

Cyclone linebacker Jake Knott has signed a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles and wide receiver Josh Lenz has signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears.

Klein, the 2011 Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year who finished his Cyclone career with 361 tackles and 20 tackles for loss, was drafted Saturday in the fifth round in New York, N.Y. Klein was the 15th player taken in the fifth round and the 148th overall.

Bykowski, who started his Iowa State career as a tight end before moving into the offensive line, started 18 games of his Cyclone tenure. He was the 40th player selected in the seventh round and the 246th overall, by the NFC champs.

The last time two Iowa State players were drafted in the same year was 2008 when Alvin Bowen (5/147) and Ahtyba Rubin (6/190) were picked by Buffalo and Cleveland, respectively.