GREEN BAY, Wis. — One of Iowa State’s most prolific wide receiver duos is sticking together in the NFL.

The Houston Texans took Jayden Higgins with the second pick in the second round of the NFL Draft, and 45 picks later selected Jaylin Noel with the 15th choice in the third round.

Higgins and Noel comprised the only 1,000-yard receiving duo in the country last season, leading Iowa State to an 11-3 overall record and an appearance in the Big 12 Championship game.

They also join former Cyclone wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson on the Houston roster.

Higgins was selected with the 34th overall pick in the draft, just two picks into Friday’s session. After transferring from Eastern Kentucky, Higgins compiled 2,166 receiving yards, 140 catches and 15 touchdowns. He ranks in the top 10 at Iowa State in all three categories.

A 6-foot-4, 216-pounder, Higgins had 87 receptions (second-most in school history) for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns this past season.

Higgins is the fourth-highest drafted Cyclone ever.

Noel went with the 79th overall selection, marking the first time since 1974 that the Cyclones had two wide receivers chosen in the same draft.

Noel, a 5-11, 201-pound Kansas City, Mo., native, was a two-time first-team all-Big 12 honoree and the co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024. He finished last season with 80 receptions for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns.

He ranks second all-time in ISU history with 245 receptions and is fourth with 2,855 receiving yards. His 18 touchdowns are fourth-most in program history.

Somewhere in between the wide receivers, Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders. Porter was drafted with the fourth pick in the third round, going 68th overall.

Porter began as a wide receiver at Iowa State, but saw mostly action on special teams before moving to the defensive side of the ball in 2022. He started seven games at cornerback in his senior season, finishing the year with 18 tackles, three interceptions and two blocks.

The special teams maven blocked five kicks (four punts, one field goal) in his Cyclone career.