NFL Draft
2/12/25
6 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Iowa State's Jaylin Noel Is Ready To Be NFL's Next Great Slot Receiver
Slot receivers are perceived as shifty, underneath route runners who get the ball in the quick game to pick up first downs.
Iowa State's Jaylin Noel wants to change that perception at the NFL level.
Noel started generating significant buzz ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft after a strong week at the Senior Bowl down in Mobile, Alabama. After shining in 1-on-1s and team drills, Noel was named the top wide receiver on the national team as voted on by opposing cornerbacks and safeties.
"It meant a lot to win an award voted on by my peers at the Senior Bowl," Noel told The 33rd Team. "It was very cool to see the work I put into that point, and it's just an honor to compete at such a prestigious event to show off my talents."
A former 3-star recruit out of Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri, Noel played as many sports as possible growing up, including track, basketball, and soccer, but his love of football always kept him around the game. His offers included programs like Wisconsin, Kansas State, and Iowa, but Noel ultimately decided to play for the Iowa State Cyclones.
It didn't take long for Noel to see the field in Ames, but it wasn't until the past two seasons that he became a focal point of Iowa State's offense. His career year came this season, catching 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns, putting him fourth in school history for career receiving yards (2,855) and TD catches (18).
Noel is a unique prospect because he's spent a lot of time sharing the spotlight with another top wideout at Iowa State, Jayden Higgins. A 6-foot-3, 217-pound outside receiver, Higgins had more than 2,100 yards and 15 touchdowns in the last two seasons playing alongside Noel.
Despite sharing targets, both receivers shined for the Cyclones, and they quickly established a strong relationship after Higgins transferred in from Eastern Kentucky.
"That's my brother," Noel said. "He came in my junior year, and we really established a connection quickly, just because we're both competitors and pushed each other. We have the same love for the game and really just feed off of each other."
Noel and Higgins became one of the best wide receiver duos in college football last season, both exceeding 1,100 receiving yards on the year. Noel says that wouldn't be possible without the help of Iowa State WR coach and pass game coordinator Noah Pauley.
"He's one of the best coaches I've ever been around," Nole said of Pauley. "He's really put a lot of emphasis on the detail of our route running. Those small little things in our routes to beat defenders, and him just giving us that knowledge of when and how to use it."
Pauley has steadily climbed up the coaching ranks, but his most recent stop before Iowa State was coaching receivers for four seasons at North Dakota State, where he helped Christian Watson become an FCS All-American before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
While Noel's teammate in Higgins more closely resembles Watson's size and play style, the explosive slot prospect models his game after some different receivers. Jaylen Waddle and Jordan Addison are the two players Noel models his game after because of their explosiveness, ability off of the line of scrimmage, and fluidity as route runners.
The tape supports Noel's thoughts on who he models his game after. At just under 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds, he's not the biggest prospect, but he's a unique vertical threat out of the slot. He finished his college career with seven touchdowns of 50 or more yards and was a consistent deep threat because of his impressive breakaway speed.
However, speed alone can only get you so far as a vertical threat. Noel explained to The 33rd Team how important it is to attack leverage and work the edges.
This is what makes Noel so special as a vertical threat.
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) February 11, 2025
Attacking leverage. pic.twitter.com/Kcofr7BfoV
"If you can get a DB to get off of their leverage that they want to be in initially, then it can be very hard for them to cover a guy that's not just fast, but knows how to manipulate them with their route," Noel said. "It's really about manipulating their leverages and making them feel uncomfortable."
Noel's greatest traits are his explosiveness and separation ability, but he also takes pride in his ability to make contested catches. Despite his smaller frame, according to Pro Football Focus, Noel made 13 contested catches on 25 attempts in 2024.
Noel made 13 contested catches in 2024, showing off killer body control for a guy with his frame. pic.twitter.com/G4z4z3zEqf
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) February 11, 2025
"I feel like this previous year I showed I could come away with tough catches," Noel said.
On top of the electricity he brings offensively, Noel has significant special teams value as a return specialist, particularly on punts. He averaged 15.3 yards per punt return in 2024 on his way to being named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year.
If you need a return specialist this year, then Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel is your guy.
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) February 11, 2025
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/Jr35LSrNN8
"Special teams is how I found my way at Iowa State to get on the field early," Noel said. "I understand how important it is, especially in the NFL, to stay in the league and have value there."
Despite the strong performance at the Senior Bowl and the tape that Noel put up in his college career, there's still plenty of work to be done ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. He's expected to attend the NFL Scouting Combine and was trying hard not to smile when asked about how he's expecting to perform in Indianapolis.
"Some people, for some reason, don't think I'm the fastest, but that's OK," Noel said. "I'm going to run fast, and I'm going to do well in the drill work. It's going to be fun to get to Indy and be able to show people what I guess they might not think is actually true."
With his dreams of making it to the NFL so close, Noel understands that it wasn't just himself who got him into this position. He credits his family, along with his teammates and coaches, for helping him get to this point.
"To see them be proud of me and the work that I've put in and them continuing to support me means everything to me," Noel said. "It keeps me going each day, waking up knowing that I have a great support system around me."
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