Undrafted Cyclones sign free agent contracts, receive minicamp invites

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Jack MacDonald/Iowa State Daily

Matt Eaton catches the ball for a touchdown against TCU. 

Noah Rohlfing

One Iowa State player that went undrafted has already signed a free agent deal, on the same team as former Cyclone Allen Lazard.

Wide receiver Matt Eaton signed an undrafted priority free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers shortly after the draft ended, according to a report from Matt Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Eaton, a 6-foot-4 wideout with a 4.64 40-yard dash, had 523 yards receiving and six touchdowns in three years at Temple and Iowa State. He signed with Iowa State in 2017 after a year at Pearl River Community College. 

Eaton played beside Lazard and fourth-round pick Hakeem Butler his entire Iowa State career, but now the Norfolk, Virginia, native has a chance to find his way onto an NFL roster or practice squad. 

A few former Cyclones have received rookie minicamp invites, including cornerback and three-year-starter Brian Peavy, who will have a chance with his teammate Butler at the Arizona Cardinals. Former Cyclone linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. has received invitations to minicamps with the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Dylan Montz of the Ames Tribune.

Peavy led the defensive secondary at Iowa State over the second half of his career. He was named first-team All-Big 12 by ESPN in 2017, second-team All-Big 12 by the coaches and AP in 2017 and 2018 and made Pro Football Focus’ first-team All-American in 2018. Peavy was a co-captain for Iowa State during his junior and senior seasons.

Harvey finished his career at Iowa State with three honorable mention All-Big 12 appearances and 289 total tackles. He finished second on the team in tackles (76) as a senior along with 3.5 sacks.

Former starting quarterback Kyle Kempt has his shot at a rookie minicamp with the New Orleans Saints, per a report from Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register.

Kempt didn’t get much playing time until 2018, when he took over for an injured Cyclone quarterback room and made the most of his situation. He led Iowa State to a monumental win over then-No. 3 Oklahoma and eventual Heisman winner Baker Mayfield.

Kempt quarterbacked the team through one of the best seasons in program history, winning the Liberty Bowl over Memphis to cap off the season.

Blocking tight end Sam Soenbuchner will be with the Packers in rookie minicamp, and running back Mike Warren has an invite from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Seonbuchner rose to prominence later in his career after multiple position changes. He became a fullback/tight end and was instrumental in Iowa State’s running attack along with running back David Montgomery.