Former ISU center chosen in seventh round of NFL draft

Former ISU center Reggie Stephens trails behind ISU running back Alexander Robinson in a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 15, 2008. Stephens was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon. File photo: Iowa State Daily

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Former ISU center Reggie Stephens trails behind ISU running back Alexander Robinson in a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 15, 2008. Stephens was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon. File photo: Iowa State Daily

Daily Staff

Former ISU center Reggie Stephens’ NFL dream inched a little closer to becoming reality Saturday.

Stephens was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the NFL draft Saturday afternoon, making him the only ISU player selected this draft.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 322-pounder was selected as a guard, but played three different positions — left and right guard as well as center — for the Cyclones over the past four years. The run included starting the last four games of his freshman season, leading to a streak of 36 consecutive starts that ended during the 2009 season after he underwent an appendectomy. However, Stephens only lost out on one game due to the procedure and finished out the season as Iowa State’s full-time center.

Stephens was an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection after the 2009 season.

Stephens, originally from Rowlett, Texas, was a captain for the Cyclones during his senior year.