Of the graduating ISU football players, there are three that stand out when it comes to making the NFL.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN football draft analyst, said he thinks seniors Alvin Bowen, Todd Blythe and Bret Meyer will be looking for jobs following the NFL Draft on April 26 and 27.

“They’re late-round or free-agent types,” Kiper said. “All three of them.”

Although each of them could be searching for jobs to play on Sundays, Kiper said each will have something to offer NFL teams.

Bowen, a 6-foot-2-inch, 218-pound linebacker, led the Cyclones with 94 tackles. A consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection prior to the season, Kiper said he thinks Bowen will end up playing special teams.

“There’s a lot of outside linebackers rated ahead of him,” Kiper said. “He’s going to get a chance.”

Blythe, a 6-foot-5-inch, 214-pound wide receiver, finished the season with 50 catches for 759 yards and five touchdowns. The senior ranks first in school history in catches, reception yards and touchdowns, but it’s his size that will draw the attention of most teams, Kiper said.

“Anytime you get a kid that has the kind of size he does, he’s going to be an interesting guy,” Kiper said.

Meyer, a 6-foot-3-inch, 211-pound quarterback, completed 217 of 354 passes for 2,048 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Despite finishing his career third on the all-time Big 12 list for yards in total offensive and passing yards, Kiper said the quarterback may have to look beyond play-calling if he is going to stick on an NFL roster.

“Meyer is probably going to be an undrafted free agent and [will have to] figure out what position he’s going to be best suited for,” Kiper said.

To keep every option available, Cyclones coach Gene Chizik said he keeps his practices open to NFL scouts every day.

“We’re going to do what we think is in the best interest of our football players, both individually and as a team,” Chizik said.

“But certainly for guys when they get done playing here, to help them all, give them every opportunity they can if they want to go on and play after this.”