This past weekend many ISU football players wasted dreams on being drafted.

Many former players are never seen in Ames once they graduate. No good recruits can come here and feel good about their decision, because they cannot turn on Monday Night Football and see someone say “I’m from Iowa State.” Also, players are not publicized by ISU coaches.

Players’ physical attributes are underscored. For example, a 6-foot-tall player may be listed as 5-foot-10 by Iowa State. NFL scouts see this and will never consider that player. NFL teams prefer second stringers (tight end Erik Jensen) from Iowa to four-year starters (wide receiver Lane Danielsen, defensive tackle Jordan Carstens) from Iowa State.

Carstens, who was rated a top five defensive linemen to start the season, was passed on for unrated defensive linemen Jared Clauss of Iowa on draft-day.

NFL personnel people take Iowa players over ISU players because they are well coached and don’t know what they’re getting with ISU coached players.

Current ISU players told me they heard their head coach laughing/hoping one of his former players would run a slow 40-yard dash time when Iowa State had pro timing day — only two or three teams sent scouts to Iowa State, while Iowa — who Iowa State beat four of last five meetings — got 15-20 scouts.

I was ill, seeing Iowa offensive tackle Robert Gallery (second overall pick) on the front page of the Daily while Iowa State had zero representation on draft day. Many ISU players said McCarney said he’d take Colin Menard over Gallery any day of the week. “Who is Colin Menard?” you ask? I asked the players the same question when they told me.

Maybe that is why this program is on its way back to the slums and no one gets drafted: A team full of walk-ons who are preferred over first-round picks.

Patrick Daniel

Ankeny