Cyclone football players Lane Danielsen and Jordan Carstens are two of countless college players vying to hear their names called on NFL draft day.

Both Carstens and Danielsen spent four days in Indianapolis last month working out in the NFL combine. Every pro football team was represented at the combine, which was a chance for players to showcase their skills and talents to the entire league.

“I’m really happy [with my performance]. I think I worked out well,” Danielsen said. “A lot of teams were real impressed. I caught the ball well and ran well — I’m happy with it.”

Every player was put through rigorous testing and judged not only on his football abilities but also on his intelligence and character.

Players were X-rayed, and their muscles were tested during the first day. After that, they were given physicals by team doctors, which Danielsen described as “pretty intense.”

The third day was filled with psychological tests and interviews with teams and coaches from around the league. On the final day of the combine, players took to the field, going through workouts, flexibility tests and other drills.

Carstens was pleased with his trip to Indianapolis, although a knee injury kept him from performing his best.

“My knee was bothering me, so I didn’t do as well as I could have if I had been 100 percent,” Carstens said.

After the combine, Carstens had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair torn cartilage.

“I’m jogging on it now, and I should be back to full strength soon,” Carstens said.

Carstens finished sixth for the Cyclones last season with 40 tackles, even though he missed four games due to injury. He finished his career with 272 tackles and 10 sacks. Because of the injury and surgery, Carstens will hold his own private workout for teams later this month in Ames.

As a wide receiver, Danielsen knows he will be going against superstars on draft day, but he feels his performance puts him in the running for serious consideration.

“This is the most loaded draft for receivers [in years], but I think I helped myself out [with my performance],” Danielsen said. “I understand that I’m not going to be a first-day guy [in the draft]. I’m looking at the fifth or sixth round or even as a free agent. I’m just trying to get picked up by a team and to help them out.”

A former walk-on who played his way to a scholarship, Danielsen leaves Iowa State as its career leader in receptions with 163 catches. He was on the receiving end of 14 touchdown passes and also rushed for four more scores. Carstens is also a former walk-on.

There are other Cyclones who are looking to break through and play at the next level as well. While Danielsen and Carstens were the only two to be invited to take part in the NFL combine, ISU head coach Dan McCarney said he feels a couple of other players have a shot.

“It’s hard to say [how we’ll do on draft day], to be honest,” McCarney said. “[Carstens and Danielsen] went to the combines and those two plus JaMaine Billups and Lance Young were invited to postseason games.

“Whether they are drafted or sign as free agents, we are hoping that a number of guys will get opportunities.”

While the Cyclones don’t have a superstar who is almost guaranteed a selection on draft day, McCarney is still confident a handful of NFL teams will be populated with ISU players when next season begins.

“Based on what we’re hearing, there is a chance to get anywhere between two and four guys drafted and other guys signed through free agency,” McCarney said. “We’re hoping that a number of guys will get an opportunity [at the next level]. There are a handful of guys who will get a chance to be on a roster in the NFL.”