With the NFL Combine done and dusted, select Cyclones will take part in the final step leading up to the NFL Draft.

Eight Cyclones are expected to take part in Iowa State’s Pro Day Tuesday in hopes of raising their draft stock. The Cyclones taking part are Will McDonald IV, Xavier Hutchinson, Anthony Johnson, MJ Anderson, Trevor Downing, Colby Reeder, O’Rien Vance and Darren Wilson.

Four of those Cyclones already took part in the NFL Combine, giving them a head start in the draft process.

The biggest winner of the pre-draft process so far has been Will McDonald. He was already expected to be a high-round draft pick after setting records during his dominant time in the Big 12.

McDonald finished his illustrious Cyclone career atop the school’s career-sack leaderboard. He also tied the Big 12 career record with 34 sacks. Along with the sacks, McDonald finished his career with the second-most tackles for a loss (42) in Iowa State history.

The fear McDonald struck in opposing quarterbacks earned him First Team All-Big 12 honors in three-straight years. He was also the Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2021 after recording 11.5 sacks in his junior season.

McDonald already had the hype to make him a high draft pick, but he wanted to keep improving his draft stock as he took his talents to the Senior Bowl. McDonald looked like a monster in the Senior Bowl, leaving the event with more hype than ever.

McDonald has the elite athleticism and length to go up against any lineman that stands in his way, and he showed that he was one of the best edge rushers on the field in the Senior Bowl. McDonald also left the NFL Combine ranking near the top in nearly every category for his position group.

It’s clear that McDonald will go near the top of the draft board, as some NFL Draft analysts predict him to go in the first round and even in the top 10. Pro Day will be the last stop for McDonald to show what he can do and build up his image even more before draft day comes.

Xavier Hutchinson is another Cyclone that needs no introduction. The star wide receiver was a crucial piece in Iowa State’s offense in 2022. Hutchinson ended the year at the top of the Big 12 in receptions with 107 and broke out for 1,171 receiving yards.

Hutchinson finished his Cyclone career with his name in the record books, as he now sits at the top of the career-reception leaderboard with 254 receptions. He also ended with the third-most receiving yards in Iowa State history (2,929).

Hutchinson also took advantage of the NFL Combine to demonstrate his great hands and athleticism. Although Hutchinson didn’t rank at the top of the wide receiver group in the Combine, Pro Day should give him a chance to show off the variety of talents he can bring to the next level.

Anthony Johnson is another player who will benefit from a good Pro Day showing. Johnson is a longtime Cyclone, starting nearly every game for five years and breaking the Big 12 career-starts record with 54.

Johnson switched from cornerback to safety in his final season as a Cyclone. The switch allowed him to add more skills to his toolbox, although now he has to show NFL teams that he can compete at the next level even with his lack of experience at safety.

Similar to McDonald and Hutchinson, Johnson had a successful NFL Combine, showing that he can hang with the rest of the pack in the safety category. Now Johnson has one last chance to demonstrate how much he’s changed from a year ago.

The last player that participated in the NFL Combine was MJ Anderson. Anderson does not have much tape, especially at Iowa State, which could cause NFL teams to be wary of drafting him.

The one thing the NFL Combine did was highlight Anderson’s raw athleticism and potential. Anderson has the measurements necessary to excel at the next level.

The one thing an NFL team can’t coach is size. With the potential Anderson has, an NFL team may take him late in the draft and build him into a monster.

Two longtime starters for Iowa State that are looking to make a splash in Iowa State’s Pro Day are Trevor Downing and O’Rien Vance. Downing was a crucial piece of Iowa State’s offensive line for years and is looking to impress NFL teams with a solid Pro Day.

Vance was a veteran linebacker and a big part of Iowa State’s defensive success last season. Vance has the stats and the tape; now he just needs to show that he has the measurements to stack up with other elite linebackers in the draft.

The last two players that may not have a lot of playing time for the Cyclones but are looking to get exposure Tuesday are Colby Reeder and Darren Wilson. Although Reeder only played for the Cyclones for one year, he had many big plays in critical moments that helped the defense succeed.

Wilson also does not have much tape at the collegiate level, but NFL teams are always looking for wide receivers. Pro Day will be a good chance for Wilson to show off his athleticism and what he can bring to the next level.

All the Cyclones competing in Pro Day are looking to gather hype around themselves. The NFL Draft is at the end of April, so time is running out for these select players to make any last-minute improvements before they reach the next level.