AMES — As No. 16 Iowa State prepares to head to Arlington, Texas, for the Big 12 Championship game against No. 15 Arizona State on Saturday, the Big 12 announced its yearly awards for the best players who shined the brightest during the 2024 season.
The Cyclones had 15 players recognized in some way, shape or form during the announcement of the honors Thursday, with wide receiver Jaylin Noel getting the highest praise.
However, it wasn’t Noel’s abilities on the offensive side of the ball that made him earn this praise. It ended up being Noel’s play as a kick returner/punt returner that earned him a spot not only on the All-Big 12 First Team, but as the Big 12 Co-Special Team Player of the Year alongside BYU kicker Will Ferrin.
This was Noel’s first time earning both of these honors after only ending up on the All-Big 12 Second Team as a wide receiver in 2023, while being an honorable mention for his play on special teams.
The senior captain punt returner was able to help flip the field for Iowa State multiple different times, as he finished the regular season with 199 yards on 13 attempts with no touchdowns. His longest punt return of the season was for 36 yards.
As for the kick return side of things, Noel was second to senior running back Jaylon Jackson but still put up 53 yards on three attempts with his longest return being a 22-yarder.
While Noel did not end up on either the first or second All-Big 12 team after achieving 1,000 yards in a season for the first time in his collegiate career, he still led Iowa State on this day of awards.
While Noel was the only Cyclone to make the All-Big 12 First Team, four different Iowa State players in senior fullback Stevo Klotz, senior wide receiver Jayden Higgins, redshirt sophomore defensive back Jontez Williams and redshirt junior defensive back Malik Verdon made the All-Big 12 Second Team.
To start, Klotz has now been awarded a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team for a second consecutive season after getting his first honors a year ago.
While Klotz didn’t make a huge difference in the receiving game by only catching seven passes for 93 yards and the one touchdown he had against Cincinnati that went for 26 yards, he still played an integral role in helping Iowa State’s rushing attack this season as a fullback.
Next, the South Miami, Florida native Higgins, who earned his first spot on an All-Big 12 team after being an honorable mention in 2023.
Despite falling 17 yards short of 1,000 yards in his inaugural season with the Cyclones after transferring from Eastern Kentucky, Higgins burst onto the scene and has become one of the best receivers, not only in the Big 12, but the country.
The 2024 season will be the most memorable for the senior receiver, as he reached that 1,000-yard mark in the Nov. 23 win over Utah, also grabbing nine touchdowns in the process.
Along with that, Higgins set a new Iowa State record for most consecutive games with a touchdown reception, as he went seven straight games dating back to last season with at least one touchdown catch in each game.
Although that streak was broken in the Cyclones’ 28-16 win over West Virginia in Morgantown on Oct. 12, Higgins still finished the season having nine touchdowns in 12 games.
As for Williams, he earned his first-ever honors on the All-Big 12 list with a breakout sophomore campaign.
Highlighted by his four consecutive interception streak, where Williams corralled interceptions against Houston, Baylor, West Virginia and UCF, he helped the Iowa State defense lead the Big 12 in scoring defense (19.6) and passing defense (156.9).
Verdon was the only other defensive back on Iowa State to be awarded to one of the All-Big 12 teams.
Despite ending his season dealing with injuries, Verdon continued to make an impact on this stout Cyclones defense, as he led the team in total tackles (74) and had five passes defended, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble.
Like Higgins, Verdon was finally able to break onto an All-Big 12 team after being an honorable mention a year ago.
While this ends the players who made a spot on one of the All-Big 12 teams, 11 players in total were given honorable mentions for this season.
That list includes redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, Noel as a wide receiver, sophomore tight end Benjamin Brahmer, redshirt senior offensive linemen Jarrod Hufford and Jalen Travis, redshirt freshman kicker Kyle Konrardy, junior defensive lineman Domonique Orange, redshirt senior captain defensive lineman J.R. Singleton, junior defensive back Jeremiah Cooper, senior captain defensive back Beau Freyler and redshirt senior defensive back Darien Porter.
