Chase Allen, a pillar of Matt Campbell’s program over the last five seasons, has declared for the NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end was the first high-profile recruit of Campbell’s tenure in Ames, and has been credited by Campbell over the years as a major reason to Iowa State’s national rise.

“If there’s ever gonna be a salute to this era of football here at Iowa State I think the pillar of that salute should be around Chase Allen,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said.

“I mean, nobody cares about this place more. And boy, Chase had a multitude of different opportunities to go to a multitude of different schools that had far greater traditions and far greater success at the time. And Chase came here.”

Allen, who was ranked as a top-25 tight end nationally by ESPN (No. 12), Scout (No. 21) and Rivals (No. 23), chose Iowa State over Michigan, Florida State, Oklahoma State and Nebraska among others. Iowa State went 3-9 the season prior to Allen’s commitment.

In his six seasons as a Cyclone, Allen was named an All-Big 12 Second Team selection four times. He played in 59 career games, good for third most in school history.

Allen, along with Charlie Kolar, Dylan Soehner, Sam Seonbuchner and others, helped turn around Iowa State’s tight end room to unprecedented heights.

He finishes his Iowa State career sixth on Iowa State’s tight ends list in receptions (74) and receiving yards (810).

In his final season as a Cyclone in 2021, Allen caught a career-high 26 passes for a career-best 284 yards and two touchdowns. Allen had three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown in his final game at Jack Trice Stadium against TCU on Nov. 26.

Allen also was a five-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 member.