Peterson: Another NFL draft, another rough go for Cyclones

Tennessee-Chattanooga had a player selected in the NFL Draft. Tulane did, too. And Hobart. And Delaware.

And Tennessee State. And Newberry. And Mars Hill.

And Iowa State ... went bust.

For the third time in the past six years, the Cyclones had no one picked during the seven-round extravaganza that ended Saturday afternoon. Not even tight end E.J. Bibbs. Not even defensive tackle David Irving.

And you wonder why this program isn't winning more games — why it has just five combined victories over the past two seasons?

It's not all on current coach Paul Rhoads. Gene Chizik recruited some of the Cyclones unpicked in the 2010 and 2011 drafts, too. I hear there's decent talent in the younger classes. Cyclones fans can only hope that's the case.

A grand total of 89 well-known and not so well-known colleges were represented among the 256 players picked. Even Hobart, which is in upstate New York. Even Newberry, which is in South Carolina. Even Mars Hill, that small school in North Carolina.

But Iowa State?

Alabama-Birmingham had players selected in the 2015 draft, and that football program is disbanding.

UAB 2, ISU 0.

I'm not surprised. The Cyclones might out-hustle and play harder than some opponents. They just need to put more talented players on the field.

Look at the draft scoreboard heading into the weekend. There were 15 players from Kansas State, and 15 from Texas Tech picked during the previous 10 drafts entering the weekend. There were 17 from Oklahoma State.

Iowa State?

Ten between the 2005 and 2014 drafts. The only other Big 12 team with a lower total was Kansas, with nine.

(And this just in: Kansas had three picked Saturday. I guess that explains Jayhawks 34, Cyclones 14 last November.)

It's tough enough to win as the northernmost school of one of the toughest, largely southern conferences in the land. But winning with fewer future pros than your opponent?

Those guys, especially players at the skill positions, often flock to the warmer climates and to places where they throw footballs around like candy at parades.

The last time Iowa State had a quarterback, running back or wide receiver drafted was 2003 — quarterback Seneca Wallace to the Seahawks. The last running back? Troy Davis to the Saints in 1997. Wideout? Tracy Henderson to the Giants in 1985.

The last Iowa State player picked before the fifth round? Second-rounder Kelechi Osemele, an offensive lineman to the Ravens in 2012. Before that? Defensive back Ellis Hobbs, a third-rounder to the Patriots in 2005.

The trend, at least with most ISU regular opponents, goes something like "the more NFL players on your roster, the merrier."

Oklahoma came into this weekend with 57 players drafted the past 10 years, most among teams that have been in the Big 12 longer than TCU and West Virginia. Who among those eight teams have had the most wins over the last 10 seasons?

Oklahoma.

Texas had 41 players picked the previous 10 years — and 94 wins. Baylor had 22 and 67. Oklahoma State? Seventeen and 84.

Iowa State has 45 wins since 2005, five fewer than Kansas.

And this just in, thanks to a Friday tweet from NFL analyst Gil Brandt:

Who's next? Indiana, at 21 years.

Central Michigan had first-rounders in 2013 and 2007. Iowa State's most recent?

George Amundson to the Houston Oilers — in 1973.

Every Big 12 team except Iowa State has had a first-rounder during the previous 10 drafts. I'm not saying a roster full of them is mandatory to winning. I'm just trying to point out how tough this Iowa State coaching gig is, can be and always has been.

All this now begs the question: Who is the next Cyclones' football player to be picked during at least the first three rounds? Who is the next "skill-position" player to be drafted before the fourth?

Allen Lazard?

The nfldraftblitz website ranked the sophomore-to-be the sixth-best true freshman receiver last season. Thirteen at his position went in the first three rounds of this year's draft.

The former Urbandale High School four-star guy started 11 of 12 games last season. He was second on the team in receiving yards and receptions.

Who else in cardinal and gold has that kind of draft potential?

Good question.

Cyclone sports columnist Randy Peterson has been reporting on ISU during the past five decades. Follow @RandyPete.