AMES — Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel were arguably the nation’s best wide receiving duo, and they were drafted by the same team, the Houston Texans, in the 2025 NFL Draft.

On Wednesday, they became the first teammates to share the Gary Thompson Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year award.

It marks just the fifth time in school history that Iowa State has had co-Athlete of the Year award winners and the first since Edward Kemboi (track and field/cross country) and Kyven Gadson (wrestling) shared the honor in 2015.

Individually, both senior wideouts put together what ranks among the best single seasons in the 133-year history of the program.

They were one of just two pairs nationally to each notch 1,000 receiving yards during the 2024 season, as they led the Cyclones to the winningest season in school history with an 11-3 record which culminated with a win in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Higgins earned Associated Press Third-Team All-America honors after finishing the season with 87 receptions (second-most in school history), 1,183 yards (third) and nine touchdowns (tied for second). He was the sixth wide receiver in school history to earn All-America honors. He also earned second-team all-Big 12 honors.

Higgins was 10th nationally in receiving yards, 14th in receptions per game (6.7) and 20th in receiving touchdowns.

Higgins, who played two seasons at ISU after transferring from Eastern Kentucky, caught a pass in all 26 games he played as a Cyclone and broke the school record with a touchdown reception in seven-straight games.

In 2024 he topped 100 receiving yards in five games, including a season-best 155 yards on nine catches at Utah.

Noel, a two-time co-captain, was named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and was first team all-Big 12 as a return man, while earning honorable mention honors as a receiver.

Noel made 80 receptions (fifth-most in school history) for 1,194 yards (second) and eight touchdowns (tied for seventh). He was ninth nationally in receiving yards and 18th in receiving yards per game (85.3).

Noel saved his best for some of the season’s biggest moments: a 75-yard touchdown reception against Iowa and 40 receiving yards on the 33 second game-winning drive against the Hawkeyes. Against No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Noel notched eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Higgins and Noel will be recognized at the football season opener against South Dakota.