Iowa State Player Who Could Become Surprise Star This Season

There is one Iowa State Cyclones player who stands out as a potential star this season.

Wide receiver Omari Hayes stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Wednesday, August 19, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Iowa State Cyclones are going into the upcoming college football season with an immense number of question marks.

With 22 new starters on offense and defense, the team is completely different from the previous year, which also creates low expectations for the squad.

While the general college football fan isn’t expecting much out of the Cyclones, players within the program are bought in. There are a bunch of intriguing options, and all seem to have some sort of upside that could help them put their name on the map in the college football world.

Now the question is: Who will that surprise star be this year? And the answer is going to be Omari Hayes.

Omari Hayes has star potential for Iowa State

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Tulane Green Wave wide receiver Omari Hayes (1) is tackled by Mississippi Rebels linebacker Andrew Jones (44) during the first half of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Hayes is a senior wide receiver who spent his first two seasons as part of two Group of Five programs. He started with the Florida Atlantic Owls, where he recorded 590 yards and three touchdowns. It was a fantastic season, which got him to transfer up to the Tulane Green Wave, a Group of Five powerhouse.

In his first year there, he put up 515 yards and a touchdown, solidifying himself as a top receiver on the squad. He was also a part of the College Football Playoff, where Tulane unfortunately lost to the Ole Miss Rebels. But Hayes did get four catches for 52 yards in the contest.

Hayes is a proven winner and a legit ballplayer with multiple programs, and that success should translate to Iowa State for the upcoming season.

The main reason he will do well with the Cyclones is his play against top teams. It was mentioned previously that he starred in the College Football Playoff against Ole Miss, but that wasn’t the only game he performed well in. He also had four catches for 69 yards against the Duke Blue Devils, who ended up being the ACC Champions.

But that’s not the only reason he’ll do well. When it comes to the wide receiver room at Iowa State, there are a lot of intriguing pieces, with none that seem like a clear top dog. Hayes is definitely the best receiver, but not to the point where he has to slow down. If he wants the reps that he hopes for, it’s going to take hard work in practice every single day to achieve that. That creates a hungry player.

The season is right around the corner, and the Cyclones are looking to have a solid first year under head coach Jimmy Rogers. And the player who will become the surprise star of the squad is going to be Hayes.