Hawkeyes in the NFL: List of former Iowa football players on current rosters

Here is a list of former Iowa football players in the NFL. This will be updated as changes are made. Last update: Sept. 3

Consider this impressive:

Defensive lineman Jack Heflin, running back Mekhi Sargent and offensive lineman Alaric Jackson of the 2020 Iowa football team all made NFL regular-season rosters this week.

As undrafted free agents.

“There's a lot of things about the NFL that were really calloused and hard,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday, “but if you go in and perform, you've got a chance. I don't know how many jobs are like that.

“But you have an opportunity and you typically get judged on your merits and what you do, what you bring to the organization. The one little caveat there, it's a benefit to be young and cheap. So that gives you a little better chance to gain traction as one of the last five spots on the roster. Certainly a practice squad deal.

“I've always told our guys, it doesn't matter how you get there. It is just is a matter of what you do when you get there. If you do quality work, chances are you'll get an opportunity.

“And the other good thing about the NFL, there are 31 other teams that are evaluating you as well as the team that you're on. So at least you know there's opportunity there.

“But all that being said, it's hard. And the guys that typically end up sticking are the guys that figure out that you've got to work hard and show up every day and do your absolute best and show something for the team or organization to invest the time.

“And I like to think that our guys at least understand when they go in what they need to be doing and hopefully won't self-destruct.”

Heflin is with the Green Bay Packers, Sargent is a Tennessee Titan, and Jackson is a Los Angeles Ram.

The four Hawkeyes who were drafted this year all made rosters. They are defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (third round, Dallas Cowboys), wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (fifth, Minnesota Vikings), defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon (fifth, Carolina Panthers) and linebacker Nick Niemann (sixth, Los Angeles Chargers).

Niemann led the NFL in tackles during the preseason.

Wednesday, wide receiver Brandon Smith (Dallas), tight end Shaun Beyer and linebacker Barrington Wade (both Denver Broncos) were signed to practice squad rosters.

The full list of former Hawkeyes in the NFL:

QB — C.J. Beathard (Jacksonville)

RB — Mekhi Sargent (Tennessee)

WR — Ihmir Smith-Marsette (Minnesota)

TE — George Kittle (San Francisco), Noah Fant (Denver), T.J. Hockenson (Detroit), Parker Hesse (Atlanta, Reserve-COVID list)

OL — Brandon Scherff (Washington), Bryan Bulaga (L.A. Chargers), Austin Blythe (Kansas City), Riley Reiff (Cincinnati), Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay), Ike Boettger (Buffalo), James Daniels (Chicago), Matt Nelson (Detroit, a defensive lineman when he was at Iowa), Alaric Jackson (L.A. Rams), Cole Banwart (Tennessee, Reserve-COVID 19 list)

DL — Carl Davis (New England), A.J. Epenesa (Buffalo), Daviyon Nixon (Carolina), Chauncey Golston (Dallas), Jack Heflin (Green Bay), Anthony Nelson (Tampa Bay)

LB — Christian Kirksey (Houston), Anthony Hitchens (Kansas City), Josey Jewell (Denver), Ben Niemann (Kansas City), Nick Niemann (L.A. Chargers), Kristian Welch (Baltimore)

DB — Micah Hyde (Buffalo), Geno Stone (Baltimore), Michael Ojemudia (Denver), Amani Hooker (Tennessee), Desmond King (Houston), Josh Jackson (N.Y. Giants)

LS — Casey Kreiter (N.Y. Giants, though it isn’t yet official)

Practice squad players:

WR -- Brandon Smith (Dallas)

TE -- Shaun Beyer (Denver)

LB -- Barrington Wade (Denver)

OL -- James Ferentz (New England)