Top 50 Greatest Cyclone Football Players: 35-31

We find ourselves this week diving into spots 35-31 on our Top 50 Greatest Cyclone Football players. There is a ton of offensive fire power in this week’s list, as the dynamic duo of Tracy Henderson and David Archer crack the list. We also find our first pure special teamer to grace the top 50 list and it is a good one. We are one week closer to the season opener and without hesitation here are spots 35-31.

35. J.J. Moses (1997-2000)

If you didn’t get to see J.J. Moses play or don’t know much about him, think modern day Tarik Cohen. Moses played all over the field for Iowa State. He ran the ball, played receiver and returned kicks. Chicago Bears fans: ring a bell? Ding, ding...Tarik Cohen. Moses during his time in Ames had 1,226 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, along 405 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns. One of his most memorable runs came on an end around in Iowa City during the 2000 Cy-Hawk game where he helped Iowa State to a 24-14 victory that year. His senior season, J. J. led the team in receiving yards and was named Iowa State’s MVP for the year.

Moses would spend a brief time playing professionally after Iowa State. His longest stint came with the Houston Texans for two seasons, where he spent his time as a kick and punt returner. Currently, Moses is the Director of Player Engagement for the Houston Texans front office.

34. Tracy Henderson (1982-1984)

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Henderson never wore a red helmet, ‘I don’t need to be singled out (by wearing a red helmet) at this point,’ Henderson said. ‘I’ve got enough people (defenders) looking for me as it is. There’s a time and place for everything.’

He probably would’ve had a deeper lead in the record books, but Criner kicked him off the team. He still has the most receiving yards in one game with 217, which came against A&M in 1984.

From a February 1985 Chicago Tribune article:

“Tracy Henderson and fellow wide receiver Robbie Minor have been kicked off the Iowa State football for what coach Jim Criner said were disciplinary reasons. Henderson, who is from Maywood, said Criner felt he hadn`t given 100 percent and was a negative influence. Henderson said Minor was kicked off the squad because he argued with a coach. Criner would not elaborate on the dismissals.

Henderson, a second-team All America last fall and a third-team selection in 1983, had one year of eligibility remaining. Minor had two. Henderson said he would like to remain at Iowa State, but didn`t think Criner would let him return to the team. Henderson said Criner had lifted his scholarship. Henderson was Division I-A’s fifth-leading receiver last season with 64 catches for 941 yards and 6 touchdowns.

This was the second year Henderson has gotten in trouble with Criner. Last year, the coach refused to allow him to be interviewed because of an attitude problem.”

33. David Archer (1982-1983)

David Archer came to Iowa State before the 1982 season as a junior college transfer from Snow Community College in Utah. He would be the main man in Iowa State’s offense for two seasons. During his junior campaign Archer threw for 1,465 yards and 5 touchdowns. In Archer’s final season, he and previously mentioned Tracy Henderson would become one of the most lethal duos in Iowa State history.

Archer would break every single-season school passing record during his senior season. He would set school records in pass completions with 243, passing yards with 2,639 and passing touchdowns with 18. He led the then Big Eight and ranked eighth nationally in total offense all while earning All-America honors. Archer would go on to play for the Atlanta Falcons following Iowa State for four seasons and a number of stops professionally there after.

32. E.J. Bibbs (2013-2014)

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To this day, E.J. Bibbs may be hard to beat as the best tight end to play at Iowa State ever. He had all the tools that made him one of the most dominant at the position. During his two seasons at Iowa State, Bibbs caught 84 passes for 844 yards and ten touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Big 12 from the conference’s coaches as a senior. Bibbs was plagued a bit by the injury bug during his time in Ames, didn’t help matters he dealt with a revolving door at the quarterback position. We may have never seen the full potential of E.J. Bibbs in an Iowa State uniform, but what we got was good enough to keep him highly regarded amongst the best.

31. Cole Netten (2012-2016)

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As we sit right now, Cole Netten is the greatest Iowa State kicker of all time. Netten is the career record holder for a career field goal percentage at 79.4% and holds the single season record at 94.1%. The 2016 season was his best, when Netten was named to the All-Big 12 team, earned the Jim Doran Outstanding Special Teams Player, and was on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List during the season. Netten made 16 of his 17 attempts to lead the Big 12 and rank third nationally.

Netten’s only miss during the 2016 season was a 50-yarder vs. Texas. Netten broke the school record for consecutive field goals made with 15 while owning three of the top four field goal made streaks in school history of 15, 11 and 9. Netten ended his career making his final nine attempts he also led Iowa State in scoring with 83 points

Top 50 Greatest Cyclone Football Players of All Time recap:

50-46

50. David Hoppmann

49. Jim Doran

48. Brent Curvey

47. Tim Dobbins

46. Jason Berryman

45-41

45. Mike Busch

44. Jack Trice

43. LaMarcus Hicks

42. JaQuan Bailey

41. Tom Randall

40-36

40. Stevie Hicks

39. Alvin “Ace” Bowen

38. Nik Moser

37. Alexander Robinson

36. Ray Lima