Former Cyclones Compete in UFL Week 1

Hakeem Butler, Hunter Dekkers, and D.J. Miller make appearances in the United Football League's opening week.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:09pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a UFL football game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a palette of deep blue, forest green, and burnt orange.The UFL's opening week showcased the talent of former Iowa State Cyclones players, with their diverse skills and styles deconstructed into a dynamic, geometric visual.Columbus Today

Several former Iowa State Cyclones football players saw action in the first week of the 2026 United Football League (UFL) season. Hakeem Butler, a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks, was listed as inactive for their opening game. Former Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers played for the Houston Gamblers, going 19-of-29 passing for 229 yards and a touchdown. D.J. Miller, who played for the Cyclones before transferring to Kent State, recorded three tackles including a tackle for loss for the Columbus Aviators.

Why it matters

The UFL is a new professional football league that launched in 2026, providing opportunities for former college players to continue their careers. The performance of these former Cyclones in the league's opening week showcases the talent that Iowa State has developed and the ability of its players to compete at the professional level.

The details

Hakeem Butler, a wide receiver, was listed as inactive for the St. Louis Battlehawks' 16-10 win over the defending champion DC Defenders. Former Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers played for the Houston Gamblers, replacing Nolan Henderson at quarterback by the fourth drive of the game. Dekkers went 19-of-29 passing for 229 yards and had three carries for 28 yards and a touchdown, but the Gamblers fell 36-17 to the Dallas Renegades. D.J. Miller, a defensive back who played for Iowa State before transferring to Kent State, recorded three tackles including a tackle for loss for the Columbus Aviators in their 23-16 road loss to the Orlando Storm.

  • The 2026 United Football League (UFL) season kicked off on March 30, 2026.

The players

Hakeem Butler

A former wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones, Butler is now a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL.

Hunter Dekkers

A former quarterback for the Iowa State Cyclones, Dekkers is now playing for the Houston Gamblers in the UFL.

D.J. Miller

A former defensive back for the Iowa State Cyclones, Miller is now playing for the Columbus Aviators in the UFL.

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What they’re saying

“'To be honest, this receiver room is one of the better ones in the league in my opinion. In my opinion, it's the best one. But obviously we couldn't we didn't show that showcase that today. But it's just building chemistry day by day. I mean, everyone just met each other four weeks ago. Building chemistry with receivers takes a lot of time.'”

— Hunter Dekkers, Quarterback, Houston Gamblers

The takeaway

The performance of these former Iowa State Cyclones players in the opening week of the UFL demonstrates the continued success of the Iowa State football program in developing talent that can compete at the professional level. As the new league continues to grow, the contributions of these Cyclones alumni will be important to watch.