The NFL preseason is a great time to see guys who may not be starters but are looking to make a name for themselves as they fight for a spot on the roster. Whether it be an undrafted free agent, a fifth-round gem, or a veteran trying to stick around the league, these former Big 12 players stood out this past weekend.
Jalon Daniels, Quarterback, Kansas, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After finishing a nice collegiate career at the University of Kansas, where he accumulated over 10,000 yards of total offense and 90 total touchdowns, Jalon Daniels went undrafted this past spring but was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The move may have paid off for the Bucs. Tampa has their starting quarterback in Baker Mayfield (another former Big 12 standout who played at Oklahoma and won the Heisman Trophy); his future is uncertain after this season since the two sides couldn’t agree on a contract extension.
Daniels had a fantastic preseason debut for the Bucs, throwing for 115 yards on 10-15 passing while also rushing three times for nine yards and a touchdown. This is exactly the type of game the rookie needed to make himself stand out and show he deserves a roster spot with the potential to be Mayfield’s backup and possible successor if he continues to do well moving forward.
Cyrus Allen, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati, Kansas City Chiefs
Allen has made quite the impression on Chiefs Kingdom throughout training camp, and that momentum continued into the first preseason game this past weekend at Arrowhead Stadium. Allen, who had 13 touchdowns and only dropped one pass for the Bearcats in 2025, was a fifth-round selection by the Chiefs and could be one of the steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Allen’s stat line, two catches for 20 yards, isn’t anything to write home about. However, if you watched the game or the highlights, you can’t help but notice some plays that stand out. One of his catches was an impressive leaping grab where he scaled the ladder, was upended, and fell to the ground while still holding onto the ball. Another play was called back due to a penalty, but Allen showed his yards-after-catch ability, turning a catch behind the line of scrimmage into a 15-yard gain before being called back. On his final series of the game, Allen broke double coverage to get open and move free toward the end zone for what could have been a touchdown, but his quarterback underthrew it into the cornerback’s hands. The hype train isn’t slowing down for Allen as the Chiefs move toward the regular season.
Beanie Bishop Jr, Cornerback, West Virginia, Chicago Bears
Bishop is entering his second season in the league. He spent his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a solid rookie year as an undrafted free agent. Bishop had 30 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, and four interceptions. That led to him signing a new contract with the Bears a couple of weeks ago.
His preseason debut with the Bears went better than anyone could have anticipated. Bishop got two interceptions: one against former Big 12 quarterback Shadeur Sanders and another against former Big 12 quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Bishop continues to prove doubters wrong, and the Bears are hoping he can continue to be a turnover machine as the regular season gets closer, especially with some injuries in the secondary that they will have to overcome.
Michael Trigg, Tight End, Baylor, Cowboys
Michael Trigg went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite being projected to be taken anywhere from the third to fifth rounds. He has the size (6’4” / 240 lbs) to be a mismatch if given the right situation, and the Cowboys felt like he could compete for a spot on the roster. So far, so good for Trigg and the Cowboys, who took a chance on him.
Trigg caught four passes for 40 yards in his first preseason game with the Cowboys. It was a fantastic start for Trigg, who will need to play lights out in each preseason game to land a spot on the Cowboys’ roster. He will have an uphill battle to get a roster spot with Jake Ferguson, Luke Shoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford all listed ahead of him on the depth chart, but stringing together a few more games like the first one will give him a decent shot. If the Cowboys decide not to keep him on their final roster, he could play himself onto another team when the season rolls around.
As the preseason continues, we’ll see what other former Big 12 players stand out, but these four players looked especially strong during the first round of preseason games.
