Rocco Becht Easily Shows Poise and Potential Ahead of 2024

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Iowa State is one of the many "dark horse", potential contenders for the Big 12 Conference title this year, but like those many teams, they need a few things to go their way to be in the conversation. One of the biggest points of controversy for the Cyclones is whether sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht takes a big step up from 2023 to 2024. If he can perform well, the Cyclones should be right in the thick of the Big 12 race.

About Rocco Becht

Becht was a starter as a freshman in 2023 after redshirting in 2022, starting all 13 games for the Cyclones. He would pass for 3,120 yards, 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions with an overall rating of 69.1. Becht would also rush for 63 yards and 3 touchdowns, showing a lot of promise and potential as a young standout for this Iowa State squad chalked full of young talent.

Becht is the son of former NFL tight end and current St. Louis Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht. Anthony would play his college ball at former Big East powerhouse West Virginia, now a Big 12 school. Rocco has found a home at a conference rival, but the Cyclones have welcomed him and his father with open arms.

Anthony was Rocco's first-ever coach with high praise for his son.

"For me, it was really just impressive as he grew throughout the season and set himself up for success," Anthony said about his son to Fox 13 News's Sean Barie.

Anthony joins the Iowa State faithful in having high hopes for his son's sophomore season and beyond, as the 20-year-old has big expectations going into this season.

"I'll put my mind to anything, and I'm going to go out there every single day and put my hardest into whatever I have to do on the field and off the field," Rocco said in the same interview with Barie.

Confident, poised, and mature are phrases that describe great quarterbacks and Rocco fits the bill for every one of these. An impressive freshman season has placed a heavy weight on his shoulders, but many feel he is more than capable of carrying that burden.

Iowa State's Supporting Cast

Becht certainly couldn't do this alone though, and with a high-powered, youth-filled offense surrounding him, there's chemistry, development and talent all around him. Sophomore running back Abu Sama III partners with Becht in the backfield.

Sama was one of the most underrated backs in the conference last season, rushing for 7.3 yards per carry and 6 touchdowns. While he only ran for 614 yards, that was off 84 carries in a fairly pass-heavy offense. Sama showed what he was capable of when he rushed for an astounding 276 yards and 3 touchdowns against Kansas State last November. Expect him to be used a lot more this upcoming season.

Sama is not the only weapon at Becht and Iowa State's disposal, though, as Iowa State returns a lot of production in the receiver corps too. Senior receiver Jaylin Noel headlines this group which also features receiver Jayden Higgins and tight end Benjamin Brahmer, who were Becht's favorite targets last season. Noel went for 820 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Higgins went for 983 yards and 6 touchdowns. Brahmer would also contribute his fair share, catching 28 passes for 352 yards (12.6 yards/catch) and 2 touchdowns.

Finally, the offensive line returns their entire starting group, with offensive line coach Ryan Clanton being an experienced developer who has molded this group into one of the better units in the Big 12. They should have no problem creating holes for Sama as well as keeping Becht clean.

Becht now just needs to show that last season was no fluke by using this offensive firepower to his advantage. He has the mindset, confidence and ability to make Iowa State into a contender. He also has a team around him that gives him more than a fair shot at taking the Cyclones to the promised land.

Conclusion

Iowa State's experienced defense will also help Iowa State's and Becht's chances at greatness. They should be one of the top units in the conference again, with their secondary and three high safety look still being the highlight of their game. While this Iowa State team certainly has holes to fill with younger guys and transfers, they shouldn't lose a step going into the 2024 season.

There is a lot of young talent on this squad, with Becht arguably being the best player with the highest ceiling out of all of them. If he can put together a solid, consistent season, Iowa State should at the very least be competitive in every game this year. Having a dad with professional football experience certainly helps and shows in his mindset, now all that is left is for him to go out and get it.

You can find more Iowa State and Big 12 news here at College Football Dawgs.