'That's our guy': Iowa State football quarterback Rocco Becht has grown in his confidence

AMES — Last season’s game against Ohio sticks out to Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell.

It was the Cyclones ' first road contest of the year, and quarterback Rocco Becht spent part of halftime emptying the contents of his stomach.

“He doesn’t go to the locker room at halftime,” Campbell said on Tuesday. “He’s puking on the steps…he could hardly stand up.”

Becht finished that game with 233 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Iowa State lost, 10-7, with the Cyclones’ only score coming on an 18-yard pass from Becht to Jayden Higgins.

Campbell admits it wasn’t the result he wanted.

But more than just a tally mark in the loss column came out of that game.

“I think that day, everybody in our program was like, ‘That’s our guy,’” Campbell recalled. “It was one of those days that was profound in a lot of ways for Rocco and, I think, everybody around Rocco.”

That was last season.

Becht is a different player than he was a year ago, yet very much still the same.

And that's a good thing for Iowa State football.

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Not Brock Purdy, not Hunter Dekkers

Iowa State experienced the Brock Purdy era between 2018 and 2021.

Then came the time of Hunter Dekkers, cut short after he was involved in the state’s gambling probe and had his remaining NCAA eligibility revoked.

After appearing in three games during his true freshman season – maintaining his redshirt – Becht emerged as the top option at quarterback in 2023. It came down to him and 4-star recruit JJ Kohl, fresh off a successful career at Ankeny, and Becht won the starting job.

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There are a lot of similarities between Purdy and Becht, at least on paper.

Both stand at 6-foot-1.

Both hail from warm weather states, Purdy from Arizona and Becht from Florida.

Both earned Freshman of the Year honors: Purdy was named the Big 12 True Freshman of the Year by ESPN in 2018, and Becht – in his redshirt freshman year – was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2023.

But they are not the same player.

“I’m just trying to be Rocco Becht,” he said. “I’m just continuing to play my game and be myself.”

Being himself worked out well in his first season as a starter.

He broke Iowa State freshman records for completions (231), passing yards (3,120 yards) and passing touchdowns (23). He helped the Cyclones to a 7-6 record and threw at least one touchdown pass in his first eight starts.

This year, the preparation wasn’t much different.

But the confidence is.

More: Iowa State football releases first depth chart ahead of season opener against North Dakota

Same Rocco Becht, different level of leadership

“I didn’t really feel like it was my place to talk,” Becht said about his leadership role last season.

But with his performance last season and experience this offseason, Becht earned the trust of his teammates. Higgins is one player who has nothing but confidence in his starting quarterback.

“I love Rocco,” Higgins laughed. “Him trusting in us gives us the utmost confidence. He’s the same guy that he’s been since I got here and just looking for a good season this year.”

With a new confidence in his leadership abilities, Becht took on a different role in the quarterback room.

At 20 years old, he is one of the oldest quarterbacks on Iowa State’s roster. Competition for the starting spot aside, he’s taken native Midwesterns JJ Kohl and Connor Moberly – listed as the top options behind Becht on the depth chart – under his wing.

“I’m like their dad in the room,” Becht laughed. “So, I’m usually taking care of them.”

Becht knows that the betterment of the whole room equals the betterment of the team, and that he’s a better player with guys like Kohl and Moberly pushing him every day.

More: Hines: How Iowa State football is coaching its quarterbacks with a new OC in 2024

People outside of the Iowa State football sphere are also looking for Becht to put together a solid sophomore campaign, too. The Cyclones’ starter earned spots on the Manning, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Davey O’Brien and Biletnikoff award watch lists.

The preseason hype is there.

And Becht couldn’t care less.

“He’s so deeply rooted in who he is,” Campbell told the Des Moines Register. “I said this about Brock – and this is not a Brock-Rocco comparison – the thing that makes great quarterbacks is that they know who they are, and they know what they stand for.”

Becht is humble to his core, according to Campbell, and possesses the intangibles that make a leader.

He gets some of his football talent from his father, Anthony, who played at West Virginia, was a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2000, and spent 12 years in the league.

Campbell sees a lot of Rocco’s mother, DeeAnn, in his starting quarterback. The Cyclones’ coach credits her with some of Becht’s poise and kind-heartedness.

“That’s Rocco’s special superpower, he’s just a genuine human,” Campbell said. “Whether he puts a show on up here or puts a show on at practice, you see his heart. That’s who Rocco really is.”

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 'That's our guy': Iowa State football quarterback Rocco Becht has grown in his confidence