Former Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins made his mark at the NFL Combine this offseason, solidifying his status as a legitimate NFL prospect. According to NFL.com, Higgins holds a 6.24 prospect grade, which projects him as a potential starter at the big level.
His combined performance only strengthened his case, ranking sixth in production, fourth in total score, and fifth in athleticism among all receivers in attendance.
Jayden Higgins Speaks Highly of Rocco Becht
At the Combine, Higgins showcased his athleticism with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, a broad jump of 10’8″, and a 39″ vertical leap. He also impressed in the 10-yard split, clocking in at 1.53 seconds.
His performance reinforced his potential as an NFL contender, but amid the excitement for his future, he remained reflective on the time he spent catching passes from Rocco Becht at Iowa State.
Jayden Higgins had a great year with the Cyclones and had career-high stats in his last season with more receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
He led the program to the second-team All-Big 12 honors, and this was when Iowa State also had another wide receiver who is predicted to be top-100 pick in the 2025 draft, Jaylin Noel.
So, Higgins was asked about his thoughts on Becht and what it was like receiving for him when he called the plays.
“Yeah, Rocco was our sliding quarterback, and he did everything. He’s extremely accountable. He’s a great leader and just a guy that you can fall back on,” Higgins said. “He’s gonna continue to grow at that program, and he’s gonna have a great year as well.”
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins on QB Rocco Becht and ISU’a culture under Matt Campbell. pic.twitter.com/dgLsXNWqRz
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) February 28, 2025
Higgins was then asked about the environment at Iowa State, which bolstered their performance tremendously in the 2024 season.
“Yeah, just like I said, Iowa State is all about team,” he answered. “It’s a team atmosphere, and when you play together, that’s gonna help the team win at all times. So I would just say being together.”
Rocco Becht Reveals His Reason for Returning to Ames
Following Iowa State’s tough 45-19 loss to Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship Game, Rocco Becht made it clear that he had unfinished business. Instead of chasing lucrative NIL offers from other programs, the quarterback stayed loyal to the Cyclones, determined to return and lead the team into another season.
He expressed his confidence in the coaching staff of the college football program and believed that he could do even better in the upcoming season with them.
“We are losing two guys that mean so much to this program on offense and have put up a bunch of yards and total yards for us, but we’ve got guys coming in,” Becht said. “And I trust our coaches and our staff to put together a team next season to produce the same quality of play that we did this year. So I’m excited for it.”
Becht’s father, Anthony, was interviewed for the head coaching job at West Virginia. However, the Mountaineers ultimately went in a different direction, hiring Rich Rodriguez. Even if his father had landed the job, Becht made it clear that his commitment to Iowa State wouldn’t waver.
KEEP READING: Iowa State QB Rocco Becht’s Leadership Takes Center Stage at 2025 NFL Combine
“We had talked about it a while ago where, just hypothetically, if he ever were to go there, I would stay here,” he added. “He wants me to stay here because he knows that I’m in good hands, and he knows that he can trust these coaches and put me in the best situation possible.”
With his sights set on the 2025 season, Rocco Becht is determined to lead Iowa State back to the Big 12 title hunt. His loyalty to the program and unwavering commitment prove that he is ready to back up his words with action on the field.
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