It appeared to be all doom and gloom at the beginning of the season for the Iowa State Cyclones as they dealt with the aftermath of a gambling scandal involving Iowa Hawkeye players.
Then, the season started with a new signal calling in freshman quarterback Rocco Becht, who led the Cyclones to a 7-5 record.
About Rocco Becht, Son of NFL Tight End Anthony Becht
Rocco Becht is the son of former NFL tight end and current St. Louis Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. Anthony played 11 seasons in the NFL for five different teams, with his longest being the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft, the New York Jets.
He finished his career with 1,537 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. Anthony led the Battlehawks to a 7-3 record in the XFL last season in his first season as head coach.
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Rocco Becht played for the Bulls in high school at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, Florida. He finished his high school career with 5,343 yards and 65 touchdowns. Becht was ranked as a top 50 quarterback in the country as a three-star recruit for some publications and a four-star recruit for Rivals.
After picking Iowa State as his school of choice in 2022, he took the field in three games during his freshman season before being redshirted for the year. He finished completing seven of 13 passes for 65 yards.
Becht Takes Over for Hunter Dekkers
Original starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers was associated with the gambling scandal, resulting in him stepping away from the program. Becht took over as the full-time starter for the team in 2023.
Iowa State finished the season with a 7-5 record with Becht as the starter, including beating 19th-ranked Kansas State in the last game of the season 42-35.
Becht finished the regular season completing 63.5 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,674 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 67 rushing yards and three scores. Becht was named to the Academic All-Big-12 Rookie Team this season for his work on the field and in the classroom.
It’s been an impressive freshman season for Becht as he looks to finish the season strong for the Cyclones. Iowa State plays their last game on Friday as they will play in the Liberty Bowl against the Memphis Tigers.
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