The Florida Gators are knee-deep in a quarterback hunt that could define the early tenure of new head coach Jon Sumrall. All eyes have been on Aaron Philo - the Georgia Tech transfer who cut his teeth under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. While nothing is official yet, the buzz around Gainesville says Philo could be the guy to take the reins in 2026.
But just as the transfer portal giveth, it also surprises - and another name has entered the mix that’s worth a closer look: Rocco Becht.
Becht, Iowa State’s starting quarterback for the past three seasons, announced he’ll be entering the transfer portal in January. This isn’t just a depth piece or a developmental project - this is a proven Power Five starter with real production under his belt. Becht led Iowa State to a Big 12 title game appearance last season and leaves Ames with over 9,200 passing yards, 64 touchdowns through the air, and another 19 scores on the ground.
That’s not just experience - that’s leadership, production, and big-game reps. And in today’s college football landscape, a quarterback with that résumé doesn’t stay on the market long.
Now, the prevailing belief is that Becht is likely to follow his former head coach, Matt Campbell, who just took the job at Penn State. It’s a logical move.
Familiar system, trusted coach, and a program on the rise in the Big Ten. But there’s a Florida connection here that’s hard to ignore.
Becht is a Wesley Chapel native and played his high school ball at Wiregrass Ranch. And yes, his girlfriend currently attends the University of Florida. That’s not exactly a recruiting pitch, but it’s a detail that’s had Gator fans talking - especially on social media, where speculation tends to run wild this time of year.
The real question is whether the situation in Gainesville would even appeal to a quarterback like Becht. He’s not transferring to sit or split reps - he’ll be looking for a place where he can walk in and be the guy. That’s where things get tricky.
Florida’s quarterback room is in flux. DJ Lagway is out, reportedly in part because Sumrall wouldn’t promise him the starting job.
The Gators are expected to bring in two quarterbacks from the portal, and Tramell Jones is still in the mix and eager to compete for QB1. That doesn’t exactly scream “clear path to the starting job” - and for a veteran like Becht, that could be a dealbreaker.
But let’s play this out. If Florida were to go after Becht and actually land him, it would be a significant move.
He’d bring instant stability to a position that’s lacked it for years. He’s a battle-tested quarterback who’s played in meaningful games and put up real numbers in a major conference.
In a league like the SEC, where quarterback play can swing entire seasons, that kind of experience is gold.
So while the odds might not be high, the fit - at least on paper - makes sense. Becht has the tools, the track record, and the Florida roots.
Whether that’s enough to bring him home remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: the Gators’ quarterback search just got a little more interesting.