Jaylen Raynor is stepping into a big job at Iowa State, and the biggest question around him isn’t about experience. It’s whether his arm can stretch the field enough to unlock the Cyclones offense.
Raynor arrives as the replacement for three-year starter Rocco Becht, who transferred to the Penn State Nittany Lions after following head coach Matt Campbell. That’s a major transition on its own, but it gets trickier because Raynor is also moving up from Arkansas State in the Sun Belt to the Big 12.
The good news for Iowa State is that Raynor won’t be learning a whole new system from scratch. His former offensive coordinator at Arkansas State, Keith Heckendorf, is now the Cyclones’ quarterbacks coach, giving him a familiar voice on the staff as he makes the jump.
Even with that comfort level, there’s one area Heckendorf says has been a point of emphasis this offseason: the deep ball.
"I think deep ball, ball placement is something that he's made an emphasis in training camp," Heckendorf said earlier this week, via Alec Busse of Cyclone Alert, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required). "And understanding not just where the ball needs to go, but also who you're throwing it to."
That kind of growth matters because Raynor’s Arkansas State film shows a quarterback who lived mostly underneath. Last season, half of his throws came on routes less than 10 yards downfield in an offense that moved quickly and asked receivers to do a lot after the catch. Roughly 17% of his passes were thrown behind the line of scrimmage.
The real issue came when he had to push it deeper. On throws of 20-plus yards downfield, Raynor completed just 25% of his attempts, with three touchdowns and six interceptions.
Whether that changes immediately at Iowa State is an open question. Downfield passing is often about timing and trust, and Raynor is still building both with his new receivers.
There are pieces in place that could help him there. Dominic Overby, a 6-foot-5 target, showed signs of becoming a downfield option in 2025. Evan Boyd, a 6-foot-3 transfer from the Michigan State Spartans, brings size and physicality that could play well on longer throws.
The projected top two wideouts, Cody Jackson and Omari Hayes, bring explosiveness, but they do not fit the profile of receivers who are likely to win jump balls with size alone.
If someone emerges as a dependable vertical threat, it could change the shape of the offense for Raynor and the Cyclones. That’s the part worth watching as the season unfolds.
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