Penn State’s new offensive staff came away impressed after breaking down Rocco Becht on film, and the message from Taylor Mouser and Jake Waters was pretty clear: the Iowa State quarterback already does a lot at a high level, but there’s still room for him to sharpen the finer points.
Mouser, the new offensive coordinator, and Waters, the quarterbacks coach, spoke with the Centre Daily Times about Becht as the program heads into Year 1 of the Matt Campbell era. Their evaluation centered on a player they see as Iowa State’s most trusted option - and one who has already shown he can deliver in the biggest moments.
Mouser pointed to Becht as Iowa State’s best, most competitive and most trusted player, using the fourth-and-goal touchdown in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl against Miami as a prime example. That score put the Cyclones ahead 42-41 and captured the kind of edge Mouser believes separates Becht.
The mental side of Becht’s game stood out just as much. Mouser highlighted the first play of that bowl game, when Becht drew Miami offsides, calling it the kind of snap that gets an offense moving in rhythm and creates “a seed of doubt in the defense.”
Waters focused on the physical tools. He praised Becht’s arm talent and the way he attacks deep throws, saying he throws “a great, catchable deep ball that guys can run under” and has the confidence to fit the ball into tight windows.
At the same time, both coaches identified clear areas for growth. Waters said Becht needs to improve when throwing to his left, along with his footwork and hip alignment. He compared the goal to Steph Curry getting to his shooting base every time.
Mouser added that Becht has made “some of the most incredible throws I’ve ever seen” while also leaving some easy ones on the field. For him, the next step is consistency, especially on short throws where accuracy has to be cleaner.
In Other News...
Former Penn State Back Just Added Another Sting To A Familiar Rivalry
A former Penn State running back has resurfaced in a place that should feel familiar to anyone who has followed the recruiting crosscurrents around the Big Ten. Tikey Hayes spent the spring at Iowa Western Community College after leaving Penn State, where he appeared in one game as a true freshman before entering the transfer portal. Now he is back on a Power Four roster, and Nebraska is giving him a look as fall camp approaches.
For the Cornhuskers, the timing matters because the running back room is open enough for newcomers to make a case, and Hayes arrives with enough background to be more than a camp body. His path has already taken him from Happy Valley to junior college and now to Lincoln, which adds another layer to a rivalry thread that has quietly been building between Nebraska and Penn State in the recruiting and transfer space. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States 2026 Class Just Got One Final Hidden Twist
Penn States 2026 roster picture is finally coming into focus, and the last pieces from the recruiting side have now been slotted into place. The class is complete, the transfer and freshman additions are accounted for, and the group gives the Nittany Lions a full look at how this next wave of talent is being built.
The final additions are defensive end Elijah Reeder and linebacker Keian Kaiser, two names that had been tied to another Big 12 program before landing in Happy Valley. Reeder brings a high-end profile as the top-ranked player in the class and one of the better defensive end prospects in the country, while Kaiser arrives as a sizable linebacker with strong regional standing. With the 2026 class now settled and the roster already stretching well into the next cycle, Penn State still has one more layer of intrigue left to watch as the freshmen begin to sort themselves out on campus. [Read more 🡒]