Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht is already stacking up preseason hardware buzz before taking a snap for the Nittany Lions.
Becht landed on the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which honors "the nation's top upperclassman quarterback who exemplifies leadership, character, citizenship, integrity, and athletic achievement." He was one of 27 players selected and also made the watch list last season.
No Penn State quarterback has ever won the award. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia took it home last year, and the winner for this cycle will be announced Dec. 9 after semifinalists and finalists are revealed later in the season.
Becht comes to State College with a heavy workload already on his ledger. Over four seasons at Iowa State, he made 39 starts and piled up 26 wins, helping the Cyclones reach the Big 12 Championship Game in 2024.
In that span, he completed 714 of 1,177 passes for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns against 27 interceptions. He also added 499 rushing yards and 19 rushing scores.
His most recent season was interrupted by shoulder injuries on both sides, but he still finished with 205 completions on 339 attempts for 2,584 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions, along with 116 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Before that, Becht earned All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition in 2024 after going 271-for-456 for 3,505 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He rushed for 318 yards and eight touchdowns that season.
A product of Zephyrhills (Fla.) Wiregrass Ranch, Becht signed with Iowa State in the Class of 2022.
He was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports and ranked as the No. 61 quarterback in that class. On the transfer market, he drew a four-star grade and was listed as the No. 7 quarterback in the cycle.
His move to Penn State also brought a familiar support system with it. Coach Matt Campbell’s group followed him from Ames to State College, including offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and quarterbacks coach Jake Waters. Several of Becht’s former Iowa State weapons made the jump too: running back Carson Hansen, wide receivers Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen, and tight ends Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle.
Campbell had plenty of praise for Becht earlier this offseason.
"I think for me, what's made Rocco really special is Rocco's had to earn the right to be great," Campbell said at Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago. "Nothing's been given to Rocco Becht. When you look at his elite moments, I don't know if there's a better quarterback with the ball in his hand at the end of the game or a quarterback that's won more games in the last minute or two of a game because he's earned it.
"Man, you have to go through hard to be able to get to that point in the game and be great. And it's what I love about Rocco.
His work ethic, he's a competitor. He's also got enough humility that when it hasn't gone right, he can self-correct within a game and put himself in a great position to redirect positivity and have the opportunity to lead the team forward.
Penn State opens the 2026 season against Marshall at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 5.
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