Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht poses for a portrait during media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Aug. 2. (Jeff Stelfox/The Gazette)
Editor's note: This is the last of a nine-part series looking at Cyclone players at each position heading into the 2024 season.
AMES — When the play clock hits 15 seconds, the chatter stops.
Until then, Iowa State assistant coach Jake Waters will be in contact with current Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht through a communications system built into his helmet.
“He gives us tips and reminders, and that's huge for me,” said Becht, the Big 12's 2023 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. “He reads and tells me if this play needs a rekey, if there's a double motion. All those kinds of things are good for us.”
“And the tablet is good. We're using it on the sidelines at practice. I'm looking forward to seeing it in an actual game, in live action. I think it'll be very helpful this year.”
Becht and other FBS quarterbacks will benefit from in-helmet communications for the first time this season, per NCAA rules. The tablets are a Big 12 Conference-exclusive addition made possible by a “partnership” the conference struck with Microsoft this spring.
Major college football has finally gone high-tech, but it's important to strike a balance between game feel and scrutinizing raw data.
“What's too much and what's not enough?'” said Waters, a former Kansas State standout who is in his first year as the Cyclones' quarterbacks coach. “To keep giving him information and talking all the way to the 15 seconds is going to stop him from thinking and processing things, so I thought it was good in my playing days to just give him little tidbits here and there about what I'm seeing and what we're seeing, tips on plays and reminders and things like that.”
Now that that era has arrived, Waters will serve as Becht's aural liaison for new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who will sit next to Waters in the coaches' box and further ensure everyone is on the same page.
“The good thing about Rocco having a year of experience is he feels comfortable telling me, 'I don't like this, I don't like that,' and I can talk to him (about it) on the headset,” said Mouser, who also serves as Iowa State's tight ends coach. “They can't talk back to us, so we have little signals about what they like and don't like.”
Becht's arm speaks for itself, as he broke the Cyclones' rookie records last season for completions (231), passing yards (3,120) and touchdowns (23). The sophomore from Wesley Chapel, Fla., said he worked on his footwork in the offseason, which he believes will help him be more efficient this fall.
“When you get your footwork wrong, it throws off your read, your timing, your timing of what you do,” Becht said. “So that's the biggest thing. I've been working hard on that. Coach Waters has really drilled that into me, so I'm excited to show that progress soon and hopefully be able to be consistent in that area.”
Becht is Iowa State's clear No. 1 quarterback heading into game week. Last season, he fully secured the top spot after splitting a couple of series with J.J. Cole against Northern Iowa in Week 1. Cole, a former four-star recruit, is competing with freshman Connor Moberly for the Cyclones' backup spot.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) warms up before the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee in December. (The Associated Press/George Walker IV)
“They're getting better every day too,” Waters said. “JJ's been here a little bit longer than Connor, but they're getting better and better every day, making good plays, making the right decisions. They know when they have an opportunity to be aggressive and when to make the right play.”
“We always say in our room that you don't necessarily have to make the big plays, you just have to make the right plays.”
Becht excelled in that area as last season progressed, throwing 10 touchdown passes with just one interception over the final four games, and now he's smarter, more vocal, more composed and in full command of the offense.
“He can throw anything,” Waters said. “He's accurate. He can run. But he's also grown in every other way: communication, leadership. Everything is happening at a really high level right now.”
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