Rocco Becht finding value in new wideouts for Iowa State’s offense
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht drops back to attempt a pass against Kansas Saturday November 9, 2024 at Arrowhead Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
Despite losing two 1,000-yard wide receivers to the NFL Draft, the Cyclones’ junior quarterback is focusing on keeping their aerial attack rolling with a couple of new weapons in his arsenal.
Rocco Becht understands how important the passing game is to Iowa State’s offense. It even helped the team reach a program-record, 11 wins last season. However, he no longer has Jayden Higgins or Jaylin Noel to throw the ball to for the first time in his Cyclone career. Now the fans are eager to see if Becht can continue his success slinging the ball around to some new wideouts.
After all, Higgins and Noel combined for a jaw-dropping, 167 catches, 2,377 yards and 17 touchdowns receptions in 2024. Although that’s a ton of receiving production Iowa State has to replace, Becht is confident that the offense is reloading with new targets for him as the team navigates through fall camp. Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend are dynamic at what they do, and Becht feels they are going to emerge from the shadows and the Cyclones aren’t going to miss a beat.
Sowell is filling the role of Higgins out on the edge, and is a dangerous deep threat. He spent the past two seasons at East Carolina. Sowell started 19 games during that span, which included 81 receptions for 1,308 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder even averaged 19.9 yards per catch last year. Becht plans on utilizing Sowell’s talent, and the chemistry between the two is promising in his eyes.
“I think Chase is going to bring more of a vertical jump, because he can get higher up there, reaching up with his hands, going up there and getting it,” Becht said. “That’s what he really brings to the table, is throwing down the field and him actually using all of his length in going up there and getting the ball.”
Townsend will be the slot guy like Noel, and he’s very explosive out of the blocks. He’s an architect when it comes to running polishing routes too. Townsend spent the past three seasons at UCF, where he racked up 66 receptions for 521 yards and four touchdowns during that span. The Florida native only played in four games for the Knights last year, and redshirted. Becht also has history with Townsend being from the Tampa area, and he believes the familiarity is going to help with their communication on the field.
“Back in Tampa, we did play with one another, we also played against each other, so we kind of know each other more,” he said. “I actually tried to get him (Townsend) to Iowa State for the past two years, and finally he’s been able to come, so I’m excited for him to be on the field with me.”
Becht sees similarities between Townsend and Noel, and expects the wide receivers to do some damage to opposing secondaries this fall. Townsend only stands 5-foot-11, but he creates mismatches out in space, and Becht plans on targeting him a lot like he did Noel.
“Xavier brings sort of a twitch to his game, because he’s so small, and moves so fast,” the 21-year old said. “Which is going to be helpful for me because I’m going to know where he’s going to be going, but the defense isn’t.”
Becht will also have good protection from a veteran bunch along the offensive line, which in return should give him time in the pocket to go through his progressions and locate open targets. The gunslinger continues to work on his pocket awareness, and feels the best is yet to come for the offense.
After ranking third in the Big 12, and 11th in the FBS with 3,505 passing yards, it speaks volumes that Becht is confident the passing game won’t miss a beat. His 25 touchdown tosses were the second-most in a single-season at Iowa State, and that’s going to be tough to top. Becht is ready to pick up where he left off though, as the MVP of the Pop Tarts Bowl victory over Miami. He even has the same Offensive Coordinator for the first time in Ames.
Sowell and Townsend are in position to be the next dynamic wide receiver duo for Iowa State, and Becht can’t wait to help them carve up defenses around the Big 12 this upcoming season.
“I think it’s maturity, over the past few seasons I’ve been able to grow in areas that I wanted to, and this is a big season for me to show that I can be one of the top quarterbacks in the country, and I can’t do it alone.”
