Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546586
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 2 1 R occo Becht arrived at Penn State in January in recovery mode. The redshirt senior quarterback had just completed a trying 2025 season at Iowa State in which he played through a sprained AC joint in his throw- ing shoulder and a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The former required rest, and the latter required surgery. That meant one of college football's most experi- enced quarterbacks would do little on the field during the winter, be limited during spring practice and have to wait to par- ticipate fully with his new teammates. Becht followed coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State, where he threw for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns. He brought familiarity with Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser as he settled into a new program. By summer, the Florida native was throwing again. Still ahead was a pre- season camp in which he could finally build a rapport with his new teammates on offense during live portions of practice. Becht, unsurprisingly, passed that test with flying colors. He did the same in his regular-season debut in blue and white. Becht's play in the Sept. 5 opener against Marshall was nearly flawless. He hit fellow Iowa State transfer Chase Sow- ell for his first completion of the year, with the redshirt senior wideout picking up 20 yards on the play. That drive ended in a field goal. Touchdowns followed in bulk. The first of those TDs was perhaps the most cathartic for Nittany Lion fans. When junior running back James Peoples, Becht's primary option on the play, was tripped while flaring out of the backfield on third-and-3 at the Marshall 42-yard line, Becht did not panic. Instead, he calmly worked through his progressions, aided by a terrific block from redshirt junior tight end Andrew Rappleyea that kept a Thundering Herd blitzer out of the pocket. Becht eventually found sopho- more receiver Koby Howard, who had im- provised his route to get open downfield. Becht fired the ball in Howard's direction, and the 42-yard touchdown gave Penn State a 10-0 lead. "Our running back fell getting out, which was going to be probably where the ball was going to go, and I had to move on," Becht said. "The O-line did a great job protecting me, and nobody was com- ing through." Becht said the protection allowed him and Howard to improvise until the re- ceiver found open space for the touch- down. The crowd of 108,489 saw what Becht's poise and abilities could mean to this of- fense. Fans roared with approval and did so time and again, with Becht tossing a G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M Rocco Becht Finds His Rhythm Healthy again, Penn State's new quarterback leads a transfer-fueled early-season surge Becht followed coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State after throwing for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns with the Cyclones. The redshirt senior is in his final season of college eligibility. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS