Rocco Becht Scouting Report

Rocco Becht is a tough, instinctive quarterback who plays with grit and poise, consistently finding ways to create positive plays through his natural playmaking ability.

Draft Grade: Round 4 - Developmental Traits

Strengths:

Quick Release / Throwing Mechanics: Becht has a compact, efficient throwing motion that allows him to get the football out quickly. His release gives defenders minimal time to react, which is particularly effective in timing-based concepts and quick game situations.

Throwing on the Run: Becht is comfortable operating outside the pocket, showing the ability to evade pressure and deliver accurate throws on the move. He maintains good velocity and touch while throwing off-platform, allowing him to extend plays and keep the offense on schedule.

Toughness: Becht plays with a fearless demeanor. He consistently stands tall in the pocket, willing to take hits to deliver the football. As a scrambler, he puts his body on the line to pick up crucial yards—showing a willingness to absorb contact to move the chains.

Concerns:

Arm Strength: Becht's arm talent is sufficient for most throws, but his velocity noticeably drops on deep passes. This reduction in zip affects both his ability to push the ball vertically and his deep-ball accuracy, limiting the offense’s ability to consistently threaten downfield.

Turnovers: Becht can be overly aggressive with his decision-making, forcing throws into tight or closed windows. This tendency increases his risk of turnovers and can stall offensive drives. Improved discretion and processing speed will help reduce these negative plays.

Durability/Injuries: Becht’s gritty, physical playing style—combined with a relatively lean frame—raises concerns about long-term durability. His willingness to absorb contact as both a passer and scrambler makes him more susceptible to injury over the course of a season.

Rocco Becht Summary/Projection:

Rocco Becht is a redshirt junior quarterback for the Iowa State Cyclones who enters the 2025 season as a back-to-back starter. His play has elevated him into the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and one of the more exciting signal-callers in college football. Listed at 6'1", Becht is considered undersized by NFL standards, but he compensates for it with grit, athleticism, and a natural feel for the quarterback position.

As a passer, Becht showcases several desirable traits. He is a quick processor with advanced ball-handling skills, which shine on RPO designs where he can manipulate defenders with a convincing mesh before quickly firing into a vacated window. His snappy, compact release allows him to efficiently operate in the short areas of the field. Quick-hitting in-breakers and perimeter screens are staples of his game, helping the offense stay in rhythm.

Becht also shows proficiency at the intermediate level, where he demonstrates good timing, touch, and an understanding of how to adjust trajectory and velocity based on coverage. He can throw with touch on sail and smash concepts and has enough zip to fit passes into tight windows on seam routes or between levels of zone coverage.

The most exciting aspect of Becht’s game comes from his ability to create plays outside of structure. He is a functional athlete with enough burst and toughness to keep the ball on designed QB runs, such as read options, sweeps, counters, and powers. As a passer, his mobility allows him to extend plays, evade pressure, and make throws on the move. Becht frequently keeps his eyes downfield while escaping the pocket, creating opportunities for explosive off-script completions. His competitive edge shows up as a runner—he’s not afraid to lower his shoulder to finish runs, often inspiring teammates with his willingness to put his body on the line.

The primary area for growth in Becht’s game is decision-making. At times, his confidence in his arm can get the better of him, as he attempts to force the ball into tight windows. These throws can lead to deflections or turnovers. Developing a better feel for when to check down or throw the ball away will be critical to reducing negative plays and improving his overall efficiency as a quarterback.