Matt Campbell and Rocco Becht were a winning combination at Iowa State, and now they will try to bring that success to State College. Becht, the No. 8 ranked quarterback in the transfer portal, has signed with Penn State and will bring three years of familiarity with Campbell with him.
There was no question that Becht was Campbell's top target at quarterback. In four seasons with Iowa State, Becht made 39 starts and threw for 9,255 yards with 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He was 24-12 as a starter for the Cyclones.
BREAKING: Iowa State transfer QB Rocco Becht has Committed to Penn State, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 4, 2026
In his time with the Cyclones he threw for 9,274 yards and 64 TDshttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/utA83vhgB7
Becht, the son of former NFL first-round draft pick tight end Anthony Becht, led Iowa State to the Big XII championship game in 2024. He had a dynamic year as a redshirt sophomore, throwing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns. Becht dealt with a lot of nagging injuries as a junior and his numbers fell a little, but the relationship and trust between him and Campbell will make for a smooth transition in the coach's first season.
Whether Becht will be available for spring remains an unknown. He had surgery to repair a partial labrum tear on his non-throwing shoulder. He is expected to make a full recovery long before the start of the season and with Becht familiarity with the offense and the staff, spring reps aren't as important.
Penn State grabs a second QB in the portal
The Iowa State-to-Penn State cycle continues as quarterback Alex Manske will be joining Becht in Happy Valley and offers the Nittany Lions a bridge to the future. Manske appeared in three games this past season for Iowa State, throwing for 28 yards and rushing for 33 yards. He will come to Penn State as a redshirt freshman, giving him four years of eligibility.
With Becht's status for the spring questionable after offseason shoulder surgery, it could be Manske running the show in the short term.
Manske's commitment to Penn State is the fourth commitment this weekend from the Cyclones. Tight end Gabe Burkle made his pledge to the Nittany Lions on Saturday and earlier Sunday afternoon, wide receiver Brett Eskildsen committed to Penn State.