Iowa State football readies for quarterback competition this fall

AMES – Matt Campbell has experienced a lot during his first seven years guiding the Iowa State football program, but one thing the coach has not overseen is an honest-to-goodness quarterback competition in the fall.

It appears that’s no longer the case.

With returning starter Hunter Dekkers stepping away from the program amid a gambling-probe-related criminal complaint, Iowa State began fall camp last week with perhaps a frontrunner at quarterback, but certainly no sure thing.

“We feel like that’s a really healthy room,” Campbell said of his quarterback group. "The only thing I need those guys to do is lead the team and take care of the football. Those guys have a lot of confidence to be able to do all those things, and I would tell you I think their supporting cast around them is really talented as well.

“I’m really confident in the who, and I’m really confident in their talent and I really look forward to watching that group develop.”

More: Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers accused of betting on ISU sports, including football

Rocco Becht would appear to have the inside track for the job after serving as Dekkers’ backup last season, appearing in three games in reserve duty. However, his competition for the job, true freshman JJ Kohl, is one of the top recruits in the Campbell era and spent the spring with the Cyclones as an early enrollee.

“I’m so bullish on the talent and what I’ve seen from the guys that are competing at this spot,” Campbell said.

A quarterback competition is unique given the position’s importance for the entire team’s success and brings its own unique dynamic.

“At the quarterback room, when that’s (a) competition, I think it raises everybody’s level across the board,” Campbell said. “I almost see it as excitement and I think it’s given us some energy as we’ve gone into fall camp because you can feel it.

“There’s talented guys competing.”

More: What's next for Iowa State football at quarterback following Hunter Dekkers allegations?

Becht and Kohl, neither of whom were made available for interviews last week, have traits that could ultimately tip the scale in their own direction.

“Rocco really grew through the (2022) football season,” Campbell said. “Really by (the) midpoint of the season, took over the (No. 2) position and really put himself in position to get in football games. When he got in games, there were a lot of positive things that started occurring. It gave him confidence going into the offseason.

“From JJ Kohl’s standpoint, one of the benefits for JJ is he got spring practice. A lot of talent. A lot of God-given ability for the sport of football. Really great growth in spring ball. He’s really had a great summer.”

Becht, a 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Florida, arrived at Iowa State as a consensus three-star prospect. He completed 7-of-15 passes with an interception last year in limited action.

Kohl, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound Ankeny product, is a four-star prospect ranked as a top-10 quarterback nationally in the 2023 class by both ESPN and Rivals.

Also potentially in the mix is Tanner Hughes, but as a late-May addition from junior college, he’ll have a tough hill to climb.

More: Can Iowa State football's 'five-star culture' sustain it through scandal and setbacks?

Whoever wins the job will be utilizing what is expected to be a solid wide receiving corps and a promising running back room, though returning leading rusher Jirehl Brock is not practicing due to an undisclosed reason.

They’ll also be relying on a revamped offensive line guided by new position coach Ryan Clanton.

“In that kind of (quarterback competition) environment,” starting guard Jarrod Hufford said, “myself and the offensive line take more of a responsibility there, saying, ‘It’s going to be up to us. We've got to protect the best. We've got to run the ball the best.”

Ultimately, though, the ball will be in the quarterback’s hands with the task of improving an Iowa State offense that was among the country’s worst during last year’s 4-8 campaign.

“It’s competition (that) drives the product,” Campbell said. “The cream always rises to the top, but I feel like at times where we’ve gotten in trouble here – and it’s natural – there's almost an entitlement to, ‘I’m the guy,’ and the next thing you know there’s a lack of growth and that growth plateaus and you don’t have to fight for your position.”

Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Who will win Iowa State football's quarterback competition in 2023?