Seven months have felt like seven years, but the wait is almost over as college football officially returns on Saturday with Week Zero kicking off. There are five games on August 23, but the spotlight will be on a Big 12 showdown between No. 20 Kansas State and No. 21 Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland. With the game right around the corner, here are the top three offensive players to watch from both the Cyclones and the Wildcats.
Top 3 Iowa State Offensive Players
1) Rocco Becht, QB
Rocco Becht is coming off a terrific year in which he established himself as one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks. He led the Cyclones to an 11-3 record in 2024, throwing for 3,505 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 318 yards and eight scores on the ground.
my favorite part of Rocco Becht’s game is how he uses his quickness to manipulate and evade defenders in the pocket.
Slick throw, too. pic.twitter.com/RqNEgqdIr9
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) July 10, 2025
With Iowa State losing elite receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the NFL, the pressure will be on Becht to elevate the Cyclones’ offense in 2025.
2) Chase Sowell, WR
With the loss of Higgins and Noel, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell turned to the transfer portal and added key weapons for Becht, including Chase Sowell, who was ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver in the portal from East Carolina.
Sowell recorded 34 catches for 678 yards and three touchdowns for the Pirates in 2024, and he is expected to step in as Becht’s X receiver this season. He’ll be counted on early in the Cyclones’ offense and must deliver immediately in the opener against Kansas State.
3) Carson Hansen, RB
Carson Hansen was a pleasant surprise for the Cyclones last season. He wasn’t expected to be the team’s workhorse running back, but that’s exactly what he became, leading Iowa State in carries, rushing yards, and touchdowns.
Hansen finished 2024 with 752 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging five yards per carry. A physical runner, he will again be a key piece for the Cyclones in clutch situations, especially on third down and near the goal line.
Top 3 Kansas State Offensive Players
1) Avery Johnson, QB
Avery Johnson took over as Kansas State’s starting quarterback in 2024 as a true sophomore and showed plenty of promise. He threw for 2,712 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, adding 605 yards and seven scores on the ground.
Scramble. Score. Celebrate accordingly.
Avery Johnson finds Will Swanson for the first @KStateFB touchdown of the day 🔥#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/gU8kVL7JcA
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 7, 2024
His athleticism makes him a versatile playmaker, and Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman will find out early against Iowa State if Johnson has taken the next step as a passer this offseason.
2) Dylan Edwards, RB
After a strong true freshman season with Colorado in 2023, Edwards transferred to Kansas State ahead of the 2024 season. He rushed for 546 yards and five touchdowns last year, averaging an impressive 7.4 yards per carry.
With DJ Giddens, who ran for over 1,300 yards last season, now in the NFL, Edwards will step into a much larger role. He’ll have big shoes to fill if the Wildcats want to keep their rushing attack among the best in the Big 12.
3) Jayce Brown, WR
Jayce Brown was Johnson’s favorite target in 2024 by a wide margin, hauling in 18 more catches than the next closest receiver. He finished the year with 47 receptions for 823 yards and five touchdowns.
Heading into 2025, Brown will look to build on his strong sophomore campaign by continuing to develop his connection with Johnson as the Wildcats’ WR1. He’ll play a crucial role in the offense this season, and much of Kansas State’s success will depend on him.
