Rocco Becht, who played through his junior year at Iowa State despite multiple shoulder injuries, is now on a hopeful path as he transfers to Penn State to reunite with former Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell. He recently shared uplifting health news that resonates with those who have faced similar struggles.
Rocco Becht Shares Encouraging Update About His Health
In his first press conference since joining the Nittany Lions, Becht opened up about his recovery. He said his surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder went smoothly and that he is on track to heal well. He also reported that his right (throwing) shoulder, which had an AC joint sprain, has fully healed.
“The process has been going really well,” Becht said on Wednesday. “My shoulders are feeling great. My right shoulder is fully healthy, and my left shoulder is nearly there.”
The 6’1″ Wesley Chapel, Florida, native added that he is optimistic about playing with his new teammates. He looks forward to participating in more than half of the spring practice sessions and is eager to resume throwing this weekend.
Becht fought through both shoulder injuries and started 12 games for Iowa State last season, thanks to a dedicated coaching staff that kept him healthy and ready by managing his workload during practices. He also discussed how he managed the injury despite enduring the toughest stage of his life.
“It was really hard. It was probably the lowest place that I’ve been in in my collegiate career, mentally and physically. There was a four-game stretch when we lost those four games. That was pretty tough on me,” Becht said.
“I had to look at my family and some friends and talk to them to kind of get myself out of it … It’s not the easiest thing to do. The only reason why I played the season out was because I wanted to do it for my team, and I felt like it was my responsibility to give them everything that I had,” he added.
The plan worked for the Cyclones, who posted an 8-4 record last season. Becht completed 205 of 339 passes (60.47%) for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 9 interceptions.
Penn State is coming off a 7-6 (3-6 Big Ten) season, during which it fired longtime coach James Franklin after the team went 3-3 and first-choice quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury. Terry Smith took over as interim coach and led the team to a 4-3 record, culminating in a 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Campbell agreed to become Penn State’s new coach on Dec. 5, 2025, and brought in Becht, who committed to the Nittany Lions on Jan. 4 after entering the transfer portal. The 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year has 26 career wins as a starting quarterback, the most among active FBS signal-callers.
With 42 games under his belt, Becht has completed 60.7% of his passes for 9,274 yards, with 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He has rushed for 499 yards and recorded 19 touchdowns, eight each in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He heads to the Nittany Lions, who look to return to the College Football Playoff after reaching the semifinals in 2024.
