Matt Campbell’s inaugural season at Penn State will be led by a familiar face at the sport’s most important position — and that’s exactly how the Nittany Lions’ new head coach wanted it.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht transferred to Penn State last month, choosing to spend his final year of college football in Happy Valley with his former head coach.
And on Wednesday, speaking for the first time since his intro press conference in December, Campbell explained why it was so important to him to get Becht onboard.
“I’ve always felt that the quarterback and the head football coach have to be tied at the hip. And I’ve felt that they have to be tied at the hip because their leadership is so critical to the entirety of the football program,” Campbell said. “… Rocco has always been that for us.”
Becht, a three-year starter at Iowa State, will bring 26 career wins with him to Penn State. That makes him the winningest returning quarterback in the FBS in 2026.
Becht chose Penn State after being one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the transfer portal. ESPN reported that he was the “top target” at 10 different schools. The Inside Zone’s Matt Fortuna reported that Lane Kiffin and LSU “made a run” at Becht, but to no avail.
Becht opted to reunite with Campbell, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, among others on a staff and roster with a heavy Iowa State influence.
“He’s what I believe Penn State football is. Integrity, character, class, excellence, grit. He embodies every one of those traits,” Campbell said. “So to me, I just felt like for me, that was a critical opportunity for him to finish his career with us. And with the start of Penn State football, to get someone who I truly believe embodies what the excellence of this football program has stood for, on and off the field. I think those things are critically important.”
Becht threw for 9,209 yards and 64 touchdowns with a 61% completion rate as Iowa State’s starter over the last three seasons. In 2024, he guided the Cyclones to an 11-win season in which he threw for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding eight scores on the ground.
Becht’s 2025 season wasn’t as productive, throwing for 2,584 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in a season plagued by a significant injury.
“He’s one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever been around,” Campbell said. “This poor guy, he played with a torn labrum on his non-throwing shoulder. He had to get shot up every Tuesday and Wednesday just to practice the last four weeks and play, and that guy gave us a chance to win every one of those games every step of the way. He’s as tough and as competitive as any football player I’ve been around.”
Becht’s decision to transfer to Penn State happened in tandem with Ethan Grunkemeyer’s departure. After beginning last season as Drew Allar’s backup, Grunkemeyer played well down the stretch after Allar’s season-ending injury. Grunkemeyer threw for 1,234 yards and completed 115 of 167 passes (69%) for seven touchdowns and four interceptions in seven games.
Now, Grunkemeyer has reunited with James Franklin after transferring to Virginia Tech. And Becht is back with his former coach in Happy Valley.
Notes: Campbell announced Wednesday four additional high school signees — OL Pete Eglitis (Bishop Watterson, Ohio), LB Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.), DL Elijah Reeder (Central Regional, N.J.) and punter Lucas Tenbrock (St. Charles North, Ill.). Penn State’s high school recruiting class now includes 15 members — two quarterbacks, one running back, one wide receiver, two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, one linebacker, four defensive backs, one punter and one athlete. …. Penn State also added Christopher Newport transfer QB Connor Barry to bring the team’s total to 40 incoming transfers.