Jayden Higgins stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht described star receiver Jayden Higgins as “a five-year-old off the field.”
And he meant it as a compliment.
“He’s like a little brother to (fellow top receiver) Jaylin Noel,” said Becht, who hopes to lead his 18th-ranked team (3-0) to a Big 12 season-opening win Saturday at 6 p.m. (FS1) at Houston (1-3, 0-1). “Jaylin is probably the big brother to Jayden. If you ask him that, he’ll probably get (ticked) off, but he’s like a five-year-old outside of the facility. Joking around with him is always fun. He always tends to make me laugh and make the team laugh. He’s kind of like the jokester on this team.”
Higgins is no joke, however, as a route runner and sure-handed target. He’s caught a touchdown pass from Becht in five consecutive games, tying former Cyclone greats Todd Blythe and Ty Watley for the program record. He also forms one of the Big 12’s top receiving duos with Noel, who saw a streak of four straight games with a touchdown catch snap in last weekend’s 52-7 win over Arkansas State.
“They’re my outlet,” said Becht, who averaged 15.8 yards per completion while playing two and a half quarters in the rout of the Red Wolves. “Whenever something’s going bad, I look for them to go make a play and go up for the ball because they make me right sometimes, and I love them for that.”
Higgins returns that love via hotly-contested jump-ball situations Becht expects him to win. The 6-4 former transfer from Eastern Kentucky usually does — and for good reason. Higgins was also a star basketball player and when asked if he played well above the rim, he smiled.
“Of course,” he said. “Of course.”
Higgins essentially said the same thing when ISU’s coaches asked him to join the program in 2023. The first Cyclone coach he met in person? First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, whose creative play calling has been on full display early this season.
“His energy is contagious,” Higgins said of Mouser, who drew up a successful fan quarterback sneak-turned-24-yard passing play in last week’s win. “It feeds (into) the offense.”
Higgins and his fellow receivers also take pride in their blocking ability, so seeing ISU’s backs rack up a season-best 237 yards on the ground last weekend deepened his belief that the offense can be potent week in and week out.
“The run game is definitely dynamic,” said Higgins, who leads ISU in catches (17) and touchdown grabs (three). “I feel like we can do that almost any game we play.”
The Cyclones will need robust production on the ground and through the air to pierce the Cougars’ solid defense. Houston — which lost its conference opener, 34-0, last week at Cincinnati — ranks fourth in the Big 12 in pass defense (146.0 yards per game) and sixth in rushing defense (123.5).
“They have a lot of talent,” Mouser said. “They’re gonna get it going there. (Cougars head coach Willie) Fritz has done a great job there and he’s won everywhere, so they’re gonna be really good.”
The Cyclones seek to stunt Houston’s growth process for at least one more week, of course, and Higgins’ prowess in the passing game will be integral in that gambit. He’s totaled 55 or more yards receiving in each game during his touchdown-scoring streak and will continue to serve as one-half of Becht’s “outlet” on Saturday and beyond.
“Whenever I make a bad pass, but he catches it, I’m always going over to him and saying, ‘Sorry,’ and he’s like, ‘Get out of here., I know.’” Becht said. “So having that guy on the field having that joking ability within the game, it just calms me down.”
Higgins stays calm by maintaining supreme confidence behind that joke-cracking facade. He knows what he can do — and what he will do when given the chance. So whether or not his touchdown streak extends to six games is immaterial to his season goals.
“That’s cool,” Higgins said. “But I’m just trying to help the team win. If I have to score a touchdown or go out there and block all game, that’s just what I’m trying to do for the team.”
