Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass to running back Carson Hansen (26) against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s soon-to-be third-year starting quarterback Rocco Becht and star cornerback Jontez Williams both wear a jersey bearing the number ‘3.’
Standout linebacker Caleb Bacon and versatile running back Carson Hansen share the number ’26.’
Coincidence?
“Totally random,” Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell said during Friday’s annual media day. “But it’s a good random.”
Of course, the numbers available to any football team are finite, so doubling up isn’t unique to ISU. But the fact that the Cyclones’ numerical roster pairs up some of the program’s most important duos is certainly ironic as a season that starts with a so-called week zero matchup with Kansas State on Aug. 23 in Dublin, Ireland looms less than a month away.
“It is pretty cool,” said Becht, who broke several of Brock Purdy’s freshman records in his first season and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors last season. “Me and Jontez always talk about, ‘Let’s go three, let’s go three. So we kind of have that inside thing together.”
Becht clutches the keys to an ISU offense that must replace two of the program’s best all-time receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. He likes the mix of returners and transfers such as Xavier Townsend and Chase Sowell, along with tight ends such as Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle, however, and fully expects to enjoy a full complement of talented targets.
“(Expectations are) just as high or even better,” Becht said as he and the Cyclones come off an unprecedented 11-win season. “I think growing success — growing and sustaining success — is what’s big for us this year. Last year, our motto was kind of sustaining it. We want to keep growing it and I think we can do that with the team we have.”
Wiilliams — a native Floridian like Becht — allowed just one touchdown in coverage last season and anchors a secondary that will be among the best in the Big 12.
“Us Florida boys, we stick together,” said Williams, a preseason all-conference selection. “It’s nice.”
Even nicer: Seeing the competition for the cornerback spot opposite of him heat up.
“Everybody’s doing well, everybody’s getting better,” Williams said. “So it’s just a matter of time.”
Bacon and Hansen split time and the number ’26’ on special teams until the former sustained a season-ending injury in last season’s opener, which served as a harbinger of catastrophic injuries to come in the linebackers’ room.
“We always joke a little bit that next year our jersey will be the big seller,” said Bacon, who emerged as an unlikely star in 2023 and is fully healthy now.
Hansen rushed for a team-best 752 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in what proved to be a breakout season. He’ll seek even bigger numbers this fall helping to lead a deep stable of backs that includes the explosive Abu Sama, as well as emerging talents Dylan Lee and Ryver Peppers, along others.
“I think there are a lot of things that are unseen in the room,” Hansen said of ISU’s running backs. “So I’m excited for what’s to come in that area.”
That excitement will reach a fever pitch less than a month from now in Dublin. Until then, fall camp will separate the ones from the twos and the threes — even as others numbers distinguish the Cyclones in unique ways.
“I asked for the zero,” said Sowell, who averaged 19.9 yards per catch last season for East Carolina. “Came in, it was either nine or zero.”
Higgins wore the number ‘9’ for his celebrated ISU career and Sowell shunned it in a show of respect.
“Kind of wanted him to have his own thing,” he said. “And I kind of just wanted to build my own legacy. So I feel like zero was the opportunity to do that.”
That’s not random, but it is a good sign of the Cyclones’ mindset as they seek to follow up on the winningest season in program history.
“Are we tough enough to be good enough?” Campbell said. “You’re gonna find out really fast, right?”
