AMES – Confidence is radiating all throughout the Iowa State football team as Saturday’s season opener against North Dakota rapidly approaches.
The captains were announced Monday and to no surprise, defensive back Beau Freyler and wide receiver Jaylin Noel were selected for the second straight season. Joining them will be defensive lineman J.R. Singleton to complete the permanent captains this season for the Cyclones.
“Captains are guys that bring people together,” Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “They make everybody else better because of who they are and what they do, and I think you look at that whole group of captains, they all do that.”
That trio of seniors will be accompanied by a fourth captain who will alternate each game. One of the anticipated honorary captains is redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht.
Becht enters his second season as a starter and is expected to have a big year. Head coach Matt Campbell said how everyone knew Becht was the one to lead the Cyclones on offense after battling through sickness during the Ohio game last season.
“When you go to that Ohio game last year, him playing, I mean, he doesn’t go in the locker room at halftime,” Campbell said. “He’s puking on the steps as everybody’s walking in at halftime, and he could hardly stand up. Then the kid went out and played the whole second half.”
Despite losing that game 10-7, Campbell was a believer in Becht because of his attitude and the way he stepped up that day.
“Everybody in our program was like, ‘That’s our guy,’” Campbell said.
From then on, Becht led Iowa State to a bowl game, where he threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-26 loss to Memphis in the Liberty Bowl.
One of those touchdowns was to redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi, who will battle with Army transfer Isaiah Alston and North Dakota State transfer Eli Green for the third wide receiver spot, due to senior wide receiver Daniel Jackson being set to miss the entire season due to a lower-leg injury.
“I’m really anxious to see who, when the lights come on and it’s the brightest, can step up and really play consistent football,” Campbell said.
Currently, there is not a clear-cut third wide receiver on the Cyclones depth chart. The North Dakota game will more than likely provide answers as to who will slide into that role.
Leading the wide receiver group are Noel and Jayden Higgins. The two speedy seniors will look to disrupt defenses all season.
“[Noel] is a vertical threat, I’m a vertical threat,” Higgins said. “We can basically both do anything. We interchange between slot and outside, so I feel like we just go together good. [Like] peanut butter and jelly.”
Freyler mentioned that he liked what he saw from the wide receiver room during practices and fall camp, having to match up on the other side. He said their speed helped him in terms of becoming a better defender for this season.
“Knowing that we’re facing elite guys every day helps a ton,” Freyler said. “They pushed me to be better. They push others to be better. I’ve got nothing but respect for them.”
A huge talk this offseason among the defensive back room has been who will fill the role that T.J. Tampa had last season. Tampa was drafted 130th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The talk will be put to the test when Iowa State takes to the field for the first time this season against FCS opponent North Dakota. Kickoff from Jack Trice Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday and the game will be broadcast live on FS1.
