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AMES − Iowa State football quarterback Rocco Becht and wide receiver Xavier Townsend are among the select few athletes across the country who have made the jump from high school to Division I college football.
They've played in games featured nationally on ESPN and Fox Sports networks. Still, no matter what fanfare and attention come their way, the ultra-competitive pair is sometimes fixated on the days well before TV cameras captured their moves on the gridiron.
The Floridians go way back. Townsend is a native of Tampa, while Becht grew up in Wesley Chapel, a suburb located 30 minutes away. They first met as competitors on the football field at 8 years old and their friendship blossomed shortly after.
"We were talking about, like two days ago, about a 7-on-7 game and Rocco threw an interception to my team but the ref said our player was out of bounds, and they ended up winning the game from that," said Townsend, thinking back to one of his earliest football memories with Becht. "We were talking about that because we're both competitive and nobody likes to lose.
"That was one that he won and I was just reminding him like, 'Yeah, you know the refs cheated for y'all on this play,' and he said they won fair and square. That's one for sure that sticks out."
Although that loss has stuck with Townsend, it's hardly a surprise that the competitive Becht is also drawn to recall the losses, rather than that victory.
"I played a lot against (Townsend) in high school and Pop Warner as well, and I never beat him I don't think," Becht said. "So, it's great to have that guy on the same side of the ball as me."
More: What Matt Campbell and Iowa State need to get done this offseason: A look at what's next
After years of competing against each other in their home state, the two have reunited more than a thousand miles away in Ames. The 5-foot-11 wide receiver was one of the Cyclones' top acquisitions through the transfer portal this offseason. He totaled 1,625 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns over the last three years at UCF.
In 2024, he accumulated 157 total offensive yards and a touchdown and 283 return yards through the Knights' first four games. He opted to sit out the remainder of the season to preserve a redshirt and enter the transfer portal. He did not play in Iowa State's thrilling 38-35 win over UCF on Oct. 19, which capped the program's best start in Big 12 competition.
He will play a big part in Iowa State's passing game, alongside another key addition in East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell. Those two will be needed to help replace the production lost from NFL prospects Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
More: Iowa State football: With spring football underway, Cyclones refocus after historic season
While Townsend will be a key target for Becht this season, his athleticism, quickness and speed provide plenty of flexibility and versatility for the Cyclones' offense overall. He will also be able to make an impact as a returner on special teams.
"He's electric; it's been really fun to have him," said Iowa State pass game coordinator and receivers coach Noah Pauley. "He's a guy that came in and kind of hit the ground running as far as learning the playbook and learning multiple positions.
"He had a lot of good stuff to watch with Jaylin Noel and the stuff we did with him, but it's going to be a lot of fun moving forward trying to find ways to get him the ball, whether that's split out wide, in the slot, in the backfield – it's going to be a lot of fun."
It's been a long road for Townsend to get to Ames, both literally and figuratively, but he's proud to be a Cyclone. He originally committed to Iowa State coming out of Berkeley Preparatory School and was going arrive with Becht, but he flipped his commitment to stay close to home and play at UCF.
"You don't ever want to really burn a bridge with any coach or anybody and when I did decide to flip to go to UCF, none of the (Iowa State) coaches had ill will towards me," Townsend said. "They all wished me success and wanted the best for me, so I think that speaks huge when it comes to their character as people and their character as just a team overall. You want to play for people like that."
According to Townsend, he entered the transfer portal when it first opened on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. He said he got his first call, a minute later, from Iowa State.
"I was watching Iowa State the whole season, and I felt like it would be a great fit, and I was happy when they called," Townsend said. "... During the recruitment process, they were like, 'You're not going to (flip commitment) again, when you're coming, you're coming.' I was like, 'For sure, I'm locked in. 100%'"
In addition to spring football and offseason workouts, he's been getting additional work in with Becht to develop that quarterback-receiver connection.
The Cyclones don't have any dates set for a potential open practice or spring game as of March 31. In the event that those don't take place, Iowa State fans will have to wait until the season-opener in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 23 to get a public glimpse of the new receiver.
If the wait does happen to be that long, Townsend has a message for what Cyclone Nation can expect from him.
"I describe myself as a hard worker," he said. "Before it shows on the football field, it's (work) in the film room, when we're doing the work and all that. Then, when it comes to game day, I feel like I'm pretty electric. Downfield passes, in the return game, flipping the field and just making plays."
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football: Xavier Townsend, Rocco Becht reunite on Cyclones
Continue reading...
They've played in games featured nationally on ESPN and Fox Sports networks. Still, no matter what fanfare and attention come their way, the ultra-competitive pair is sometimes fixated on the days well before TV cameras captured their moves on the gridiron.
The Floridians go way back. Townsend is a native of Tampa, while Becht grew up in Wesley Chapel, a suburb located 30 minutes away. They first met as competitors on the football field at 8 years old and their friendship blossomed shortly after.
"We were talking about, like two days ago, about a 7-on-7 game and Rocco threw an interception to my team but the ref said our player was out of bounds, and they ended up winning the game from that," said Townsend, thinking back to one of his earliest football memories with Becht. "We were talking about that because we're both competitive and nobody likes to lose.
"That was one that he won and I was just reminding him like, 'Yeah, you know the refs cheated for y'all on this play,' and he said they won fair and square. That's one for sure that sticks out."
Although that loss has stuck with Townsend, it's hardly a surprise that the competitive Becht is also drawn to recall the losses, rather than that victory.
"I played a lot against (Townsend) in high school and Pop Warner as well, and I never beat him I don't think," Becht said. "So, it's great to have that guy on the same side of the ball as me."
More: What Matt Campbell and Iowa State need to get done this offseason: A look at what's next
After years of competing against each other in their home state, the two have reunited more than a thousand miles away in Ames. The 5-foot-11 wide receiver was one of the Cyclones' top acquisitions through the transfer portal this offseason. He totaled 1,625 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns over the last three years at UCF.
In 2024, he accumulated 157 total offensive yards and a touchdown and 283 return yards through the Knights' first four games. He opted to sit out the remainder of the season to preserve a redshirt and enter the transfer portal. He did not play in Iowa State's thrilling 38-35 win over UCF on Oct. 19, which capped the program's best start in Big 12 competition.
He will play a big part in Iowa State's passing game, alongside another key addition in East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell. Those two will be needed to help replace the production lost from NFL prospects Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
More: Iowa State football: With spring football underway, Cyclones refocus after historic season
While Townsend will be a key target for Becht this season, his athleticism, quickness and speed provide plenty of flexibility and versatility for the Cyclones' offense overall. He will also be able to make an impact as a returner on special teams.
"He's electric; it's been really fun to have him," said Iowa State pass game coordinator and receivers coach Noah Pauley. "He's a guy that came in and kind of hit the ground running as far as learning the playbook and learning multiple positions.
"He had a lot of good stuff to watch with Jaylin Noel and the stuff we did with him, but it's going to be a lot of fun moving forward trying to find ways to get him the ball, whether that's split out wide, in the slot, in the backfield – it's going to be a lot of fun."
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It's been a long road for Townsend to get to Ames, both literally and figuratively, but he's proud to be a Cyclone. He originally committed to Iowa State coming out of Berkeley Preparatory School and was going arrive with Becht, but he flipped his commitment to stay close to home and play at UCF.
"You don't ever want to really burn a bridge with any coach or anybody and when I did decide to flip to go to UCF, none of the (Iowa State) coaches had ill will towards me," Townsend said. "They all wished me success and wanted the best for me, so I think that speaks huge when it comes to their character as people and their character as just a team overall. You want to play for people like that."
According to Townsend, he entered the transfer portal when it first opened on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. He said he got his first call, a minute later, from Iowa State.
"I was watching Iowa State the whole season, and I felt like it would be a great fit, and I was happy when they called," Townsend said. "... During the recruitment process, they were like, 'You're not going to (flip commitment) again, when you're coming, you're coming.' I was like, 'For sure, I'm locked in. 100%'"
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In addition to spring football and offseason workouts, he's been getting additional work in with Becht to develop that quarterback-receiver connection.
The Cyclones don't have any dates set for a potential open practice or spring game as of March 31. In the event that those don't take place, Iowa State fans will have to wait until the season-opener in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 23 to get a public glimpse of the new receiver.
If the wait does happen to be that long, Townsend has a message for what Cyclone Nation can expect from him.
"I describe myself as a hard worker," he said. "Before it shows on the football field, it's (work) in the film room, when we're doing the work and all that. Then, when it comes to game day, I feel like I'm pretty electric. Downfield passes, in the return game, flipping the field and just making plays."
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football: Xavier Townsend, Rocco Becht reunite on Cyclones
Continue reading...
