Penn State QB Rocco Becht latest college football star to show classes don’t matter
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Many students are preparing to return to school for the fall semester, but for certain college football players like Penn State’s Rocco Becht that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Everyone knows that the “student” in student-athletes is often optional when it comes to elite talents. However, being a star quarterback at a Big Ten football program further proves that argument.
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Becht, the son of former NFL tight end Anthony Becht, is the starter for the Nittany Lions after joining from Iowa State. The 22-year-old signal caller comes over from the Cyclones along with new head coach Matt Campbell.
However, it’s clear that showing up to class might not be part of the plan for the fifth-year quarterback. In fact, he revealed to reporters this week that he won’t be attending any in-person sessions this fall after previously receiving his undergraduate degree at Iowa State.
“I don’t know yet, we haven’t picked it yet.” Becht said Thursday when asked about the classes he will be taking.
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School isn’t in session
It’s definitely not outside the norm for college athletes to have lighter class schedules during their seasons. That’s been the case for many top stars competing on the gridiron or on the college basketball courts.
In the case of Becht, he’s stepping into an elite program in Happy Valley with Big Ten aspirations. His father’s NFL pedigree certainly plays a role as well as he aims to potentially reach the next level after a season at Penn State.
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However, Becht faces several challenges reaching the next level, including battling other elite quarterbacks in next year’s NFL Draft. Top players like Arch Manning, Dante Moore and C.J. Carr are all highly-touted heading into the 2026 season.
Last season, the college football veteran threw for over 2,500 yards to go along with his 16 touchdown passes. He’ll need to improve on those numbers in 2026 if he wants to be included in the national spotlight.
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