AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year to highlight the Big 12 Conference postseason awards for the Cyclones, announced Wednesday by the conference office after a vote by the coaches.

Becht joins Mike Warren (2015) as Iowa State players to be named Offensive Freshman of the Year. He’s the first quarterback winner of the award since 2019 (Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State).

Senior cornerback T.J. Tampa and sophomore safety Jeremiah Cooper earned All-Big 12 First-Team honors, while junior wide receiver Jaylin Noel and junior tight end/fullback Stevo Klotz earned second-team accolades.

In total, 16 Cyclones were recognized by the Big 12 coaches.

Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year

Rocco Becht, QB, RFr., Wesley Chapel, Florida

Becht had an outstanding season for the Cyclones in his first as a starter, breaking ISU’s freshman records for completions (209), passing touchdowns (20) and passing yards (2,674). He completed 63.5 percent of his passes in leading the Cyclones from one conference win in 2022 to six league victories in 2023. He had six completions for 60 yards or more, the most by an ISU QB since Brock Purdy completed seven passes of 60-plus yards in 2019.

All-Big 12 First Team

Jeremiah Cooper, DB, So., El Paso, Texas

After earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors for Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022, Cooper burst onto the scene as a sophomore, picking off two passes in the season opener against UNI and returning one of them 58 yards for a touchdown. Cooper is fifth nationally and second in the Big 12 Conference with five interceptions despite missing two games due to injury. He’s fourth nationally in passes defended at 1.4 per game. Cooper has 41 tackles this season, including 1.5 for a loss. He’s allowed just one touchdown in 331 coverage snaps.

T.J. Tampa, DB, Sr., St. Petersburg, Florida

One of the nation’s top cornerbacks, Tampa earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2022 and elevated himself to a first-team spot after returning for his senior season. Tampa has locked down opponents this season, allowing just one touchdown in 414 coverage snaps. He has two interceptions, including the game-clincher in Iowa State’s win over Oklahoma State, and seven pass breakups while teams have largely refrained from throwing toward the all-league corner. Tampa is sixth on the team with 44 tackles, including three for a loss.

All-Big 12 Second Team

Stevo Klotz, FB, RJr., Chaska, Minnesota

The redshirt junior tight end spent much of his time in the backfield as a fullback and was rewarded for his efforts by earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. It marks the third-straight season a Cyclone tight end has earned All-Big 12 honors as a fullback (Jared Rus). In addition to paving the way for the Cyclone running backs, Klotz had seven receptions, including a 13-yard touchdown reception against Cincinnati.

Jaylin Noel, WR, RJr., Kansas City, Mo.

Wide receiver Jaylin Noel led the Cyclones with 60 receptions for 741 yards with a team-high six touchdown catches. Noel finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference for receptions, fourth for receptions per game (5.5) and sixth for receiving yards per game (67.4). Nationally, Noel ranks among the Top 70 for receiving TDs, receiving yards per game and receptions per game. He’s also a standout on special teams as a kick returner and punt returner.

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

Benjamin Brahmer (TE), Chase Contreraz (PK, STPoY), Beau Freyler (DB), Jayden Higgins (WR, ONoY), Jarrod Hufford (OL, OLoY), Jaylin Noel (KR/PR, OPoY), Tyler Onyedim (DL), Domonique Orange (DL), Tyler Perkins (P), Jack Sadowsky (DFoY), T.J. Tampa (DPoY), Gerry Vaughn (LB), Malik Verdon (DB)

Atlantic Senior and multi-sport athlete Quincy Sorensen signed her letter of intent to play tennis at the University of Dubuque on Wednesday afternoon. Sorensen chose University of Dubuque for their competitive tennis and aviation program with hopes of becoming a pilot.

Sorensen has taken away many positive lessons from her time in Trojan Athletics and thanks the various coaches she’s had throughout the years.

Atlantic Head Tennis Coach Mike McDermott noted the athleticism that Sorensen will bring to the tennis program.

Retired Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby will serve as interim athletic director at Northern Iowa. Bowlsby’s first AD job was at UNI beginning in 1983. He also served stints at Iowa and Stanford. He has no plans to make it a full time job.

Bowlsby says he was approached by UNI president Mark Nook after David Harris left to become the new AD at Tulane.

UNI has served as a launching pad for several coaches and administrators who have had very successful careers.

Special Olympians got to meet some of the players from teams in the N-A-I-A National Volleyball Championship Tuesday in Sioux City. Tournament co-director, Corey Westra, says it was good to see the Special Olympians back in full force for the clinic.

Westra says it was hard to tell if the volleyball players or the Special Olympians were having more fun.

Westra says. Around 100 Special Olympians took part in the clinic. The N-A-I-A National Tournament begins with pool play at 10 a-m today (Wednesday) in the Tyson Events Center.

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says his team must learn to handle adversity as they get ready for Friday’s visit to DePaul. The Cyclones dropped the final two games at a tournament in Florida to Virginia Tech and Texas A@M and are now 5-2 on the season.

Otzelberger says the Cyclones did not do a good job of handling the elevated level of physical play.

Otzelberger called it a learning experience for his team.

An Iowa defense that has carried the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record faces its most difficult challenge in the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan. The Wolverines are averaging better than 39 points per game in conference play.

That’s Iowa senior linebacker Nick Jackson who says the first chore is to slow down a ground game led by running back Blake Corum.

Iowa receiver Nico Ragaini says the 16th ranked Hawkeyes will need to be at their best when they play second ranked Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hawkeyes are a better than three touchdown underdog against a Wolverine team that will be in search of a third straight conference title.

Ragaini says the Michigan defense is a good as advertised.

Ragaini says the championship game is unlike any other they play.