From an outsider’s perspective, Iowa State looks like it’s in a prime position to take a step back from the heights of the past few seasons. With Brock Purdy under center, the Cyclones reached the Big 12 title game for the first time and played in a New Year’s Six Bowl, taking the program from also-ran to genuine contender.
And that was why last year was such a disappointment for the Cyclones, as they found themselves unable to build off the success they created in 2020 because of an inability to win close games. Last season, Iowa State played seven games that were decided by seven points or less. The Cyclones lost five of them, including four in the Big 12.
What started out as a season with Iowa State ranked in the top 10 ended in the Cheez-It Bowl with a loss — yet again by seven points — to Clemson and a 7-6 record. Once upon a time, that would have been enough to satisfy the fans in Ames, but with Purdy and a host of veterans on the roster, Iowa State expected and wanted more.
Now the Cyclones have to handle life after Purdy, who has finally graduated. In steps Hunter Dekkers, a redshirt freshman from western Iowa who’s the only experienced quarterback on the roster. Experience is used rather loosely in this case, as Dekkers threw just 36 passes a year ago and did so in a reserve role. Now he’s expected to be the main man at Jack Trice Stadium, which means he’s got some big expectations to meet considering Purdy is the school’s leader in career passing yards.
So, can the redshirt freshman handle the job in his first real test running the Cyclones’ offense? Here are three reasons why he can — and one big one why he might struggle.
Is Dekkers The Right Man To Continue Purdy’s Legacy?
Faith From the Coaches
During the spring and summer, every coach raves about every player’s progress, effort, and attitude, you name it. Dekkers is no different, as Iowa State coach Matt Campbell has labeled him a special talent and spoken highly about his leadership and decision-making abilities. However, there’s one big way that the Cyclones have made it clear that Dekkers is their guy: They didn’t bring in anyone to try to take his job this season.
Iowa State could have aggressively pursued a quarterback from a Group of 5 schools and offered the chance to compete for the job if Campbell wasn’t sold on Dekkers. The fact that the Cyclones chose to go into the season with only Dekkers having thrown a pass against an FBS opponent speaks volumes as to how much Campbell believes in the redshirt freshman.
The Cyclones’ decision means that Dekkers won’t be constantly looking over his shoulder at anyone throughout the season. Rocco Becht isn’t going to take Dekkers’ job unless Dekkers really comes apart at the seams. That should give Dekkers the freedom to be himself and learn how to make the throws needed to win at the level the Big 12 demands.
41-yard TD for Hunter Dekkers on the keeper!
ISU 52, KU 7 | 2:27 3Q
🌪️🚨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/Y19cqrtAB9
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 3, 2021
Pressure to Hold the Job
Campbell has shown a lot of faith in Dekkers by not bringing in an experienced quarterback through the transfer portal, but there’s also the possibility that he could simply be holding the seat warm for what’s coming in 2023. Iowa State has a commitment in place for 2023 from four-star quarterback J.J. Kohl of Ankeny High School, which sits just 30 miles down the road from Ames on Interstate 35.
And that’s where the pressure on Dekkers will come from in 2022. He’s got one year to get the Cyclones’ fans on his side before Kohl arrives in Ames, and if he struggles, a sizable chunk of Iowa State fans in the Ames and Des Moines area will call for Kohl to take the job. It helps that Dekkers is a highly-touted Iowa kid himself from West Sioux High School, and he’ll have every chance to win Iowa State fans over before Kohl ever dons the cardinal and gold. He’s been waiting his turn behind Purdy, and as long as he shows the tough running ability and good decision-making that he did in high school, Cyclones fans will support him.
For him, this situation is similar to a professional athlete’s contract year. If he’s a success, he’ll have the coaches, players and fans on his side next fall, which will make it virtually impossible for Kohl or anyone else to replace him. If he flops, he’s likely to face a quarterback competition when the summer arrives. This is essentially a one-year audition for Dekkers, which means he’s likely to pressure himself to be at his absolute best. Dekkers is the all-time Iowa high school leader in passing touchdowns, so he’s proven himself an accurate passer at the previous level. Now he simply has to prove he’s ready to handle this responsibility.
Brock Purdy named National Freshman of the Week by CBS Sports. #WinInTheDark
🌪🏈🌪https://t.co/xpoI2Po7Ji pic.twitter.com/pQj0J2yab3
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 8, 2018
Easing Into the Challenge
Iowa State’s season wins total sits at 6.5 according to most sportsbooks, which suggests that bookmakers feel aggressive about the Cyclones’ chances against their schedule. The first few opponents suggest that there’s good reason for the optimism.
The Cyclones will give Dekkers two good chances to get acquainted with the offense within the first three weeks with very winnable games against Southeast Missouri State and Ohio. Neither the RedHawks nor the Bobcats possess anything close to the level of athleticism needed to stop a Big 12 passing attack, which should allow Dekkers to build a rhythm with his wide receivers before entering conference play against Baylor.
The second game is another matter, as it’s Iowa State’s annual trip to defensive-minded Iowa. This will be the game where we really get a sense of what kind of quarterback Dekkers will be and whether or not the Cyclones will take a step back with him under center. For all of Purdy’s success in Ames, the one thing that he never did in four years as the starter was beat Iowa, which has won six straight against Iowa State.
What sets Iowa apart from the rest of the Cyclones’ schedule is that the Hawkeyes are a team that makes you either beat them or beat yourself. Too often, and especially with Purdy under center, Iowa State tried to do too much when facing Iowa and ended up doing next to nothing. In Purdy’s three starts against the Hawkeyes, he never led the Cyclones to more than 17 points. In fact, Iowa State hasn’t topped 20 points in Iowa City since 2002.
That says Dekkers needs to learn to take what the defense gives him when facing Iowa. How well he adjusts to the Iowa defense will tell a lot about whether he’ll be a cool-headed leader in the face of adversity or if he’ll fold under the pressure. Other than a Nov. 12 trip to Oklahoma State, the rest of the Cyclones’ toughest games are at Jack Trice Stadium. If Dekkers can handle the trip to Iowa, he can handle anything the Big 12 throws at him.
Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers has lost 40 pounds. And in doing so, he's found lots of confidence. @RandyPete on the #Cyclones QB's transformation. https://t.co/aVlHRAmO5L
— Cyclone Insider (@DMRCyclones) June 8, 2022
Where Things Could Go Wrong
In several ways, Dekkers does compare favorably to Purdy. He’s a better runner, has a stronger arm and makes better decisions with the football compared to his predecessor. However, he might have a hard time matching the seven wins Purdy got last year for a reason that isn’t his fault: the Cyclones just don’t have as much talent around him as they did the past three years.
A quarterback is only as good as the weapons around him, and Purdy’s weapons were excellent football players in their own right. Running back Breece Hall became the New York Jets’ second-round pick this spring, while tight end Charlie Kolar went to the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round. That’s a lot of talent that Dekkers won’t have at his disposal, and those two players got Purdy out of several tight spots during his time in Ames.
Instead, Dekkers has an inexperienced running game and only one reliable pass-catcher available from last season. Granted, the one option he has is a great one in wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, a first-team all-Big 12 wideout. But it will take time for Dekkers and Hutchinson to get themselves on the same page, and with only three games before Big 12 play kicks off, time isn’t a luxury that Iowa State has.
Officially an Iowa State CYCLONE!! Signing day has always been a dream of mine and it finally came true. I couldn’t be happier! Thank you to all of my family and friends who came to support me today. 🌪 pic.twitter.com/O4Mu5OmxVI
— Hunter Dekkers (@hunterdekkers) December 19, 2019
Betting on Dekkers and the Cyclones
At +1800 to win the Big 12, there’s some value on the Cyclones as a longshot play. It’s hard to replace Purdy, but Dekkers seems like he’s up to the task and should be ready to deal with the Big 12’s defenses. The bigger question is whether there’s enough talent around him to ensure that he’s able to deliver the same kind of performances Purdy managed on the scoreboard.
I think it’s going to take time for this offense to get on the same page, but eventually, Iowa State’s attack will turn into a strength. Dekkers seems to understand what his strengths and weaknesses are, and the fact that he has the coaching staff’s trust speaks volumes about his ability to prove himself this year.
Winning the Big 12 is probably a bit out of reach for this team, but Dekkers should get the offense to the point where it can handle the likes of West Virginia, Texas Tech and TCU down the stretch. As long as he grows into the job, a seven-win campaign is very doable with Dekkers under center.
1️⃣2️⃣ 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐎𝐅𝐅https://t.co/8rK2CBCCAT
🌪🚨🌪 pic.twitter.com/EC2fEuh2tX
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) August 22, 2022
Credits For Featured Image: Jacob Rice on Unsplash
