Y’know, it’s fun to be excited about all of the young players that we’ll return in ‘24, but there’s really no concrete way to even vaguely project what that future team might look like.
Or…is there?
I had noticed some similarities between between Brock Purdy’s and Rocco Becht’s (to date) freshman seasons, and thought that I’d take a closer look. The similarities are obvious, the differences are apparent—and just as readily explainable. For one, Brock stepped into a situation with a much more seasoned lineup surrounding him. Rocco’s ‘23 season started out…painfully slow. For two…well, part of that “seasoned lineup” was Hakeem in complete and utter terrifying beast mode.
2018 Brock: 10 games played, 9 extensive PT:
220 Att 146 Comp 66.4% 2250 yds 26 TD’s 7 INT’s
2033 Rocco: 10 games started
285 Att 177 Comp 62.11% 2122 Yds 15 TD’s 7INT’s
Just realized that Rocco’s INT rate is actually lower.
At that point, given that I was puttering around in Cyclone stats, I went ahead and took a look at Brock’s sophomore season. You know, just so we might have some general idea of how Rocco might take a step forward next year:
2019 Brock: 13 games started
475 Att 322 Comp 65.7% 3,982 yds 27 TD’s 9 INT’s
Well. That’s a pretty darn big jump. I’m not sure we should expect 4,000 yards from Rocco, but it’s still some degree of measuring stick. Is 3,750 doable?
And while I was meandering around the stats pages, I noticed another similarity, between Jayden Higgins’ current junior season stats—and Hakeem’s junior year. Look at the yards per catch:
2017 Hakeem 41 Rec 697 Yds 17.0 YPC 7 TD’s
2018 Hakeem 60 Rec 1318 Yds 21.97 YPC 9 TD’s
2023 Jayden 35 Rec 610 Yds 17.43 YPC 4 TD’s
Now, I don’t expect Jayden to have the utterly dominant year in ‘24 that Hakeem had as a senior, but sixty-odd catches or so hardly seems beyond reason. Especially since he took a bit to kick into gear this season.
And yes, Xavier Hutchinson might have been a better match physically—but Jayden’s role is more like Hakeem’s.
As long as I was looking at the passing stats, I kept going, glancing at Deshaunte Jones’ last two seasons, versus where Jaylin Noel is right now:
2018 Deshaunte 43 Rec 386 Yds 8.51 YPC 4 TD’s
2019 Deshaunte 76 Rec 877 Yds 11.54 YPC 2 TD’s
2023 Jaylin 52 Rec 536 Yds 10.31 YPC 4 TD’s
The comparisons are inevitable, but remember that this is still only Jaylin’s junior year. And that Deshaunte took his jump in ‘19 with a sophomore Brock at QB as well. Jaylin will have a sophomore Rocco.
After that, there was just one more significant piece of the passing offense I wanted to take a peek at. Charlie Kolar’s freshman year versus how Ben Brahmer is doing right now:
2018 Charlie 11 Rec 137 Yds 12.45 YPC 3 TD’s
2019 Charlie 51 Rec 697 Yds 13.67 YPC 7TD’s
2023 Ben 21 Rec 271 Yds 12.90 YPC 2 TD’s
Don’t really need any analysis on this one. I think we’ve got something here, huh? That tight end room!
Then lastly, I thought we should take a quick look at how the current running backs currently compare with Breece’s freshman year. Yep, they’re doing “running back by committee”, but that’s because they’re all shining brightly—unlike ‘19.
2019 Breece 186 Att 897 Yds 4.8 YPC 9 TD’s
2020 Breece 279 Att 1572 Yds 5.6 YPC 21 TD’s
2023 Eli 96 Att 467 Yds 4.9 YPC 4TD’s
2023 Abu 49 Att 323 Yds 6.6 YPC 3TD’s
2023 Cartevious 64 Att 341 Yds 4.1 YPC 3 TD’s
Not going to draw any conclusions on individual, but I doubt we’re near the bottom of the conference in rushing offense next year, huh?
Oh yes…just for fun:
Eli, Abu and Cartevious totals right now:
209 Att 1131 Yds 5.4 TPC 10 TD’s
Mix all of this in with an offensive line that will return largely intact in ‘24…and I think we’re gonna have some real excitement ahead, huh?
And that doesn’t even count the defense, which is currently first in total and passing defense, fourth in scoring defense…and will return nine starters.
Oh. Plus Tyler Perkins
Go Cyclones!!!
Or…is there?
I had noticed some similarities between between Brock Purdy’s and Rocco Becht’s (to date) freshman seasons, and thought that I’d take a closer look. The similarities are obvious, the differences are apparent—and just as readily explainable. For one, Brock stepped into a situation with a much more seasoned lineup surrounding him. Rocco’s ‘23 season started out…painfully slow. For two…well, part of that “seasoned lineup” was Hakeem in complete and utter terrifying beast mode.
2018 Brock: 10 games played, 9 extensive PT:
220 Att 146 Comp 66.4% 2250 yds 26 TD’s 7 INT’s
2033 Rocco: 10 games started
285 Att 177 Comp 62.11% 2122 Yds 15 TD’s 7INT’s
Just realized that Rocco’s INT rate is actually lower.
At that point, given that I was puttering around in Cyclone stats, I went ahead and took a look at Brock’s sophomore season. You know, just so we might have some general idea of how Rocco might take a step forward next year:
2019 Brock: 13 games started
475 Att 322 Comp 65.7% 3,982 yds 27 TD’s 9 INT’s
Well. That’s a pretty darn big jump. I’m not sure we should expect 4,000 yards from Rocco, but it’s still some degree of measuring stick. Is 3,750 doable?
And while I was meandering around the stats pages, I noticed another similarity, between Jayden Higgins’ current junior season stats—and Hakeem’s junior year. Look at the yards per catch:
2017 Hakeem 41 Rec 697 Yds 17.0 YPC 7 TD’s
2018 Hakeem 60 Rec 1318 Yds 21.97 YPC 9 TD’s
2023 Jayden 35 Rec 610 Yds 17.43 YPC 4 TD’s
Now, I don’t expect Jayden to have the utterly dominant year in ‘24 that Hakeem had as a senior, but sixty-odd catches or so hardly seems beyond reason. Especially since he took a bit to kick into gear this season.
And yes, Xavier Hutchinson might have been a better match physically—but Jayden’s role is more like Hakeem’s.
As long as I was looking at the passing stats, I kept going, glancing at Deshaunte Jones’ last two seasons, versus where Jaylin Noel is right now:
2018 Deshaunte 43 Rec 386 Yds 8.51 YPC 4 TD’s
2019 Deshaunte 76 Rec 877 Yds 11.54 YPC 2 TD’s
2023 Jaylin 52 Rec 536 Yds 10.31 YPC 4 TD’s
The comparisons are inevitable, but remember that this is still only Jaylin’s junior year. And that Deshaunte took his jump in ‘19 with a sophomore Brock at QB as well. Jaylin will have a sophomore Rocco.
After that, there was just one more significant piece of the passing offense I wanted to take a peek at. Charlie Kolar’s freshman year versus how Ben Brahmer is doing right now:
2018 Charlie 11 Rec 137 Yds 12.45 YPC 3 TD’s
2019 Charlie 51 Rec 697 Yds 13.67 YPC 7TD’s
2023 Ben 21 Rec 271 Yds 12.90 YPC 2 TD’s
Don’t really need any analysis on this one. I think we’ve got something here, huh? That tight end room!
Then lastly, I thought we should take a quick look at how the current running backs currently compare with Breece’s freshman year. Yep, they’re doing “running back by committee”, but that’s because they’re all shining brightly—unlike ‘19.
2019 Breece 186 Att 897 Yds 4.8 YPC 9 TD’s
2020 Breece 279 Att 1572 Yds 5.6 YPC 21 TD’s
2023 Eli 96 Att 467 Yds 4.9 YPC 4TD’s
2023 Abu 49 Att 323 Yds 6.6 YPC 3TD’s
2023 Cartevious 64 Att 341 Yds 4.1 YPC 3 TD’s
Not going to draw any conclusions on individual, but I doubt we’re near the bottom of the conference in rushing offense next year, huh?
Oh yes…just for fun:
Eli, Abu and Cartevious totals right now:
209 Att 1131 Yds 5.4 TPC 10 TD’s
Mix all of this in with an offensive line that will return largely intact in ‘24…and I think we’re gonna have some real excitement ahead, huh?
And that doesn’t even count the defense, which is currently first in total and passing defense, fourth in scoring defense…and will return nine starters.
Oh. Plus Tyler Perkins
Go Cyclones!!!