Iowa State Starting the 2022 Season With New Quarterback
ARLINGTON, Tx – The Iowa State Cyclones are entering the 2022 season with a scenario they haven’t faced since the 2018 season: breaking in a new starting quarterback.
Hunter Dekkers, a 6-3, 235-pound redshirt sophomore out of West Sioux HS in Hawarden, Iowa, is set to take over for four-year starter and First Team All-Big 12 QB, Brock Purdy.
I’m not sure there’s the pressure and expectation being put on Dekkers to immediately be as successful as Purdy, but Cyclone star receiver Xavier Hutchinson is pretty high on Dekkers. As important as a coaches thoughts on a quarterback are, the star receiver’s thoughts are more important.
“With [Hunter] Dekkers, I’ve just really seen exceptional arm talent; he can put the ball anywhere he wants to,” said Xavier Hutchinson. “He’s just really eager and hungry to prove himself. With Brock [Purdy], he didn’t have to prove himself, he already showed himself. So, we’re kind of seeing that with Hunter now. I believe in him and he’s a great quarterback, honestly.”
Dekkers saw some action in four games this past season, but it was in a limited backup roll to Purdy.
“Well, part of our job is to develop, so that is still a part of the coaching model. I think one thing that we believed is recruit, retain and develop. I think for us, we've been really fortunate that you look at our last couple quarterbacks, Kyle Kempt was kind of an unheard-of football player that kind of came and patiently sat and waited his opportunity. When his opportunity came, he made the most of it. Brock Purdy really kind of took over in the same vein a little bit. He got his opportunity, his moment, he took advantage of it, and then really got better with it and really shined for our program. I think Hunter (Dekkers) is in a very similar situation. Hunter did play some really meaningful snaps a year ago. You got to see him going in in critical situations, have success. We also got to watch him fail a little bit and work through failure, which is part of playing quarterback. I think all those things were hugely positive for Hunter. Then you got to watch him in his work ethic over the last two years, being around Brock, supporting Brock, taking the knowledge and really coming to practice every day and getting better. Myself, our program, our players have complete faith in our quarterback room, and especially a guy like Hunter because of how he practiced every day, and when he got the moments to get in the game and perform, he was able to perform at a really high rate.
Dekkers competed 20-of-36 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball four times for 61 yards and a touchdown. The bulk of his stats came in the non-conference game against Iowa, in which he went 11-of-16 for 114 yards and a touchdown, all of which were career-highs.
He also saw limited action in 2020, going 5-of-7 for 118 yards and a touchdown.
“I think naturally, Hunter can sling it all over the place,” said Hutchinson. “He can throw the ball deep, he has no problem throwing the ball deep and honestly, his athletic ability is very surprising for how big he is.”
Dekkers will get his shot to prove he’s the next-in-line for the Cylones on Saturday, September 3 as Southeast Missouri rolls into Ames. However, the first real test will be a difficult road trip to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes on Sept. 10.