In the debut of our ‘Next Man Up’ series, we highlight ISU QB Hunter Dekkers. Dekkers, a highly-touted prospect from Hawarden, Iowa, is currently projected to be Brock Purdy’s successor in 2021. Heralded as a four-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports, Dekkers brings a strong-arm, a winning pedigree, and innate athleticism with him to Ames. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the future of Cyclones’ football.
ISU QB Hunter Dekkers
West Sioux wunderkind
An all-state athlete in football, basketball, and baseball, Iowa native Hunter Dekkers eventually realized that the gridiron should be his primary focus. It wasn’t long before the strong-armed signal-caller was able to enjoy the fruits of his labor for his on-field production at West Sioux High School.
As a freshman, Dekkers threw for just 951 yards and nine touchdowns but returned with a vengeanace the following season.
As a sophomore, Dekkers threw for 2,396 yards and 33 touchdowns, and also rushed for 190 yards and four touchdowns. He led the Falcons to a 13-0 record en route to the State Championship.
Dekkers upped the ante the following season, compiling over 4,215 yards of total offense. The 6-foot-3, 234-pound gunslinger completed 208 of 341 pass attempts for 3,641 yards and 48 touchdowns. He also rushed for 574 yards and seven touchdowns.
After throwing for the second-most passing yards in Iowa prep history, Dekkers’ banner 2018 season culminated in a 12-1 record and another State Championship.
Though his final go-around didn’t quite reach the prolific heights of his junior campaign, Dekkers continued to put up impressive numbers. He completed 201 of 324 pass attempts for 3,640 yards and 36 touchdowns, and added 439 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. However, this time, the Falcons fell in the state semifinals.
Despite his gaudy resume, Dekkers was still a relative unknown at the national level. In fact, it wasn’t until he won the MVP award at the Nashville regional of The Opening, that he earned an invite to the Elite 11. The Elite 11, regarded as the nation’s premier quarterback competition, was where Dekkers began to garner interest from FBS programs.
On the heels of a record-setting high school career, Dekkers was suddenly courted by several prestigious next-level institutions. After narrowing his options, Dekkers decided to remain local and attend Iowa State over the likes of Kansas State and Purdue.
Hunter Dekker’s Cyclones’ future
With all the hype surrounding ascending junior signal-caller Brock Purdy, it’s easy to overlook an incoming freshman who will be hard-pressed to see the field in 2020. But, with Purdy likely to forego his senior season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s time folks take note of Hunter Dekkers.
The Iowa native fits the prototypical size requirement for the position, and cut his teeth as a dynamic dual-threat passer in high school. Dekkers is a proven winner and has a knack for putting players in a position to be successful. However, his most fascinating quality, is his innate ability to rise to the occasion and deliver when the chips are down.
Whether you point to his big-game performances or his standout showing at the Elite 11 to put himself on the map, Hunter Dekkers has the DNA of a player who will soon take the college football world by storm.