Jantz leads chase to replace Arnaud for ISU

AMES - The race to be Iowa State's top quarterback come Sept. 3 against Northern Iowa is wide open.

Aaron Horne doesn't quite see it that way, not with Community College of San Francisco teammate Steele Jantz among those competing to replace three-year starter Austen Arnaud.

“Honestly,” said Horne, one of 22 players among the Cyclones' latest class of newcomers revealed Wednesday on national signing day, “I think Steele will be the starter. The other quarterbacks are good, don't get me wrong. But you can't find talent like that everywhere.”

Jantz is the headliner of Coach Paul Rhoads' third recruiting class, and one of the leading candidates to win the quarterback job with junior Jerome Tiller and red-shirt freshman Jared Barnett.

Tiller is the only returner with much game experience. He is 1-2 as a starter.

“It's going to be competitive. That's good,” Jantz said. “Quarterback is a position where every single guy competing should feel like they are the guy. Obviously, I feel like I'm the guy. My main focus is just being the best I can be.”

Junior college transfers Jantz, Horne and offensive lineman Sam Tautolo are enrolled in classes and will participate in spring practices next month. Freshman linebacker Jevohn Miller from BGM was able to graduate early and is enrolled for the spring semester.

ISU's most serious competition for Jantz included Kansas State, San Jose State and Louisiana Tech.

Cyclone coaches felt unsure enough about the quarterback depth to bring in a junior college player with designs on playing right away.

“It's up for grabs,” Rhoads said. “Every quarterback that we have on our roster will be competing for the starting job.”

Rhoads signed a player at every offensive and defensive position.

He quickly grabbed hold of Horne once it was clear Sedrick Johnson would be leaving the program.

Horne's familiarity with Jantz is a plus.

“I'm improving since I've been here,” Horne said. “As time goes on and I learn the program more and learn the plays, I think we both have a good chance to start.”

Another of Jantz's potential targets is tight end Ernst Brun, whose Mount Sac Community College team defeated CCSF in the California junior college championship game last November.

Brun won't be on campus till summer.

“I don't think there will be any hard feelings. We are past that,” Jantz said.