Cyclone QB job remains up for grabs

AMES - Iowa State's quarterback derby heads into the off-season with Saturday's spring game the final proving ground before decision time hits in the fall.

Bottom line: The job is still there for the taking.

Coach Paul Rhoads and a few thousand fans at cool and windy Jack Trice Stadium saw a mixed bag between the four contestants: Jerome Tiller, Steele Jantz, Jared Barnett and James Capello.

“Nobody has eliminated themselves,” Rhoads said. “It's a four-horse race. All four quarterbacks had bright spots and moved our team at times.

Tiller, working with both the first- and second-team offenses, looked the best of the bunch.

The junior finished a combined 12 of 18 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran five times for 27 yards.

“I played decently well. I could've done better,” Tiller said.

Rhoads was happy with how his most veteran quarterback shook off a right elbow injury and played through pain.

“He had his best scrimmage (of the spring),” Rhoads said.

Tiller hit receiver Darius Reynolds on the first offensive play of the game with a 45-yard pass play that tailback Jeff Woody turned into a 5-yard touchdown run one play later.

Tiller later hit Reynolds with a pair of touchdown passes, from 40 and 19 yards out. The senior caught five balls for 122 yards.

“I think it was my best day as a Cyclone,” Reynolds said.

Jantz was shaky in his first public appearance.

The junior college transfer finished 8 of 16 passing for 113 yards, the biggest coming on a 50-yard scoring bomb in the middle of the field to his former City College of San Francisco teammate Aaron Horne.

Jantz' first possession ended with a fumbled shotgun snap that was recovered by linebacker A.J. Klein deep in his own territory.

He had trouble holding on to a couple of snaps and later threw an interception on an overthrow.

Barnett was decent throwing the ball but showed off his running ability. The red-shirt freshman had 25- and 43-yard bursts in the first half and displayed some of what Rhoads wants to see from a starting quarterback.

Capello combined to go 9 of 13 passing for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Athleticism and mobility was shown by all. Decision-making and accuracy weren't quite as clear.

Rhoads is in no rush to crown somebody the starter.

“Nobody has separated themselves as someone who can do those things every day, and that's what we are looking for,” he said.

Playmakers like Reynolds and Horne did emerge.

Horne finished with eight catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in what was his coming out party in front of the home fans. The 5-9, 167-pounder also scored on a 16-yard reverse.

“He's pretty quick and elusive,” Reynolds said. “He should be pretty good for us.”

The defense was able to force a few turnovers and pressure the quarterback consistently.

All in all, it was a good final work day in helmets and shoulder pads.

“It's always never as good or bad as it seems,” Rhoads said. “We are where we want to be.”