QB competition will have to wait until fall

AMES – Austen Arnaud's job appears safe – for now.

The Iowa State senior quarterback enters spring practice as the clear No. 1 and a returning starter who won't be seriously challenged with backup Jerome Tiller still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Coach Paul Rhoads broke the news Tuesday that Tiller came up lame during offseason workouts. Further testing showed the injury was serious enough to interrupt his spring practice schedule.

“I think he was in a position to compete for the position,” Rhoads said. “Him being out now two weeks where he is missing a lot of team work will affect that quite a bit.”

Tiller was scheduled to throw during Tuesday's opening practice, but will not participate in contact drills for probably two weeks.

Rhoads said the sophomore-to-be has made changes to his throwing motion and was mechanically a better quarterback. The coach will have to wait for pre-season drills to get a true look on if Tiller can really challenge Arnaud, ISU's starter the past two seasons.

“I'd much rather have Jerome out there for all 15 practices,” Rhoads said. “I'm disappointed in that. The injury affects it quite a bit.”

In other injury news, defensive end Rashawn Parker also won't be going through contract drills this spring. Parker is coming back off ACL surgery to his left knee, an injury sustained four games into last season.

The senior, who did not redshirt as a true freshman, was granted an extra year of eligibility.

Defensive tackle Bailey Johnson is still recovering from a broken foot and could return near the end of spring practice. Backup receivers Lonzie Range and Walter Woods (knee) are out for spring practice and running back Bo Williams is day-to-day while recovering from a concussion.