Replacement for Arnaud remains a mystery

By Rob Gray, Correspondent

AMES - The mystery deepens.

Iowa State football coach Raul Rhoads pledged during Thursday's media day he would be “extremely vague” regarding the three-man race for the starting quarterback job until at least Aug. 20.

So anxious Cyclone fans will have to wait along with the candidates - Jerome Tiller, Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett - and their teammates as Rhoads and offensive coordinator Tom Herman scrutinize every move, throw and snap-decision.

“I told the guys (Wednesday) night, if you want to win this job, A, you've got to believe in yourself first,” Herman said. “And then, B, you've got to have that locker room believe in you, too.”

The battle between Tiller, the most experienced, Jantz, the strong-armed transfer, and Barnett, an accurate but green redshirt freshman, has been brewing for months.

So what's wrong with waiting another 15 days or so to settle on a starter to replace mainstay Austen Arnaud?

“Some people have their favorites,” said ISU wide receiver Darius Reynolds, who caught two touchdown passes last season. “Some people like Jerome the best, some people like Steele, some people like JB. But when it comes down to it, it depends on who coach Herman likes and who he feels comfortable with. I'm pretty sure he's going to make the right decision.”

Cases can be made for each as the Cyclones seek a return to bowl eligibility after a 5-7 season.

As for Tiller, a junior who has thrown two career touchdown passes and four interceptions ...

“He's got the best knowledge of our offense and probably the best decision-making ability right now because of that,” Rhoads said. “He has the ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage where the other two, maybe don't at this point.”

Making quick, yet prudent choices - whether in reading coverages, deciding when to pitch or run, or checking down receivers - ranks among the key criteria on which the race is based.

“It can be taught and it can be improved on,” Herman said of decisiveness. “But at some point, that guy's going to hit his ceiling and he is what he is.”

Tiller's pegged his main area for improvement.

“Accuracy,” he said. “I've got plenty of arm strength. It's putting the ball where it's needed.”

In spring ball, that proved to be one of Barnett's strengths, Rhoads said.

So is confidence.

“I do expect to be the guy, because that's the type of person I am,” said Barnett, who threw for 62 yards and ran for 58 more in April's spring game. “I expect great things from myself and now, being around all these guys, I expect great things from this team.”

Jantz and Tiller are naturally self-assured, as well.

The former - who totaled 37 touchdowns passing and rushing for City College of San Francisco last season - possesses the tools for success, but is still young to Herman's quick-hit spread offense.

“Steele Jantz has a lot of physical ability,” Rhoads said. “He's the furthest behind in the understanding and grasp of our offense because he's had 15 practice days to get out there and actually compete doing what we ask him to do.”

Jantz feels he can make the biggest gains in consistency, which will come with time.

“Being a quarterback entails a lot of things - being efficient, minimizing mistakes, consistently making the right read and making the play,” he said.

And for Iowa State's dual-threat trio, it also entails uncertainty.

At least for a couple more weeks or so.

“I would truly, hopefully I'd like to be (the starter),” Tiller said. “But it really doesn't come down to me. It comes down to - where'd that guy go? That big guy. Wherever he went, it really comes down to him.”

That big guy: coach Rhoads.

“I've got to prove to him I have what it takes,” Tiller said.

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