Steele Jantz gets starting nod at QB for ISU

AMES - Elusiveness.

Speed.

Hunger.

In three words, that's what buoyed Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz slightly above teammate Jared Barnett in the preseason battle for the No. 1 spot.

“They each have strengths - and more similarities than differences,” Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads said Tuesday after announcing Jantz, a senior, would start in the Sept. 1 season opener against Tulsa.

Jantz went 3-0 to begin the season in 2011, making particularly dynamic plays in comeback wins over Northern Iowa and Iowa.

But his effectiveness dwindled after a foot injury limited his mobility and led to his benching five weeks later.

“As an ex-defensive coordinator, it's scary when a quarterback takes off and ad-libs, whether it's via a scramble and throw, whether it's via a scramble and run, or what he can do in a designed run of our offense,” Rhoads said. “And Steele's a threat. There's no question about it. He's a threat because he's fast and has good size. I didn't think he was a great runner a year ago. I think (offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham) has addressed that issue and I think he's a better runner right now.”

Barnett, a sophomore, helped ISU to a 41-7 road win over then-No. 19 Texas Tech in his first career start.

He shined brightly three weeks later - throwing for 376 yards and three touchdowns - in the monumental 37-31 double-overtime upset win over national title contender Oklahoma State.

Rhoads said Barnett and redshirt freshman Sam Richardson, who emerged as a long-shot candidate in the quarterback race, took the announcement in stride, as expected.

“I'm a guy that's big on body language and seeing a reaction and I saw three very mature young men ready to lead that offense and move forward with how their role is defined today,” Rhoads said.

Jantz said he's become a stickler for preparation, so what naturally flows from plays - designed or not - doesn't catch him off guard.

“I try to be perfect with the mental part of the game,” Jantz said after Saturday's scrimmage. “After that it's just fundamentals and rhythm. With all that together, there's going to be a lot of completions.”

Rhoads said Jantz's greatest improvement in camp came in the short passing game.

“He's got a stong arm; he's got great velocity on his ball,” Rhoads said. “Not that every one of those passes involves touch, but there's a certain amount of touch and accuracy that goes with it. A completion isn't always the best thing that we can get out of a play. A completion where a running back has to turn and catch the ball like this (Rhoads stretched his hands back behind his head), isn't the way to start a swing pass and the same way with a screen pass. More of those balls are being thrown where they're caught here (Rhoads puts his hands squarely in front of his upper chest) and the guy can start that play at full speed. That makes for a better play.”

And experience creates more polished players.

Jantz's serpentine path from lightly-recruited high schooler to BCS-level play-caller likely impacted the competition, as well.

“Steele's had a long journey to get to where he is now,” Rhoads said. “From the broken leg in high school to walking on at the Division level (at Hawaii) to competing for the starting job at the junior college level to being in the position to earn a scholarship to being injured to being benched. Here he is, his last go-around. ... There's a lot of motivation, I think, for him.”

WHO'S THE KICKER?: Rhoads reiterated that the competition between true freshman Cole Netten and junior walk-on Edwin Arceo remains even.

“That decision has not been made and probably will go into game week and maybe even game day,” Rhoads said. “There's some sensitivity with that one because Cole Netten has a redshirt season to use and that will play into the decision-making there."