During the last eight months, junior quarterback Steele Jantz, a junior college transfer from City College of San Francisco, was known as the newcomer to the quarterback race among himself, redshirt junior Jerome Tiller and redshirt freshman Jared Barnett.

Now after 20 practices of fall camp, he’s the starter.

ISU head coach Paul Rhoads announced on Saturday that Jantz will be the Cyclones starting quarterback for the 2011 season opener against Northern Iowa in two weeks.

“Steele [Jantz] emerged clearly as the No. 1 guy,” Rhoads said.

Jantz arrived in Ames in January after throwing for 3,075 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushing for 601 yards at City College of San Francisco in 2010.

“I feel like I’m ready to go, but in every category — throwing, running and understanding (the offense) there’s always room for improvement so I kind of look at it that way, I’m never going to content with where I’m at,” Jantz told reporters at ISU media day on Aug. 4.

The Cyclones open their season at home against Northern Iowa at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at Jack Trice Stadium.