One of the major questions for the ISU football team heading into the 2011 season remains as up in the air as a 50-yard desperation heave from any of the three candidates in contention for the starting job at quarterback.

ISU coach Paul Rhoads announced that his staff will name a starting quarterback by Aug. 20. Until then, his options are whittled down to Jerome Tiller, Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett.

“The things that we are looking for as a staff are decision-making, leadership, accuracy and a quarterback that can get the job done with his feet as well as his mind and his arm,” Rhoads said in his opening statement at Thursday’s ISU Media Day.

Tiller, a redshirt junior, is the only one of the three who has played a down in a Cyclone uniform. He filled in for then-starter Austen Arnaud in 14 games — with two starts — in his first two seasons of eligibility.

“He’s the veteran. He’s got the most experience,” Rhoads said of Tiller. “He’s got the best knowledge of our offense and probably the best decision-making ability right now because of that.”

Asked what area he most needed to improve, Tiller said he needed to work on his accuracy.

“I’ve got plenty of arm strength, putting the ball where it’s needed,” Tiller said. “It’s all mechanics, all fundamental. It’s getting out of your drop properly, right on time. Everything’s got to time up.”

In the course of his career, Tiller has gone 80-for-155 in completions with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He has drawn heated criticism for his decision-making under pressure, which he said he plans on addressing come September.

“You never know until you’re actually on the field,” Tiller said when asked about how he’s tried to improve his play under pressure. “I really won’t know until it’s game time.”

Jantz has emerged as the most viable challenger for Tiller for the starting role, having led City College of San Francisco to an 11-1 season and a California state championship before arriving to Ames this past spring.

“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’ve asked him to do.”

Despite his admitted room for improvement, Jantz is optimistic about the type of player he can be for Rhoads and Co.

“I’m someone who is going to do whatever I can to make the play and not get sacked,” Jantz said. “I’m going to give my best until the whistle blows and try to make the play.”

The receiving corps has taken notice of Tiller and Jantz’s different styles, but some of the Cyclones’ veteran receivers do not see too much of a difference between the two.

“I would say Jerome and Steele throw about the same, so adjusting to them is not really too much of a difference,” said senior receiver Darius Reynolds. “Jared Barnett — he comes in a couple times. We work out with him too, and really he’s not too much further behind Jerome or Steele. All in all, they’re all about the same for us. It doesn’t matter which one can get us the ball, say, on the deep routes.”

Barnett, a redshirt freshman, is the final contender for the starting spot. Though Barnett is a dark horse candidate, Rhoads was quick to point out that he deserves to be a part of the conversation.

“I wouldn’t mention [Barnett] as one of the three if I didn’t feel he had an opportunity,” Rhoads said. “I don’t know if it’s better than people think, but as we start the rotation — as we work through reps — he’s very much a part of it.”

Reynolds said that the receiving corps has discussed the different candidates and expressed their favorites of the three among themselves. However, the offensive line is not as opinionated.

“Really our butts [are] facing the ball anyways, so it really doesn’t matter who has the ball. We’re going to protect them either way,” said senior left tackle Kelechi Osemele.

Regardless of who will be taking the first snaps in the Cyclones’ season-opening game against Northern Iowa on Sept. 3, the decision will be welcomed with open arms by those who will be catching passes from the soon-to-be-known starter.

“Some people have their favorites. Some people like Jerome better. Some people like Steele better. Some people like [Jared Barnett],” Reynolds said. “But when it comes down to it at the end of the day, it depends on who [offensive coordinator Tom] Herman likes and who he feels comfortable with, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to make the right decision. So whoever he puts back there is going to be our quarterback.”