Junior Austen Arnaud’s starting spot may not be in jeopardy, but backup Jerome Tiller is at least keeping talk of the ISU quarterback situation interesting.

Several thousand Cyclone fans, aching for a taste of fall, saw Tiller’s on-field potential first-hand during Iowa State’s annual spring game on Saturday. The redshirt freshman passed and rushed his way to three touchdowns, leading the Gold squad to a 34-16 victory.

However, after the game, head coach Paul Rhoads quelled any questions about who will be manning the Cyclone offense come fall.

“Austen Arnaud is our starting quarterback,” Rhoads said. “Jerome Tiller is competing. And the number-one thing you want in the depth of a football program is competition.”

Although aided by the fact the Gold squad was up against Iowa State’s No. 2 defense, Tiller passed for 210 yards (14-for-24) and connected with Kurt Hammerschmidt and Wallace Franklin for a pair of touchdowns. Tiller’s scrambling ability also shone as he motored through the defense untouched for a 65-yard touchdown run.

“If we were to lineup Austen and Jerome, from an athleticism standpoint, Austen would test better and look better,” Rhoads said. “But there is something about Jerome when the game is played. He slithers. He snakes through. He’s got a mean way of making people miss.”

Arnaud was also quick to offer praise for Tiller.

“He’s played well all spring, but he lit it up in the second half,” Arnaud said. “Jerome got to show his cannon off.”

Confronted by the Cyclones’ top defensive unit, Arnaud got off to a slow start, throwing two interceptions in four possessions.

By the second half Arnaud appeared to finally fall into a rhythm. Arnaud totaled 250 yards and a touchdown through the air (22-35 — 100 yards of which came from Saturday’s top target on Sedrick Johnson.

Arnaud’s performance fronting the offense last season proved he is more than worthy of maintaining the same role this year. But Arnaud said having a skilled backup like Tiller behind him keeps the pressure on him to improve.           

“We feed off each other. Me and Jerome compete every day,” Arnaud said.

Although both quarterbacks understand where they line up on the Cyclone depth chart, Tiller agreed the continual competition with Arnaud has been beneficial for both of them.

“We’re friends and I’ll leave it at that. It’s a job and we’re both going for it. And whatever happens happens,” Tiller said. “We both make each other better every day. We coach each other, tell each other what we missed, how we missed and what we could do to make it better.”

Regardless of any competition between the two, both quarterbacks have had to learn a different offensive style in a short amount of time. Fans at the spring game got their first look at the new spread offense.

“We’re a lot farther than we ever thought we would be,” Tiller said. “Even coach said he didn’t think we would be this far along.”

Several times throughout the game Arnaud lined up towards the edge of the offensive line, with running back Alexander Robinson behind him and four receivers spread out on the sides.

Rhoads said he feels his team’s version of the spread attack is unique and this type of zone pressure will be a challenge for opposing defenses.

“We’ve learned this offense pretty quick, but still just gotta get it down,” Arnaud said.