Former Cyclone quarterback Phillip Bates talked to the media for the first time since leaving the team on Tuesday in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald.

While staying away from specifics, Bates indicated that he had been thinking about transferring for some time.

“Since my freshman year until now, some things have occurred, and I just felt like this was a good time for me to step down,” Bates said. “I just felt like I wouldn’t get to maximize my potential here at Iowa State.”

Next season, Bates plans to transfer to another school to play quarterback.

“The schools that have contacted me know I want to play quarterback,” Bates said. “They’ve seen me play, and they know what I can do.”

According to www.rivals.com, Ohio, Central Michigan, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois have contacted Bates’ former high school coach, Larry Martin to inquire about his former quarterback.

Rivals.com also reported that Bates will look into the quarterback situations at Kent State, Buffalo, Toledo, Western Michigan, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Michigan, Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, SMU, San Jose State and West Virginia.

Regardless of where Bates goes, he will have to sit out next year because of NCAA transfer rules, but he will keep both years of eligibility if he transfers out of the Big 12.

Although Bates left abruptly, he says he harbors no ill will toward Iowa State.

“I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here,” Bates said. “I will never regret coming here.”

Bates even claims to be on good terms with the man who beat him out for the starting job: quarterback Austen Arnaud.

“Austen was always there for me and I was there for him,” Bates said. “I told him this had nothing to do with him and I. I was rooting for him the other night against Baylor, and I’ll root for him the rest of the year.”