The ISU football team’s offensive attack last year was among the best in the country.

With the return of offensive triggerman Bret Meyer at quarterback – one of 10 returning offensive starters – this year’s edition looks to be just as good, if not better.

One question does exist, however, at the quarterback position: Who will be Bret Meyer’s backup?

Meyer, who threw for 2,876 yards and 19 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions, was backed up last year by Terrance Highsmith. The transfer of Austin Flynn from quarterback to wide receiver made the competition at backup quarterback thin, but Meyer said this year the competition is there.

Redshirt freshman Brice Beck, senior Kyle Van Winkle and talented incoming freshman Austin Arnaud are all expected to compete for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

“With Kyle [Van Winkle] back there pushing me, I know he wants to play,” Meyer said. “This is his last time around and he wants it real bad – he’ll make everyone better.”

Although the three favorites for the backup position have never thrown a pass for the Cyclones, Meyer said everyone behind him has the talent to take over if needed – especially Van Winkle.

“Van Winkle’s gotten so much better – he’s our backup,” Meyer said. “He’s probably as good as me as far as knowing the offense. Maybe he’s not as mobile as some guys, but he throws the ball as well as anyone and has a real strong arm.

“There won’t be much of a drop off if he has to play.”

Meyer said the players pushing him from behind does help in keeping him motivated, but his own expectations are the biggest motivating factor.

“I know that I was 7-5 last year and I have a 14-10 record as a starter,” Meyer said. “That’s not very good. I don’t see myself as someone who’s quarterbacked a great team yet, and that’s where I want to be.”

Another quarterback hoping to improve this spring is Beck. After spending most of last year running opposing teams’ plays on the scout team, Beck said he’s ready to learn.

“I’m just going out there trying to compete with Bret [Meyer] and learn from him,” Beck said. “I redshirted last year and spent a lot of time on the scout team.

“When you’re on the scout team, you’re not running our plays. You’re trying to get everyone ready for the other team, so now I’m just spending a lot of time in the film room and studying my playbook.”

Beck will have to learn plays on the fly, however. He said he still needs to get out on the field and work on other aspects of his game.

“I still have to get out there and work on recognizing defenses,” Beck said. “I’m just working on my reads and going through my progressions.”

The third player in the backup triangle is Arnaud, who is finishing up his senior year at Ames High School and won’t join the team until the fall. Although he will be behind his competition, Meyer thinks that the highly touted Arnaud has the skills to come in and win the backup job.

“I think [Arnaud] can [play],” Meyer said. “Obviously you don’t know until they get here. I definitely think he has the tools. It will just be whether he can come in and use them right away.

“I’m just going to help these guys as much as I can. That’s what I’m here for.”