The conclusion of last week’s spring game meant one thing for ISU head football coach Dan McCarney: It’s time to separate the men from the boys for the coming fall season.

At least for most positions.

Quarterback has been a question mark for McCarney during Iowa State’s spring practices, but the spring game brought him a little closer to making his decision.

“Right now Cris Love has a very slight edge at the number one spot, but it’s still a three-man race,” McCarney said.

Love completed 12 of 24 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in bad weather conditions.

“It was a little wet out there, but the offense moved the ball and I had a couple of good plays,” Love said. “When it’s wet out there, you’ve got to be a little smarter with the ball and focus on hanging on to it more, but you still have to make your throws.”

Still fighting to hold on to that No. 1 spot, Love knows what he has to do this summer to keep it.

“I’ve got to get a little bit stronger and a little bit faster. Then come two-a-days, I need to stay away from making turnovers and make the plays when they need to be made,” Love said. “Ultimately, it just comes down to moving the chains. If I’m out there with the offense and moving the ball, I should be all right.”

McCarney said Austin Flynn will be at the No. 2 spot, with Waye Terry at third string, but the order is tentative.

“That’s the way we’d line up right now, but it’s still way too close to call,” McCarney said. “We’re not playing mind games with the quarterbacks or with the public, that’s just the way it is and the race is on now for who’s going to be number one [for the season-opener against Northern Iowa] August 30th.”

As for running back, McCarney has made up his mind, declaring returning senior Hiawatha Rutland his starter, but with such a deep bench at that spot, the harder choice for McCarney has been who will be second string.

“If we played tomorrow, Stevie Hicks would be the first back off the bench,” McCarney said. “We just feel really good about that position. All three running backs that played last year — Rutland, Wagner and Thompson — are all back.”

If there’s one player that has stood out to McCarney this spring, it’s true freshman right guard Aaron Brant.

“He’s a really unusual young man,” McCarney said. “I’ve been around 30-some years in Division I football, and I haven’t seen many incoming freshmen that could have a chance to play as true freshmen.”

McCarney said Brant finished up this spring as the Cyclones’ starting right guard.

“He’s not quite where he needs to be yet, but I’ve seen very few young offensive linemen come as far as Aaron has,” McCarney said.

“He’s a real committed young man, he’s got a lot of talent and his maturity is way beyond his age.”

On this spring as a whole, McCarney was happy with how it went.

“We feel that we’ve had a very productive spring,” he said. “With the exception of Waye Terry, who went out with a broken thumb, we got out without any major injuries.”

McCarney was also pleased with his team’s effort in the spring game.

“The kids played under horrible weather conditions and I think they still came out and executed well,” he said. “It came down to a last second field goal. I think we got more out of the game that way because of the more realistic, game-like conditions.

“It was a good effort by everyone and a great way to finish the spring. I’m proud of this team’s improvement. There’s a lot of character in this team and we’re excited for the fall.”