Replacing a two-year starter at quarterback can be a tall order, but the ISU football team is confident it can find the right man for the job.

The Cyclones have been testing two prospects in spring practice in redshirt freshman Cris Love and junior college transfer Seneca Wallace. Sophomore Gerrin Scott is sitting out spring ball after having back surgery but plans to be ready for the season opener when the Cyclones host Northern Iowa Sept. 8.

Whoever wins the quarterback battle will have big shoes to fill following Sage Rosenfels. Rosenfels passed for 2,298 yards and eight touchdowns leading Iowa State to a school record, tying nine victories, and its first-ever bowl game win.

ISU offensive coordinator Steve Loney has been keeping a close eye on the quarterback hopefuls.

“The quarterback position is probably the most critical because that guy touches the ball every single offensive play,” Loney said. “Gerrin Scott had surgery and isn’t going to be able to play this spring, so that’s a bit of a setback, but the other two are doing well.”

Saturday’s spring game will be the first chance for Wallace and Love to show their skills in front of Cyclone faithful. Wallace has impressed so far and is at the top of the depth chart entering Saturday.

“Seneca has good quickness and is a smooth runner,” Loney said. “His head is swimming right now because he’s getting a lot thrown at him, but he will continue to improve. I’ve been encouraged with what I’ve seen.”

Wallace comes to Iowa State after a successful two years at Sacramento City College. Wallace was a JUCO All-American his sophomore season after passing for 3,675 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 55 yards and nine scores.

It has been a crash course for Wallace to learn the Cyclone offense, a process that must be done while he also adjusts to competing on the Division 1 level.

“I feel like I’m picking a lot of things up,” Wallace said. “I’m understanding defense more, how to read them better and the blocking schemes of the offensive linemen.”

In his two seasons in junior college, Wallace used his speed to rack up 880 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. Wallace has already noticed that the Cyclone coaches are working his mobility into the offense when he’s taking snaps in spring practices.

“I saw it from the first day, they try to get me off to the edge,” Wallace said. “I like that a lot. That’s what I bring to the table – a new dimension that people haven’t seen in a long time.”

Wallace will be in the same backfield with 2000 Big 12 rushing champ Ennis Haywood and sophomore Michael Wagner. Loney knows defenses will be ready to stop the running game, and that’s when Wallace can be the most dangerous.

“Teams pack so many in the box at times that being able to utilize your quarterback as a runner neutralizes a lot of what the defense can do,” Loney said.

Love is cut from the same mold as Rosenfels. Love sports a 6-5 frame and a solid arm.

“Cris Love is a young guy that probably isn’t as fluid a runner as Seneca but still is a guy that throws well. He’s a big, tough kid,” Loney said. “He’s got a good future in front of him.”

Love has a year of experience in the Cyclone offensive system, a fact that Wallace enjoys.

“We just learn from each other,” Wallace said. “I try to do a lot of things Cris does because he knows the offense. I go off that.”

The most experienced quarterback on the roster is Scott. Scott backed Rosenfels up last year, throwing a touchdown in the loss to Texas A&M. Scott completed 3 of 4 passes for 61 yards in limited action last season.

Scott will not get any action this spring, but Loney points out there are positives in the situation.

“The plus is that he’ll be 100 percent in the fall,” Loney said. “If he waited until after spring ball to have surgery, he would’ve hobbled through spring ball, and it would’ve been a photo finish whether he would’ve been ready for the fall. He’s feeling good already, and he’s going to be at full speed when it comes to our fall practices.

Scott stayed on the bench last season because of the number of competitive games the Cyclones were involved in. Scott’s strength, like Wallace, is his mobility.

“He also is a kid that can move around and can run pretty well,” Loney said. “He had that touchdown throw against Texas A&M, so he can be effective throwing the ball.”