Excitement in the building
There’s an excitement around the campus of the University of Idaho as the school’s football team opens fall camp today.
“The guys have worked hard all summer and I think we finished spring out strong,” fourth-year Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “There’s a lot of belief here. Now, we’ve got to go out and make it happen.”
One big key out of the gate is the return of two-year starting quarterback Matt Linehan, who was recently cleared to resume football activities after missing spring practices with a foot injury.
“We’ve had the chance to see him moving around in the weight room, and I think he’s doing really well,” Petrino said. “He was cleared by the doctors this week and each week, he’s been able to do a little more. I think he’ll be good to go.”
Jake Luton, the projected backup to Linehan, opted to transfer at the conclusion of spring practices.
“We’ve got Matt, we’ve got (former Coeur d’Alene High standout) Gunnar (Amos) and we’ve got (Petrino’s son) Mason,” Petrino said. “That’s the depth, and they’re all going to work hard. It’s unfortunate that Jake left and we wish him all the best, but we’ve got to worry about the guys we’ve got here.”
Amos, a redshirt freshman, has yet to take a snap for the Vandals in the regular season.
“We’ll have to get our younger guys some experience as the season goes on,” Petrino said. “Definitely early in the year, we’ve got to go get some guys some experience.”
Idaho returns three at tailback, with junior Aaron Duckworth the leading candidate to start when the team opens the season on Sept. 1 against Montana State in Moscow.
“As we left in the spring, I think that Duckworth was the leading guy and came out of the spring with the best chance out of all of them,” Petrino said. “I think Denzal Brantley and Isaiah (Saunders) had good springs as well, and they’ll go out and compete. I don’t know that we’ll play all three, but they’ll come in and compete.”
Four starters return along the offensive line, as do senior tight end Trent Cowan and senior receiver/tight end Deon Watson.
“Right now, the group that with the least starts coming back is running back,” Petrino said.
Petrino added that Steven Matlock, who had been suspended from the team, has been reinstated and will participate in workouts starting today.
Defensively, the Vandals will look to improve on a pass rush that had 13 sacks in 2015.
“I think no question you want to put pressure on the quarterback and get to the quarterback,” Petrino said. “But it’s not just the D-line. It’s everybody, from the secondary covering and doing their jobs. Our linebackers and Kaden Ellis will be a guy we’ll want to get some pressure and get to the quarterback. This group is looking forward to getting after it. I think their will be a lot of competition on our defensive line for sure. With our inside guys (defensive tackles), there’s a lot of talent at the buck position (defensive line/linebacker). I think we’ve gotten longer and faster in the secondary and that will give us an opportunity to get into the passing lanes and make things happen. The more guys you can get on the field like that, it will benefit us. I just think there’s a lot of guys there that can give us some experience.”
Petrino added that he’ll likely redshirt Mason Ulrich, a former Lewiston High standout.
The Vandals practice at 6 p.m. through Sunday before switching to morning sessions next week.