Receivers shine for Vandals during spring ball

MOSCOW — A bright spot throughout spring camp for the Idaho Vandals football team has been the wide receiver group.

Despite injuries and illnesses limiting the size on given days, the group’s might has never been questioned. Redshirt senior Jeff Cotton is emerging as the leader of the room.

Cotton played in all 11 games last season, including eight starts. He caught 49 passes for 656 yards and a team-best seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound target averaged of 13.4 yards per reception a year ago after redshirting during his first year on campus. Cotton joined the Vandals after two years at Pima Community College, including an honorable mention All-America campaign in 2016.

“Every year I’m just trying to be better than I was last year, “ Cotton said. “I mean it is my senior season, so I am trying to give it all I’ve got every day and be the best I can be for the team. Every day I want to come out here and get better at my craft, work on things each and every day as a team. As a team, I want to focus on being a good leader and as a whole just getting better. Take each game week by week and get to the playoffs and take it from there.”

Redshirt sophomore Cutrell Haywood has also put on a show throughout spring practices, including big performances at each of Idaho’s first two scrimmages. Jante Boston, Brandon Luckett and Michael Noil have exhibited flashes of brilliance throughout the spring, each building on their relationships with Idaho’s three quarterbacks — senior Mason Petrino, junior Colton Richardson and redshirt freshman Nikhil Nayar.

Redshirt freshman Jed Byers is making the most of his opportunities this spring. Byers is seeing an increased workload as a number of his fellow wide receivers are on the mend.

The receivers and the rest of the Vandals will put their work on display at the annual Silver & Gold Spring Game tonight at 6 in the Kibbie Dome.