Vandals open spring football practice today

From news services

MOSCOW — Coming off its first appearance in the FCS playoffs in 27 seasons, the Idaho Vandals open spring football practice today at 6:45 a.m. on the practice field on the East end of the Kibbie Dome.

It is the first of 13 practices that culminate in the annual spring game which is slated for Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m.

The Vandals return eight starters on offense and six starters on defense from a team that went 7-5 a season ago under first-year coach Jason Eck, including a 6-2 record in Big Sky play to return to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 1995.

The Idaho offense returns consensus All-American wide receiver Hayden Hatten, the Jerry Rice Award winner in quarterback Gevani McCoy and All-Big Sky honorees in receiver Jermaine Jackson, offensive lineman Ayden Knapik and running back Anthony Woods.

The Vandal offense lost offensive linemen starters Beau St. John and Logan Floyd, and tight end Connor Whitney to graduation, and also lost power back Roshaun Johnson.

The Idaho defense will have more gaps to fill with defensive ends Leo Tamba and Juliano Falaniko, as well as interior defensive lineman Nate DeGraw (from Post Falls High) all graduating. All-Big Sky linebacker Fa’avae Fa’avae and defensive back Jeremiah Salaam have also exhausted their eligibility.

The defense does return defensive linemen Sam Brown and Ben Bertram, who both started games last season. All-Big Sky linebacker Paul Moala returns for his final year of eligibility. Murvin Kenion III, Mathias Bertram and all-conference defensive backs Tommy McCormick and Marcus Harris will anchor the back end of the Vandal defense. Moala, McCormick, Harris and Kenion all forced multiple turnovers a season ago for Idaho.

The Vandals added 12 players at semester that will participate in spring drills. Transfer defensive backs Cam Stephens and Dwayne McDougle will add athleticism and depth to a talented defensive secondary. Transfer linebacker Tre Thomas will look to step in as a starting linebacker right away, and transfer defensive lineman Jahkari Larmond will add size to the interior of the defense line at 6-3, 330.

On the offensive line, transfers Terrian Rainey brings experience as an NAIA All-American and Jaxin McCallum started as a freshman at South Dakota Mines. Punter LJ Harm, a Spokane native from Mead High, transfers in from Ventura College.

True freshmen linebacker Jaxton Eck and Malakai Railton-Stewart are enrolling early, while wide receiver Davis Fry greyshirted. Bridger Stephens and Solomon Howard joined the program at semester.

Idaho has one of the largest recruiting classes in school history joining the team ahead of fall camp.

PRO DAY

Five 2022 Vandal football graduates will participate in Pro Day, joined by one 2021 Vandal graduate. Drills are expected to begin at 8 a.m. today, beginning in the weight room with measurements, bench press and vertical jump before moving into the Kibbie Dome for drills.

Fa'avae Fa'avae, Juliano Falaniko, Roshaun Johnson, Jeremiah Salaam and Leo Tamba will all participate along with Caleb Lightbourn.

Fa'avae is coming off a very productive Vandal career. He ended his time in Moscow with 233 total tackles, including 110 his senior year, 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He was a team captain and vocal leader for Idaho in 2022.

Falaniko was in Idaho for just one season but tallied 36 tackles, 6 TFLS, two sacks and a forced fumble. He spent his first four seasons with USC.

Roshaun Johnson holds the Vandal single-game touchdown record with six. He is in the top-10 all-time for career touchdowns with 29 and racked up 1,663 career total yards. He tallied 13 total touchdowns in 2022. He was also a team captain for 2023.

Salaam tallied 30 tackles in 2022 and defended seven passes. During his career, which included three seasons at Kent State, he tallied 87 total tackles, 16 passes defended and an interception. He also tallied 3.5 tackles for loss.

Tamba missed most of the 2021 season with injuries, but had a productive season in 2022, racking up 32 total tackles, five TFLs and four sacks. He was named a captain by his teammates.

Lightbourn punted 51 times in 2021 with an average of 44.35 yards per punt. He also kicked off for the Vandals, notching 30 touchbacks in 42 kickoffs a season ago.