THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Vandals in and out of portal; Boise State’s big chance

When he was introduced as Idaho’s 37th head football coach last week, former Vandal assistant Thomas Ford said he was optimistic some of the Idaho players who entered the transfer portal in the wake of head coach Jason Eck leaving to take the New Mexico job would opt to return to Idaho. 

So far, we know of four who have posted they are remaining Vandals — offensive linemen Nathan Knapik, Nate Azzopardi and Layton Vining, and linebacker Isiah King. 

Also, former Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan, who was the Vandals’ wide receivers coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Idaho under Ford. 

And Cort Dennison is reportedly going to be the Vandals’ new defensive coordinator. 

ALL TOLD, more than two dozen Idaho players have entered the portal. And as you might expect, a handful of players and several assistant coaches will be joining Eck and his staff in Albuquerque. 

Players headed to New Mexico include quarterback Jack Layne, running back Deshaun Buchanan, linebacker Jaxton Eck (Jason’s son), cornerback/kick returner Abraham Williams and offensive lineman Kaden Robnett. 

Coaches/staff from Idaho who are joining Eck at New Mexico include Luke Schleusner (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach), Dan Jackson (defensive coordinator/linebackers coach), Cody Booth (offensive line coach), Hebron Fangupo (defensive line coach), Stanley Franks (defensive backs coach), John Waters (director of scouting) and Caleb Heim (strength and conditioning coach). 

Also, high school quarterback Toa Fa’Avae, part of the recruiting class Eck signed for Idaho in December, flipped his commitment and is now headed to New Mexico. 

Those who have entered the portal since the end of the season and are known to have hooked up with other teams include wide receiver Jordan Dwyer (TCU), wide receiver Mark Hamper (Wisconsin), cornerback Dwayne McDougle (San Diego State), defensive lineman Malakai Williams (Boise State), offensive lineman Jack Foster (Nevada), defensive back and former East Valley High star Diezel Wilkinson (Montana), and defensive back/kick returner Andrew Marshall (Nebraska). 

Remember, Idaho took a hit in the transfer portal following the 2023 season, losing its starting quarterback, top running back and several key defenders, and still came back this season and made it to the FCS quarterfinals for a second straight year.  

Obviously, the Vandals lost way more to the portal this year. But as we learned this season, there was still some pretty good talent left in Moscow.  

ALL BOISE State wanted was a shot. 

The Broncos came close, but didn’t get a shot at playing for a national title during the Kellen Moore glory days. 

Now, with the expanded College Football Playoff, it’s put up or shut up time for BSU. 

Remember how Gonzaga fans used to cringe when the national folks referred to the Lovables as a “mid-major.” 

Boise fans get similarly irked when folks dismiss their gaudy record by saying the 12-1 Broncos “don’t play anybody.” 

The national folks think Penn State drew a break by getting to play Boise State in the CFP quarterfinals on Tuesday in the Fiesta Bowl. 

You could turn that around and say Boise State maybe drew a break by not having to play a Texas, or an Ohio State, or a healthy Georgia in its playoff opener. 

True, Boise State did most of its damage this year against Mountain West teams, and Mountain West-ish teams Washington State and Oregon State. 

But in their one “showcase” game, the Broncos showed out as well, nearly upsetting No. 1 Oregon in Eugene before losing 37-34 on a field goal at the gun. 

Ashton Jeanty (2,497 yards, 29 TDs and counting), the beastly running back whom many fans — particularly BSU supporters — think was robbed of the Heisman Trophy, ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns against the Ducks, including a 70-yard run early in the fourth quarter to tie the game, and an 8-yarder to put the Broncos up 34-27. 

THE GOOD thing is, we can settle this Boise State vs. the world debate on the football field, rather than on the platform formerly known as Twitter. 

I don’t know how this game is going to turn out. 

You don’t know either. 

Maybe Penn State can stop Jeanty, and force BSU quarterback Maddux Madsen into being Bad Maddux. 

But Boise has other dudes as well, and maybe Jeanty runs through the Nittany Lions like he did every other team on the Broncos’ schedule, punctuated by a signature backbreaking run (in eight of BSU’s games, Jeanty has broken a run of at least 60 yards). 

The landmark win over Oklahoma, with the hook-and-lateral, the Statue of Liberty and the marriage proposal, is still memorable for sure, but it was 18 long seasons ago. 

Boise State finally has its chance to come up with a new signature victory. 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.