Idaho ranks No. 7 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Vandals finished 9-4 last year, losing 30-22 in the FCS quarterfinals to UAlbany.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Idaho football squad.
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Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (4)
Honorable Mention
OL Ayden Knapik
DE Keyshawn James-Newby
DT Dallas Afalava
S Tommy McCormick
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (5)
Dylan Fischer (LS), Alcorn State
K.J. Trujillo (DB), North Alabama
Corry Thomas Jr. (DB), Northern Iowa
Nate Thomas (RB), South Dakota
Abraham Williams (DB), Weber State
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (3)
Xander Echols (LS), UAB
Mike Martinez (TE), UCLA
Orion Peters (WR), Washington State
Transfers Lost To The FCS (1)
Murvin Kenion (DB) to Sac State
Transfers Lost To The FBS (7)
Marcus Harris (DB) to Cal
Ormanie Arnold (DB) to Cincinnati
Tigana Cisse (OL) to Ohio
Gevani McCoy (QB) to Oregon State
Terez Traynor (WR) to Tulane
Xe’ree Alexander (LB) to UCF
Anthony Woods (RB) to Utah
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Offensive Outlook
Idaho lost its big four from last year — First Team All-Big Sky WR Hayden Hatten and Second Team WR Jermaine Jackson to the NFL, First Team QB Gevani McCoy to Oregon State, and First Team RB Anthony Woods to Utah.
The Vandals return five starters on offense, including four on the offensive line and starting tight end Jake Cox.
There is some hype behind redshirt sophomore Jack Layne, who is expected to lead the offense at quarterback. Layne has started two games in the last two seasons due to McCoy getting injured, highlighted by his performance of 20/26 passing for 275 yards and six touchdowns against Idaho State last fall.
He’ll have an offensive line in front of him that returns four starters from last year’s young unit — 2024 junior Ayden Knapik (6’7″ 295 lbs), junior Nate Azzopardi (6’2″ 294 lbs), sophomore Charlie Vliem (6’8″ 290 lbs), and sophomore Layton Vining (6’2″ 280 lbs). The youthful o-line struggled at times last year, but it had one of its better games in the quarterfinals against a vaunted UAlbany front seven. With head coach Jason Eck’s offensive line expertise (something South Dakota State fans will say helped the Jacks reach a national title level), Idaho looks to take a big step forward in the trenches this year.
After having one of the more talented group of skilled players in the FCS, the running back and wide receiver positions are now the biggest question for Idaho.
In the backfield, Elisha Cummings is back after missing last season. He rushed for a combined 815 yards and five touchdowns in 2021 and 2022. Idaho also added transfer RB Nate Thomas from South Dakota. Thomas rushed for 717 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2021, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He missed 2022 due to injury. Last year at USD, Thomas saw limited carries, rushing for 398 yards and five TDs on only 64 attempts.
On the outside, Jordan Dwyer looks to emerge as the go-to target after tallying 20 catches for 328 yards and four touchdowns a season ago. Orion Peters is another name to keep an eye on at wide receiver, a Washington State transfer who was a three-star high school recruit.
Defensive Outlook
Idaho returns eight starters on defense after allowing 22.1 points per game (28th in the FCS). The Vandals showed strong depth last year, and 13 of its 18 players who tallied at least 250 snaps are back, including 10 of the top 15 tacklers.
The front seven has a chance to be one of the better units in the FCS, returning 10 of 14 players on the 2023 depth chart, highlighted by all four starters on the d-line.
Defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby (6’2″ 237 lbs) and defensive tackle Dallas Afalava (6’1″ 274 lbs) were All-Big Sky selections a year ago and are among the best at their positions in the FCS entering this season. Afalava recorded 26 tackles, eight TFLs, and five sacks, grading out as PFF’s No. 7 FCS interior defensive lineman. James-Newby ranked just inside the Top 30 FCS edge defenders on PFF, totaling 38 tackles, seven TFLs, five sacks, and five QB hurries.
On the interior of the DL, returners Aamarii Notice (6’3″ 278 lbs) and Jahkari Larmond (6’2″ 320 lbs) actually played more snaps than the All-Big Sky Afalava. Notice had 26 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and five QB hurries. Larmond totaled 22 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
Sam Brown (6’2″ 250 lbs) and Malakai Williams (6’5″ 226 lbs) are back at DE along with James-Newby, two guys who played between 300-400 snaps last year.
Mathias Bertram leads the linebackers after finishing fourth on the team last year with 56 tackles, including seven TFLs and five pass breakups. Jaxton Eck showed great flashes last year as a true freshman, totaling 37 tackles (seventh on the team) and three TFLs. Dylan Layne was another freshman LB with plenty of reps, tallying 35 tackles, four TFLs, one interception, and seven pass breakups.
Of the nine players listed above as part of Idaho’s front seven, six were freshmen or sophomores last year, a promising sign for the future.
Idaho lost its top two cornerbacks from last season to the FBS — Marcus Harris to Cal and Ormanie Arnold to Cincinnati. The Vandals will have good experience at safety, though, returning All-Conference selection Tommy McCormick, Kyrin Beachem, and Dwayne McDougle. McCormick’s 62 tackles ranked third on the team. Beachem finished with 27 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups. McDougle had 29 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups.
The Vandals will look to some FCS transfers to fill the void at cornerback.
K.J. Trujillo comes from North Alabama. In two seasons there, he had 40 tackles, one interception, and 10 passes defended. Northern Iowa transfer Corry Thomas Jr. ranked inside the Top 30 of PFF’s FCS cornerbacks last season, totaling 44 tackles and two interceptions. And Abraham Williams was a great portal get from Weber State.
Williams had 33 tackles, one interception, and five pass breakups last season. But he’s most known for his special teams brilliance. Williams is an elite returner. In 2022, he averaged a ridiculous 37.4 yards per kick return, taking 24 kicks for 898 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, he averaged 29.7 yards per return with 18 attempts for 535 yards and another score. Williams’ five career 100-yard KR touchdowns are the most in FCS history.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Idaho Football Schedule
8/31 at Oregon
9/7 at Wyoming
9/14 vs No. 15 UAlbany
9/21 at Abilene Christian
9/28 at No. 21 UC Davis
10/5 vs Northern Arizona
10/12 at No. 4 Montana State
10/19 vs Cal Poly
10/26 vs Eastern Washington
11/9 at Portland State
11/16 vs No. 22 Weber State
11/23 at Idaho State
Bold indicates Big Sky games
HERO Sports’ rankings
