2021 First Glance Preview: Week Two (Idaho Vandals)
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Written by: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Week 2: Idaho Vandals
Date & Time: September 11, 2021, 7:30pm ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
TV: BTN
Vandals at a Glance
Head Coach: Paul Petrino
Entering his 9th season as Idaho’s head coach
Record at Idaho: 30-59
Overall Record: 30-59
Last Season: 2-4 During the FCS Spring Season
Vandal Returning Leaders
Passing: Mike Beaudry (794 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, 59.3%)
Rushing: Zach Borisch (283 yards on 48 carries 5.9 yards per carry, two touchdowns)
Receiving: Hayden Hatten (613 yards, 43 catches, 14.3 yards per catch, three touchdowns)
Tackles: Tre Walker (54 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, two sacks)
Vandals Preseason Predictions
Athlon: 8th in the Big Sky
Lindy’s: N/A
Pick Six Previews: N/A
Phil Steele: Not Published Yet
SP+: N/A
Impact Newcomers for the Vandals
K.J. Jarrell, Safety-
Lamar Campbell, CB-
Biggest Questions Facing Idaho
How Will Playing a Spring Season Affect Players?-
How Will Transfers Impact Play on the Field?-
Can they Contain the Hoosiers Enough to Scare Them?-
Program Preview
The Indiana Hoosiers scheduled this matchup back when Idaho was a member of the FBS. The Idaho Vandals returned to the Big Sky Conference and the FCS level prior to the 2018 season where they have gone 11-18 since the switch.
Idaho played in the spring FCS season and went 2-4 with wins against Eastern Washington and Southern Utah. The Vandals are also going through some coaching changes as they are looking to replace retired offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich. The Vandals averaged 23.3 points per game and allowed 26.8. Idaho was very good in the red zone scoring points on 20-of-21 trips.
Offensive Preview
The Vandal offense is led by quarterback Mike Beaudry who threw for 794 yards last season. Beaudry has the look of a big-time quarterback and was a standout at West Florida before transferring to UConn in 2019. The knock on Beaudry is that he is not consistent enough throwing the ball. He only completed 59.3-percent of his passes and had three interceptions to his three touchdown passes as he tends to lock in on his first read and not look off the safety help.
The running back position has some talent and depth. Redshirt sophomore Zach Borisch led the team with 287 yards on the ground, but only played in two games. Redshirt junior Roshaun Johnson played in all six and added 211 yards and three touchdowns. Two other running backs cracked the hundred yard mark for the season as Nick Romano (155) and Dylan Thigpen (136) round out a productive running back room.
Hayden Hatten is the Vadals’ leading returning receiver. He is sure handed and can work his way down field. He made 43 catches for 613 yards in just six games. Curtell Haywood adds some speed to the mix and can return kicks. Haywood made 30 catches for 274 yards and two scores last year.
Logan Kendall is an FCS All-American at tight end and will line up as a fullback as well. He was mainly used for his blocking skills, Kendall caught six passes on the year for 91 total yards and two scores.
The five starters along the offensive line in the spring season in game one were Matt Shook at right tackle, Wyatt Musser at right guard, Conner Crist at center, Wyatt Hansen at left guard and Tristen Taylor at left tackle. In game two the Vandals used five other players, so experience shouldn’t be a problem.
Defensive Preview
The defense is centered around All-American linebacker Tre Walker. He was a force in the 2021 spring season. He led the Big Sky in tackles per game at 13.5 on his way to being named a unanimous selection for All-Big Sky First Team. He was named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in all of FCS. Christian Elliss add 51 tackles and Fa’Avae Fa’Avae tacked on 46 tackles to round out the linebacker group. Charles Akanno led the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and makes the second level the strength of the defense.
Defensive back Jaxon Woodward led the team with two interceptions and four passes defensed. Tyreese Dedmon added three breakups and 32 tackles.
Up front Jonah Kim led the way with 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Noah Elliss and Nate DeGraw combined to make 34 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
Special Teams Preview
Idaho brings in Caleb Lightbourn as a transfer from Oregon State at punter, however they should return All-American Cade Coffey. Coffey was tremendous in the spring. His net punting average of just under 44 yards per punt was the second best average in program history. He finished the year second in the conference in punting average at 45.8 yards per punt, and dropped 16-of-26 attempts inside the opponent's 20.
Coffey also was the primary field goal kicker as he knocked home nine field goals in 10 attempts with a long of 47 yards.
Nick Romano was the primary kick returner in the spring as he netted 318 yards on 12 returns good for a 26.5-yard average. Haywood was the primary punt returner, but only had three attempts.