It’s that time of year again where our team gets to share the joy of all the hard work we have done since basically last years signing day. Keeping track of every public offer Idaho have made to hopeful future Vandals. This story will remained pinned on our website, pending any other breaking news throughout signing season. Never hurts to bookmark it though.
We’ll update the list as swiftly as possible throughout the week, and even more so on National Letter of Intent day. This post will be receiving updates as commitments and news flows in. Though with head coach still vacant we expect a smaller class than normal in early signing period. We will make sure to update and transfer portal signings and high school recruits that sign between now and the close of NLI day in the spring. Stay tuned!
If wanting more recruiting content check out this piece about top in-state recruits that would make excellent Big Sky Prospects: Idaho Preps With FCS Potential
It has been 12 days since the news broke about Paul Petrino being let go. Now we get to experience that joy you hope to only experience a few times in your life, the hunt for Head Ball Coach.
We know some people have been Panicking on the timing. Big Schools like USC and LSU have named new head coaches, group of 5 schools like New Mexico State have announced big hires, heck even Jacksonville State of the FCS made a splash hire recently. Yet Idaho remains on the sidelines or at least their cards close to the chest.
I think I speak for most vandals when I say I am willing to wait if the hire is right. Maybe it is an individual from a winning staff that is in playoff race (FBS or FCS…) As a recruiting guy this all does make me nervous with Early Signing day, which might as well just be called regular signing day at this point, only 17 days away. But as I saw someone on twitter say. “What’s more important missing on one class or missing on the next head coach?”
In times like these I guess I will live by the age old sang “Good things come to those that wait” and “Patience is a virtue.”
But, man is it hard. So the team here at Tubs At The Club compiled our own shortlists of our top 5 prospects. Note we don’t have any insight right now. This is strictly just a list of the 5 guys we want to see be the next Head Ball Coach
Rank | Coach Name | Points (First Place Vote)
Beau Baldwin 10 (2)
Andy Thompson 7 (1)
Jeff Choate 6
Joel Thomas 4
Bodie Reeder 4
Danny Rocco 4
Ed Lamb 4
Ian Shoemaker 3
Rod Chance 2
Scott Linehan 1
Producer Dammer wants it noted his original list was 1-5 anybody but Linehan.
Dallas
Brian
Chris
Marten
1
Beau Baldwin
Beau Baldwin
Andy Thompson
Doug Nussmeier
2
Bodie Reeder
Ed Lamb
Joel Thomas
Kasey Dunn
3
Ian Shoemaker
Danny Rocco
Jeff Choate
Jon Newlee
4
Andy Thompson
Jeff Choate
Rod Chance
Matt Linehan
5
Jeff Choate
Scott Linehan
Danny Rocco
Thomas Ford
Due to editors choice Martens scores werent included for making our top 10 until he has confirmed interest from Jon Newlees for the opening.
The University of Idaho has a new stunning arena on campus. It is the campuses first basketball-specific facility in the University’s 132 year history. It was built with wood from the University’s experimental forest on Moscow Mountain and utilized only in-state timber and wood companies to complete its construction.
The final product is beautiful. But where does it rank in the Big Sky Conference? Hell, where does it rank out west? Former Athletic Director Rob Spear was convinced we were passed over for the Mountain West in 2013 was not football, but rather our lack of a basketball facility. Playing almost all of our non-conference games in a gym that is a memorial to the first world war and later moving into a football facility that tried to be an intimate basketball setting, and simply fell short more than it succeeded.
Did we just build something to get in the game? or did we build something special! To raise the bar! To be the envy of many!
Lets start by ranking all 11 basketball arenas in the Big Sky Conference.
11. Hornets Nest | Sacramento State
Built: 1955 Capacity: 1,012
10. Walkup Skydome | Northern Arizona
Built:1975 Renovated: 2011 Capacity: 16,230
T8. Brick Breeden Fieldhouse | Montana State
Built: 1957 Renovated 1998, 2013 Capacity:8,455
T8. Reed Gym | Idaho State
Built: 1951 Renovated: 2002,2010 Capacity:3,214
T6. Bank of Colorado Arena | Northern Colorado
Built 1974 Renovated 2006, 2011 Capacity: 2,992
T6. Reese Court | Eastern Washington
Built: 1975 Capacity: 6,000
5. America First Event Center | Southern Utah
Built: 1985 Capacity 5,300
4. Dee Event Center | Weber State
Built: 1975 Capacity: 11,592
3. Dahlberg Arena | Montana
Built: 1953 Renovated: 1999 Capacity: 7,321
2. Peter W. Stott Athletic Complex/Viking Pavilion | Portland State
It’s the rubber match! For the third time in 2021, the Idaho Vandals take on the Eastern Washington Eagles.
Last Game: On Homecoming weekend, Idaho beat Portland State 42-35, narrowly hanging on after taking a 35-7 lead near the end of the second quarter.
Undefeated Eastern Washington led from start to finish in a 63-17 drubbing of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
Last Matchup(s): February 27th, 2021 – Idaho came back from a 14-0 deficit to win 28-21 in the spring season opener. Eagle kicker Seth Harrison famously “missed” a field goal thanks to the dangerous combination of the Kibbie Dome scoreboard and an official struggling with mask protocols.
April 10th, 2021 – Eastern Washington got revenge on the red, winning 38-31 on a windy day where Zach Borisch got his first start at quarterback and rushed for over 200 yards.
Quarterbacks: Another week, another question mark at quarterback for Idaho! Will we see Zach Borisch get another start against EWU, or will Mike Beaudry be healthy enough to play? If Beaudry is out, who will be Borisch’s backup?
Against Portland State, Idaho threw the ball only 16 times, led by Mike Beaudry’s 10 for 15 with 162 yards and a TD. Beaudry also chipped in 26 net yards on the ground. The Vandals finally #LetBorischThrow, who threw one pass, a 46 yard TD to Dalton Cash. Borisch rushed 16 times for 83 yards and a TD. On the final Vandal possession, Beaudry converted a 4th down pass to essentially seal the game for Idaho, but was injured and replaced by Borisch. Rather than kneel the ball and claim victory, Idaho chose to attempt to score a touchdown. Borisch fumbled and Portland State ended up with a failed Hail Mary attempt to tie the game in the closing seconds. Paul Petrino said after the game that they hadn’t practiced the victory formation with Borisch, so they opted to run the ball. If the Vandals are in a victory formation situation again this week, we’ll see if they have decided to practice the kneel.
Eric Barriere is having yet another Walter Payton Award caliber season, currently completing over 68% of his passes (168 for 245) for 2467 yards, 21 TDs, and 5 INTs. Barriere leads the Big Sky Conference in every passing category, and leads the country in completion percentage, yards, and TDs. His average of 411.2 yards per game leads the Big Sky by more than 100 yards.
Idaho’s Key Players/Statistics: Terez Traynor once again led the receiving core, with five receptions for 114 yards and a TD; but it was the Vandal running game that stole the show last week, averaging 6.1 yards per carry on their way to 236 net yards. Borisch’s output led the team, while Aundre Carter continued his resurgence with 68 yards and two TDs off of just four carries. Roshaun Johnson added nine carries for 36 yards and a TD. Borisch, Carter, Johnson, and Elisha Cummings all have triple digit rushing output on the season and each average over five yards a carry.
Tre Walker had a typical Tre Walker game, leading the team with 18 total tackles and a forced fumble. Walker is currently fourth in the Big Sky Conference in tackles per game. With Fa’Avae Fa’Avae out last week, Hogan Hatten took advantage of the added playing time, with ten tackles and a tackle for loss. Marcus Harris forced a fumble, and Charles Akanno added a sack for the second week in a row.
Eastern Washington’s Key Players/Statistics: While Eric Barriere might be the focal point of the Eagle offense, running back Dennis Merritt’s 92.7 rushing yards per game is good for third in the Big Sky Conference. Merritt has an incredible 11 rushing TDs in just six games, and averages 5.3 yards per carry. Merritt’s 13 total TDs is first in the entire FCS. EWU boasts a deep receiving core led by perennial All-Big Sky talent Talolo Limu-Jones, who leads the Big Sky Conference with 115.2 yards per game. Limu-Jones was injured in Eastern Washington’s win against Montana and missed last week’s game against Northern Colorado, but is listed as a starter on the two-deep against Idaho. With or without Limu-Jones, the Eagles still trot out three receivers that average over 50 yards per game in Andrew Boston, Freddie Roberson, and Efton Chism III. Boston and Roberson start opposite Limu-Jones, with Chism III serving as TLJ’s backup. Seventh-year senior (and perennial All-Big Sky lineman) Tristen Taylor protects Barriere’s blind side.
2021 Preseason All-Big Sky Conference defensive end Mitchell Johnson is the “name” on the EWU defense, but a pair of players with Vandal connections power the group. Linebacker (and former Vandal from 2016-2018) Ty Graham leads EWU’s defense with 59 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and an INT. Safety Calin Criner, son of former Vandal defensive coordinator Mark Criner, heads the secondary with 35 tackles, while also adding an INT and a forced fumble. Cornerback Tre Weed was named second team All-Big Sky Conference in the spring season.
Coeur d’Alene native Seth Harrison is still kicking for the Eagles, but after going a perfect 12-for-12 in 2019, he has gone just 12-for-18 since the infamous “miss” in the Kibbie Dome.
Key to the Game: Last week was a tale of two halves for Idaho, with an outstanding first half overshadowed by a near-collapse in the second half. The Vandals need to look much more like the first half team that ran the ball at will, scored a ton, and constantly pressured Davis Alexander.
Game Predictions: Producer Dallas: In 2018, Idaho went down 31-0 at halftime in Cheney on the way to a 38-14 loss. In 2021’s spring season, Idaho unveiled the read option with Zach Borisch and lost 38-31 after a fourth quarter comeback by the Eagles. Idaho won’t catch EWU off guard with a brand new offense this time. The Eagles are a more physical team this year than the last few seasons, and their receivers are a nightmare for a weaker Idaho secondary. EWU grabs a big lead early and does not let off the gas, winning 56-21. [editor’s note: This prediction was made with the expectation that Beaudry plays, Idaho uses their two QB system, and Beaudry has to try to throw the Vandals back into the game. If Beaudry is out, Idaho still loses, but keeps it considerably closer by virtue of Borisch primarily running the read option and chewing more clock.] Boatman: EWU 38-28 Brian: EWU 42-28 Chris: EWU 30-26
IT’S HOMECOMING WEEKEND! The Vandals look to pick up their second win of the season when the Portland State Vikings come to the Kibbie Dome.
Last Game: The Vandals lost to then-#8 UC Davis 27-20, after blowing a 20-13 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Portland State went on the road and beat Southern Utah 20-13.
Last Meeting: October 12th, 2019 – The Vikings shut out the Vandals 24-0 in Oregon as Mason Petrino and Colton Richardson both threw a pair of interceptions.
Quarterbacks: In typical Idaho fashion, CJ Jordan was named the starting quarterback against UC Davis, then promptly got hurt on the first drive without ever attempting a pass. Jordan’s shoulder injury is expected to keep him out for a few weeks. Let us know on Twitter if you can correctly guess the last year that a Vandal QB was named the starter and played through the entire conference schedule without injury or substitution.
Zach Borisch continued to do Zach Borisch things, running 10 times for 82 yards and 2 TDs (#LetBorischThrow), highlighted by the 60 yard run to open the scoring on the first drive of the game. Mike Beaudry stepped in off the bench after the Jordan injury and served as the QB for most snaps. Beaudry went 22 for 35 with 255 yards and one INT. Beaudry passed the eye test, completing over 62 percent of his passes in what was one of his better games as a Vandal. Expect to see Beaudry running the offense while Borisch comes in as a change of pace. [editor’s note: Perhaps head coach Paul Petrino noticed how UC Davis’s running quarterback Trent Tompkins shredded the Vandal defense when they had to respect the possibility of the throw. Alas, this is likely just the wistful yearning of a tired editor.]
Portland State’s quarterback situation is more settled than Idaho’s, with Davis Alexander being one of the longest tenured QBs in the Big Sky. On the year, Alexander is completing 58% of his passes (109 for 188) for 1405 yards, 8 TDs, and 6 INTs. His 1405 passing yards is second in the Big Sky Conference. Alexander is also the second leading rusher for the Vikings, with 111 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.
Idaho’s Key Players/Statistics: Welcome to the Terez Traynor show? Hayden Hatten is typically Beaudry’s favorite receiver, but had just three receptions for fifteen yards in his return after missing the Oregon State game. Traynor had over half of the passing game’s output, with 10 receptions for 131 yards. On the season, Traynor now leads the Vandals with 20 catches and 230 yards, followed closely by Hatten’s 15 catches for 215 yards (in one fewer game.) Roshaun Johnson did not get a carry against the Aggies, but Elisha Cummings proved more than capable in his absence, with 15 carries for 125 yards and an incredible 8.3 yards per carry. Aundre Carter has solidified himself as the short-yardage back, with seven carries for just 12 yards last week, but that did come with a goal-line touchdown.
The Vandal defense put on a show against Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. last week, holding the All-Big Sky Conference caliber running back to just 61 yards on 19 carries. Unfortunately, UC Davis shifted their offense in the fourth quarter and running QB Trent Tompkins put up 85 yards on 13 carries. Fa’Avae Fa’Avae led the defense last week with ten total tackles, while Noah Elliss and Charles Akanno each registered a sack. Tommy McCormick registered two tackles for loss and an interception. Sean and Tommy, the brothers McCormick, are now responsible for two of the three Vandal takeaways this season.
Caleb Lightbourn has continued to be a worthy successor to Cade Coffey, averaging 46 yards per punt against the Aggies, with a long of 67. Unfortunately, the rest of the special teams unit continues to struggle, as yet another kick was blocked last week. Does Alex “The BOAT” Boatman need to brush up his resume and apply to join the coaching staff as a special teams assistant?
Portland State’s Key Players/Statistics: The Viking offense runs through their dual threat QB with dual first names, but expect to see a heavy dose of running back Malik Walker, who has 73 rushes for 297 yards and four TDs on the season. Walker is also the fourth leading receiver on the team, with 12 receptions for 39 yards. Receivers Beau Kelly, Darien Chase, and Nate Bennett serve as Alexander’s primary targets, with 81 receptions for 1143 yards and seven TDs between them. Kelly paces the group with 33 catches, 486 yards, and four TDs, a top three receiver in the Big Sky in most statistical categories.
Safety Anthony Adams leads the Portland State defense with two INTs and a fumble recovery, while also registering 21 tackles, good for third on the team. Adams was an All-American in virtually every publication in 2019, received countless 2021 preseason accolades, and is on the watchlist for the Buck Buchanan award alongside Vandal linebacker Tre Walker. Defensive tackle VJ Malo leads the Vikings with five and a half sacks (second in the Big Sky Conference) and eight tackles for loss. Linebacker Parker McKenna leads PSU with 39 total tackles.
Punter Seth Vernon’s 48.2 yard average leads the Big Sky Conference, while his nine punts of 50+ yards is tied for first in the conference.
Key to the Game: Can the Vandal secondary limit Beau Kelly and the rest of the PSU receivers? The front seven should be able to contain the legs of Alexander and Walker, but can the secondary cover long enough to end drives early and often?
Game Predictions: Producer Dallas: This is it folks. This is the game the entire season hinges on. After hanging close with top-10 UC Davis, a confident win here could be the momentum needed for Idaho to make a stand in the Big Sky. Or, a loss here could make 3-4 wins the ceiling of this season. Initially, I was going to take PSU in a close one, but the rest of the Tubs team talked me into the Vandals. Portland State has never won in Moscow, and that continues as Idaho gets the 21-20 win. Boatman: Idaho 31-17 Brian: Idaho 24-17 Chris: Idaho 21-20 [editor’s note: Chris’s prediction came before Producer Dammer’s, who should have made his own unique prediction.]
Tubs at The Club 