POCATELLO, Idaho- Practice one is in the books for the 2016 Idaho State football team. ISU coach
Mike Kramer is excited about the team he is putting on the field in 2016.
"This is an excellent football team," Kramer said. "The program is in great shape academically and in a lot of other areas. But this team is capable of being outstanding so I am anxious to get it going."
The 2016 season brings the return of
Mario Jenkins and
Taison Manu to the lineup and it also boasts a veteran group of players such as
KW Williams,
Josh Cook,
Skyler Phillips,
Hayden Stout,
Jakori Ford and
Jake Pettit who will lead the team on and off the field.
"We want to make sure our veteran guys lead the way and they show the younger ones the pace and tempo in which we play at," Kramer said.
Offensively, redshirt sophomore
Tanner Gueller goes into the season as the starting quarterback.
"Tanner is an experienced quarterback who understands tempo and pace," Kramer said. "He also understands the expectations of the head coach. Sometimes as a quarterback you need to understand that first. It is great for us to go into camp with a veteran quarterback who has seen the eye of the elephant."
Behind Gueller,
Robert Kvinsland,
Tom Jewell and
Alex Espinoza will battle for the backup position.
Kramer said that the offense will be still be no huddle and spread the field.
"We will be slower than hyper fast, which is still pretty fast," he said. "There will be a lot more different types of plays this year because of the strength we have at running back. Sometimes you will see two running backs on the field at the same time."
Jakori Ford will lead the band of running backs. Behind Ford there are eight other running backs on the roster in redshirt senior
Braeden Mitchell, redshirt sophomore
Lonell Woodhouse, redshirt freshman
James Madison and
Ty Flanagan and freshmen
Michael Dean,
Nehamiah McFarlin,
Andrew Grimes and
Mason Farnsworth.
Austin Campbell and
Austin Schroeder will also see time at full back and tight end.
Defensively, the Bengals will play a 4-3 defense this year.
"We are physically speaking the best defense we have had since I have been here but that isn't say much because we haven't been very good since I have been here," Kramer said. "I like our makeup and I love our linebacking core. The backend of our linebacking core is really outstanding. Overall defensively we should be much improved."
With the return of Manu and Jenkins along with Stout, fans can expect to see a much improved defense.
"Instead of having to eat fast food all the time we can sit down at eat at the banquet because the two chiefs are back," Kramer said. "Both guys are experienced, battled tested and game-hardened. Along with those two and
Hayden Stout, those guys should be the anchor of a much improved defense."
ISU has four remaining practices and two scrimmages open to the public. The Bengals practice Thursday at 3 p.m. before practicing at 9 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The two open scrimmages are Saturday, August 20 at 9 a.m. and August 27 at 3 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at the Ticket Office at Holt Arena. Season tickets are $84. Fans are encouraged to purchase single-game tickets early as prices go up on game days.
