Fall Camp #3 - DC Josh Runda Previews the Linebackers

Pocatello, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals completed day three of fall camp. The Bengals wore upper shells and helmets and began playing with slightly more contact. The first week of camp wraps up tomorrow with practice at 9:30 am in the dome.
 
After practice, Defensive Coordinator Josh Runda sat down to give a brief overview of how the defense was doing, but to mainly preview the linebackers, the position group that he coaches.
 
 
 
 
 
Bengal Linebacker Corps
The Bengals are bringing back 10 bodies to the Linebacker corps, including three starters from the 2023 team. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Phil Steele Magazine released its list of all Big Sky preseason honorees, of the seven Idaho State selections, three were part of the linebacker corps. Kris Sanchez was named to the 2^nd team while Teilor Tuioti and Nathan Reynolds were picked on the third team.
 
Leading the corps is senior Kris Sanchez. Sanchez ended the year with the third-most tackles on the team behind safeties Mason Young and Calvin Pitcher. Sanchez had 65 tackles on the season 22^nd most in the Big Sky Conference. Sanchez had 4 tackles for a loss of 16 yards and grabbed one interception last year. Against Northern Colorado on 09/23 he had a career-high 10 tackles.
 
Teilor Tuioti had a strong sophomore season for the Bengals in 2023. Against Eastern Washington the Bengal had 9 tackles and on the season, Tuioti racked up 55 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
 
Sophomore backer Nathan Reynolds had a standout freshman season for the Orange and Black in 2023 credited with 26 tackles on the year. Reynolds brought in 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and against Weber State had a 28-yard interception return.
 
Adrian Rodriguez brought down 21 tackles for the Bengals in 2023. Rodriguez was a strength for the Bengals behind the line of scrimmage. In 2023, he had six tackles for loss, third best on the team and the most from a non-defensive lineman on the squad.
 
Jagger Giles had a strong 14 unassisted tackles on the year in 2023 en route to his 24 total tackles during the season. Three times in 2023, he had 4 tackles in a game and also netted .5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
 
Emmitt Salee and Vae Gasu didn't see action in 2023.
 
 
Idaho State brought in six new backers for the 2023 season, all freshmen and four from the state of Idaho, two from Washington.
 
2024 Bengal Linebackers
Returners
0          Adrian Rodriguez        LB        6'1"     230      Jr.         California         NMSU
4          Kris      Sanchez           LB        6'4"     222      Sr.        California         Palomar College
7          Nathan Reynolds         LB        6'3"     245      So.       Meridian, ID    Meridian HS
8          Teilor   Tuioti               LB        6'1"     223      Sr.        Lincoln, NE      New Mexico Military Institute
10        Jagger  Giles                LB        5'11"   217      Sr.        California         Grossmont College
27        Vae      Gasu                LB        6'0"     218      Jr.         West Jordan, UT          Cyprus HS
45        Emmitt Salee              LB        6'0"     230      So.       Meridian, ID    Meridian HS
56        Kal       Renner            LB        6'1"     210      Fr.        Eagle, ID          Eagle, Idaho
 
New Bengals
44        Jacob   Perez               LB        6'3"     229      Fr.        Idaho Falls, ID Bonneville HS
16        Devin   Rodriguez        LB        6'1       207      Fr.        Pocatello, Idaho          Pocatello HS
28        Kaiden Villaro              LB        6'3       206      Fr.        Buhl Idaho       Buhl HS
39        Darrell Gipson             LB        6'3       235      Fr.        Lacey, WA        Timberline HS
48        Brody  Swearhart       LB        6'0       193      Fr.        Meridian, ID    Rocky Mountain HS
95        Frank   Kissick             LB        6'2       230      Fr.        Fall City, WA    Mount Si HS
 
 
2024 Fall Camp Interviews/Previews
August 1, 2024 – Head Coach Cody Hawkins
August, 2 2023 – DC/Linebackers Coach Josh Runda
 
Tickets
Idaho State football tickets are on sale now, Click Here to purchase tickets for the Bengals' upcoming six games in the renovated ICCU Dome.
 
Countdown to Kickoff
The Bengals open the 2024 season, traveling to Corvallis, Oregon to face off against the Oregon State Beavers on August, 31 with kickoff set for 3:30 PM PT.
 
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