POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State football is gearing up for the 2025 season and fall camp begins in just one week. With the Bengals' game against UNLV moving to week 0 the 2025 football season starts all the sooner.
All fall camp practices are open to the public and the Bengal faithful are invited to spend some time with the Orange and Black as they get ready for the 2025 campaign.
It all kicks off Wednesday, July 23 at 10:00 AM with the first of two helmets-only practices. The Fall schedule is then as follows;
7/24 – 11:00 AM – Practice #2
7/25 – 10:00 AM – Practice #3
7/ 26 – 11:00 AM – Practice #4
7/28 – 11:00 AM – Practice #5
7/29 – 10:00 AM – Practice #6
Wednesday 7/30 – 4:00 PM – First Scrimmage of Fall Camp
8/1 – 11:00 AM – Practice #8
8/2 – 11 AM – Practice #9
8/3 – 11 AM – Practice #10
8/5 – 12:30 PM – Practice #11
8/6 – 11 AM – Practice #12
8/7 – 10 AM – Practice #13
Friday 8/8 – 4:00 PM – Scrimmage
Following the Friday scrimmage, the team will move into in-season practice schedules with morning practices and specialized group work. Practices are still open to the public.
The 2025 season kicks off Week 0, August 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium as the Bengals take on the UNLV Rebels.
Bengal Bites – 2024 Rewind
Offensive Line
Led by All-Big Sky standout
Stryker Rashid, the Idaho State offensive line emerged as one of the program's most improved units in 2024. The Bengals allowed just 10 sacks all season, a major improvement from 31 the year before, and cut down tackles for loss to just 42 total, down from 69 in 2023.
The line's protection helped Idaho State average 298.4 passing yards per game, ranking among the top units in the FCS. In a signature performance at Cal Poly on Oct. 5, the line didn't allow a sack while the offense racked up 531 total yards and 425 passing yards.
Up front, Rashid anchored the group with consistent play, while fellow transfers
Ty Hyde and
Jake Hellmann made immediate impacts. Hellmann appeared in 10 games and contributed to the interior run game, where Idaho State improved its yards per carry to 4.7, up from 3.3 in 2023.
The unit's discipline was also a factor, Idaho State ranked among the lowest in offensive penalties in the Big Sky, committing just 66 penalties for 566 yards, compared to opponents' 77 for 751.
Quarterbacks & Receivers
The Bengals' aerial attack remained the program's identity in 2024, and the connection between Idaho State's quarterbacks and receivers made the unit one of the most dangerous in the Big Sky.
Quarterback
Kobe Tracy led the way, finishing the year with 3,077 passing yards and 24 touchdowns while completing over 60% of his passes. Tracy threw for over 300 yards in five games, including a season-high 425 yards at Cal Poly. He also tied the program's single-game touchdown mark with four TD passes in three different contests: Western Oregon, Weber State, and Eastern Washington.
Hunter Hays served as a versatile offensive weapon. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 344 yards and 7 touchdowns, ran for another 224 yards, and added 6 rushing scores. Hays' most complete performance came at North Dakota, where he totaled four touchdowns.
The receiving corps was headlined by
Jeff Weimer, a transfer from UNLV, and
Christian Fredericksen, who returned after a breakout 2023. Weimer hauled in 75 receptions for 1,016 yards and 6 touchdowns, including a 236-yard game at Cal Poly, the second-highest single-game total in the FCS during the season. Fredericksen added 67 catches for 936 yards and a team-high 9 touchdowns, finding the end zone in six different games.
Supporting receivers like
Ian Duarte (504 yards, 3 TD),
Raiden Brown (339 yards, 3 TD), and
Tsion Nunnally (182 yards, 2 TD) helped the Bengals sustain offensive depth. Fredericksen and Weimer each had games with 10+ receptions, while five different receivers recorded multiple touchdown games across the season.
Idaho State closed the season averaging 298.4 passing yards per game, second-best in the Big Sky and top 10 nationally. The offense threw for 31 total touchdowns, nearly double the number allowed by the defense (19), underscoring the unit's explosiveness.
with the loss of both contributing quarterbacks and the top-two receivers, the competition to earn the starting spots will be an exciting race to watch during fall camp.
Defensive Growth
The unit recorded 20 sacks and 61 tackles for loss, both improvements over 2023, and made those plays count in key moments. Idaho State's defense tallied 8 forced fumbles and recovered 7, turning two into touchdowns.
Nathan Reynolds and
Janari Boone each returned a fumble for a score, including Reynolds' electrifying 53-yard return.
At the point of attack,
David Rowe and
Kris Sanchez provided power on the defensive line. Rowe posted 5.5 TFLs and a sack, while Sanchez added 6.5 TFLs and 3 sacks along with 10 quarterback hurries.
In the secondary,
Nathan Reynolds led the team in total tackles with 92, including 14 in the win over Cal Poly, showcasing his sideline-to-sideline range.
Mason Young followed with 77 tackles and forced a fumble in the Sacramento State win. The Bengals allowed just 3 interceptions all season, but that was balanced by sharp tackling and frequent pass breakups, the team recorded 37 total breakups, including 5 from corner
Josh Alford.
The defense's best statistical outing came in the home opener, when they held Western Oregon to 221 total yards, just 114 rushing, and registered 4 sacks and 9 TFLs, both season highs.
With the new addition of
Grant Duff as the Bengals' Defensive Coordinator, all eyes will be on the revamped Bengal defense entering this fall camp.
Running Backs: Turning the Corner
Idaho State's running back room made a decisive leap forward in 2024, showing increased efficiency, versatility, and scoring production after a challenging 2023 campaign.
The Bengals rushed for 1,511 total yards in 2024, a 36% increase from 1,109 yards in 2023, and improved their yards per carry from 3.3 to 4.7. The team also doubled its rushing touchdowns from 9 in 2023 to 18 in 2024, adding a much-needed ground presence to complement its Air Raid passing identity.
Hunter Hays, playing a dual-role as quarterback and runner, led the team with 6 rushing touchdowns, often operating out of red zone and short-yardage formations. His ability to extend plays and finish drives became a crucial dimension of the offense.
In one of the most unique and impactful transitions of the 2024 season,
Dason Brooks made the rare leap from defense to offense, and thrived. After opening his career as a linebacker, Brooks shifted to running back this season and immediately became one of Idaho State's most dynamic weapons out of the backfield.
Brooks finished the year with 345 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on just 52 carries, averaging an impressive 6.6 yards per attempt, the highest among Bengal running backs. His physicality and vision translated seamlessly to offense, where he routinely broke tackles and picked up chunk gains.
Brooks' breakout game came in the Oct. 21 win over Sacramento State, where he rushed 12 times for 96 yards and a touchdown, powering a second-half surge that helped seal the Bengals' OT win over the Hornets. A week later, he added 74 rushing yards and another score in a gritty battle against Weber State.
In 2023, no Bengal running back surpassed 300 rushing yards. In 2024, three players topped that mark, and the team averaged 137.4 rushing yards per game, up from 100.8 the year before. The running back group also contributed 11 receptions for 122 yards, with Austin and Hussey both involved in pass protection and check-down routes.
This revitalized rushing attack gave Idaho State greater offensive balance, helped sustain drives, and contributed to the team's red zone efficiency improvement, the Bengals converted 82% of red zone chances in 2024, up from 69% in 2023.
Notable Game Highs – 2024 Season
The 2024 season was filled with explosive performances and momentum-shifting plays. Idaho State players posted several individual and team game highs that ranked among the best in the Big Sky and across the FCS. With room for improvement, it will be exciting to watch the Bengals continued improvement into the 2025 season.
Jeff Weimer – 236 Receiving Yards vs. Cal Poly (Oct. 5)Weimer exploded for a career-high 236 receiving yards on 10 receptions against Cal Poly — the second-highest single-game total in the FCS in 2024. His performance powered Idaho State to 531 total yards in the road win and showcased the Bengals' vertical threat.
Kobe Tracy – 425 Passing Yards vs. Cal Poly (Oct. 5)Tracy orchestrated Idaho State's most prolific passing performance of the year, throwing for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns while completing 73% of his passes. It was one of five 300+ yard games for Tracy in 2024.
Hunter Hays – 4 Total Touchdowns vs. North Dakota (Sept. 30)In a versatile showing, Hays accounted for 4 total touchdowns — 2 passing and 2 rushing — in a tight road contest at North Dakota. He totaled 216 all-purpose yards, displaying his value as a dual-threat quarterback.
Dason Brooks – 96 Rushing Yards vs. Sacramento State (Oct. 21)In just his second game since switching from linebacker to running back, Brooks rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, averaging 8.0 yards per carry. He gave the Bengals a physical edge down the stretch.
Team Game High – 531 Total Yards at Cal Poly (Oct. 5)Idaho State's offense fired on all cylinders with 425 passing yards, 106 rushing yards, and zero sacks allowed. The 531-yard output was the highest single-game total for the Bengals in 2024.
Team Defensive High – 9 Tackles for Loss vs. Western Oregon (Sept. 2)The Bengals opened the season with a statement on defense, racking up 9 TFLs and 4 sacks while holding Western Oregon to just 221 total yards in the 64-28 home win.
Special Teams Highlight –
Justice Jackson 57-yard Kick Return vs. Eastern Washington (Oct. 14)Jackson gave Idaho State a jolt in the return game, breaking loose for a 57-yard kickoff return.
Coaching Changes
Grant Duff – Defensive Coordinator
Grant Duff enters his first season as Idaho State's Defensive Coordinator in 2025 following an 11-year stint at Weber State, where he served as Co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive line coach. During his time with the Wildcats, Duff helped lead the program to four Big Sky championships, six FCS Playoff appearances, and nine winning seasons.
He coached multiple All-Big Sky and All-American defenders, including standout linemen Adam Rodriguez and George Tarlas. In 2024, three of his defensive players earned All-Big Sky honors. Duff also played a key role in Weber State's top-tier defensive rankings in categories like total defense, sacks, and interceptions during multiple seasons.
Before his on-field roles, Duff served as Weber State's Director of Football Operations and worked previously at the University of Utah, contributing to four bowl teams including the 2009 Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
A native of Blackfoot, Idaho, Duff holds degrees from BYU-Idaho and the University of Utah. He and his wife Lyndi have four children.
Ricky Ali'ifua – Defensive Line Coach
Ricky Ali'ifua joins Idaho State's staff in 2025 as Defensive Line Coach, bringing NFL experience and proven collegiate success.
Ali'ifua is a 2016 Utah State standout, where he earned All-Mountain West honors after totaling 29 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in his senior season
Following his playing career, he spent two seasons coaching at Snow College before spending the last year on the Bengal staff
A former NFL defensive end, Ali'ifua returns to Idaho State after working at Snow College, where he helped develop the defensive front. He's also an active recruiter, covering the Bay Area and Salt Lake City region
New Faces
The Bengals also added new assistant position coaches in some needed areas.
Tipa Galeai joins Ali'ifua, coaching the defensive line
Samson Anguay comes on to assist with the wide receivers while also spearheading the Bengals' recruiting efforts
Mason Randall comes to the Bengals to assist in coaching the quarterbacks group
Kamden Garrett joins Idaho State, coaching the Corners with
Devin Holiday
The Offensive line is joined by
Anthony Morales who is assisting
John Hughes up front
