POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State football moved into shells for the first time this fall camp Friday, with Practice No. 3 marking the Bengals' first contact of the 2026 season at the ICCU Dome.
Practice opened with an install period before the team moved through stretch and position group work.
Offense and defense then came together for the period's first contact work. Linemen and linebackers went one-on-one with their position counterparts, while defensive backs worked through tackling fundamentals into a crash pad, with intensity building as the drill progressed. The team then broke back into position groups for individual work before closing with team scout, the first time the offense and defense lined up against each other as a full team at speed. Players were not tackling in the scout period, but the line groups played with intensity throughout.
Co-offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach Buddy Blevins emphasized effort during Friday's session.
"Effort focus, what are you doing and how are you doing it," Blevins said.
Defensive backs Noa Calaycay and Gabe Tahir said the ramp in intensity was a positive step for the defense.
"I think we held very good against the adversity," Calaycay said. "Just pushing each other every single time and holding ourselves accountable is the biggest piece that we went through. I'd also say a big piece of the defense is we have so much energy."
"We're excited to go out there, we're excited to play," Tahir said. "Everyone's playing with technique and discipline, so I think that's really what the biggest part was."
Corners coach Devin Holiday said he wants to see the energy carry through the rest of camp.
"I thought it was awesome," Holiday said. "It's always easy to come out the first day in shells and have excitement, so I really want to see what they do next week and as we push forward through camp, just like we talked about, keeping that same energy. That's the theme of fall camp for us, keeping that same energy, trying to keep the guys on the right path."
Calaycay and Tahir both pointed to discipline and confidence as the biggest growth areas for the defensive back room since a season ago.
"Last year we just needed to be more disciplined," Tahir said. "We were a young group last year, inexperienced, so I feel like this year we're just so much more disciplined, confident, and our mentality's through the roof."
"The confidence is the biggest key, just because most of us haven't played last year," Calaycay said. "Now that we have experience, and now that we have the defensive scheme down, since we had a new defensive scheme last year, I think that was the biggest part, getting down the knowledge and the game experience."
Holiday said the group's veteran players have taken a lead role in developing the newcomers.
"Honestly, I think it's our older guys that have experience, they're making the most strides in their game," Holiday said. "The reason is because they're doing a great job of bringing the young guys along. Every year I've been here we've had to play true freshmen, so I think it's huge that they're starting to develop those guys and help those guys come along faster than they usually would. We have a great group. Those guys got great team bonding and stuff like that, so I think we're headed in the right direction."
Tahir said the defensive back room has welcomed a group of newcomers this camp with a shared goal in mind.
"Everyone has just been on, ready to go. Everyone's ready to win," Tahir said. "We want to see Idaho State in the playoffs. We haven't seen Idaho State in the playoffs in such a long time, so that's our biggest goal this year. I feel like everyone's kind of adopted that and everyone wants that goal."
"The team as a total has done a good job of bringing everyone that's been new together," Calaycay said. "We're trying to push it far this year, and we can't do it if we're not doing it together, so I think we've done a great job."
Holiday said consistency remains the standard he's asking of the group's younger players.
"For me to trust you on the field, I need you doing the correct stuff, play in and play out," Holiday said. "Not making every play, but I need you in the right spot doing the right thing all the time. So for the young guys, it's going to be consistency."
Now in year two under defensive coordinator Grant Duff, Holiday said the staff has a clearer picture of how to deploy its personnel.
"I think we know what we have more of and what more guys can do, as far as putting them in certain spots for them to excel," Holiday said. "We're multiple on defense, so we want to put the guys in the best spot we feel they can go excel based on their strengths."
With seven games scheduled in the ICCU Dome this season, Holiday said the venue offers a distinct advantage for his group.
"We practice here, playing seven games here, we're used to being on this field," Holiday said. "We're used to changing direction on this field and all those types of things. I just think home-field advantage is the biggest thing. You get seven home games versus five, sometimes six if you're lucky, so I think that's the benefit."
Idaho State continues fall camp Saturday with Practice No. 4, scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. in shells at the ICCU Dome.
The Schedule for fall camp is as follows, note changes may happen as team camp progresses towards August 29.
Week 1
·   Â
·      Sat 8/1 — 2–4PM Practice #4 (Shells)
Week 2
·      Mon 8/3 — 11AM Practice #5
·      Tue 8/4 — 2–4PM Practice #6 (Shells)
·      Wed 8/5 — 11AM Practice #7
·      Thu 8/6 — 2–4PM Practice #8 (Full Pads)
·      Sat 8/8 — 11AM Practice #9 (Helmets)
Week 3
·      Sun 8/9 — 2–4PM Practice #10 (Shells)
·      Mon 8/10 — 2–4PM Practice #11 (Full Pads)
·      Tue 8/11 — 11AM Practice #12 (Helmets)
·      Thu 8/13 — 11AM Practice #13 (Helmets)
·      Fri 8/14 — 2–4PM Practice #14 (Shells)
·      Sat 8/15 — 2–4PM Practice #15 (Full Pads)
Week 4
·      Tue 8/18 — 8:30–10:30AM Practice #16
·      Wed 8/19 — 8:30–10:30AM Practice #17
·      Sat 8/22 — 4:00PM Scrimmage
Â
Stats Perform Preseason
The Bengals were represented on the Stats Perform preseason All-American list heading into the 2026 season.
Offensive lineman Stryker Rashid earned preseason first-team honors. Running Back Dason Brooks and Wide Receiver Chedon James were named Third-Team preseason All-Americans.
The full list of preseason all-americans can be found here.
Walter Payton Award Watchlist
Going into the 2026 season, Idaho State running back Dason Brooks has been named to the Walter Payton Award watchlist. The last Bengal to get a nod on the list was Chedon James in 2023 who was named a finalist at the end of the season.
The full watchlist can be found here
Season tickets on Sale Now
Idaho State season tickets are on sale now, don't miss any of the seven exciting home games in the ICCU Dome this year as the Bengals keep making the push forward.
Get your tickets today HERE
2026 Football Schedule
2026 is set to be an exciting year for the Idaho State Bengals. Seven home games in the dome and the rest just off of I-15. Get ready to cheer on the Bengals all fall.
