Just a week before Idaho opens up fall football practice the defense line was given a big boost — A 305 pound boost, that is.
Defensive tackle Quayshawne Buckley has been added back to the team, coach Paul Petrino confirmed this week. Buckley was previously dismissed from the team in February after being arrested for driving under the influence.
Buckley’s addition back to the roster will make quite the impact on the field. He was often a monster in the middle of the line, playing more athletic than his 305 pounds would make you think, and often showing good pass rushing ability. What the coaching staff would like to see is a cut in how often he racks up unnecessary fifteen-yard penalties.
Speaking of coaching staff, the defensive line will have a new position coach heading into the fall. Patrick Libey departed over the summer, with Byron “Bam” Hardmon being tabbed to replace him.
The defensive line, Petrino said, is one is Idaho’s strength.
That optimism stems from junior defensive end Maxx Forde, who is ready to have a breakout season in his junior year. Rounding out the defensive end rotation should be senior Vince Keener and under-classmen Quinton Bradley and Antonio Perez. Throughout spring practice Bradley and Perez were sometimes used in stand-up pass rushing formations, so that’s something to keep an eye on during the fall.
At defensive tackle the line loses Jesse Davis to the offense, but still has depth. Sophomore Ryan Edwards, who played in all 12 games last season, and redshirt freshman Matthew Neal will be in rotation on the interior. Vince Keener is also capable of sliding inside when the occasion calls for it. Keener will have to muscle out incoming JC transfer Anthony Rice for those snaps.
Linebackers
Must like the defensive line group, Idaho’s linebackers will be welcoming a new position coach over the summer. Eric Brown moved to Idaho from Indiana State to take over for the departed Mike Anderson.
He’ll inherit a group that returns only one player from last season, but a position group core that was able to get together in the spring.
Lifted by junior college transfers Eric Millian, Eric Tuipulotu and Juan Martinez the linebacking corps turned from a group completely devoid of depth to a group that looks like it’s capable of stomaching the losses of Sua Tuala, Rob Siavii and Homer Mauga.
Tuipulotu, specifically, stood out over the spring at the strongside outside linebacker spot. Millan brings the ability to rush the passer and is looking to slot in at weakside linebacker.
Three new faces will join the competition in the fall. Austin DeCoud, who moved to safety from QB in the spring, will move to linebacker. He’s listed at 6-3, 216 pounds on the roster although Petrino said the reason for the move was that he’s getting bigger and bigger. Austin will probably compete with Millan on the weakside. Broc Westlake, one of the four junior college signees at the position, should put himself in the conversation at middle linebacker. Freshman Tony Lashley is likely to come in and compete at outside linebacker, but with so many junior college transfers at the position it wouldn’t surprise to see him redshirt.
Front seven at a glance
Defensive line
Departed: Benson Mayowa, Karel Kearney
Returning: Maxx Forde – Jr., Antonio Perez – RFr., Quinton Bradley – So., Quayshawne Buckey – Sr., Vince Keener – Sr., Ryan Edwards – So., Matthew Neal – RFr.,
Incoming players: Anthony Rice – Jr., Zach Cable – Fr.
Linebackers
Departed: Su’a Tuala, Rob Siavii, Conrad Scheidt, Homer Mauga
Returning: Matt Willis – Sr., Addison Palomino – RFr., James Randall – Jr.
Roster notes: Former quarterback Austin DeCoud will be joining the group as a redshirt freshman.