One of the biggest surprises from spring football might have been the standout play from newcomer Kaden Elliss.
The linebacker from Salt Lake City led the Vandals in tackles through the first two scrimmages, was second on the team in the third scrimmage and led the first-team defense in tackles in the annual Silver and Gold Game.
Many Vandal fans may not have known Elliss’ name going into the spring, but now he appears to be someone who could be a difference-maker come the fall season. Elliss, who originally signed with the Vandals in 2014 before joining the team this spring, led his teammates with 19 tackles in the first scrimmage, 17 in the second and led the first-team with 11 tackles in the spring game.
“Kaden flew around, made a ton of tackles again — he’s probably clos to what he had that first scrimmage,” linebackers coach Eric Brown said following the second scrimmage. “I’ve been impressed with him in live situations.”
Elliss, who stands at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, joins a linebacking corps with veteran leadership already. Senior Marc Millan returns after leading Idaho with 102 tackles in 2014 and earning the co-Defensive Player of the Year Award with defensive end Quinton Bradley.
“I’ve tried to take all the young guys under my wing,” Millan said. “Just let them know what’s going on, show them the way and help them learn the defense.”
The new 3-4 defense Idaho is deploying in 2015 offers some new opportunities for the 6-foot-1, 218 pound Millan. It also gets more linebackers on the field.
“He’s going to have more opportunities to blitz, which is a good thing for Marc,” Brown said. “Right now he’s playing WILL and SAM and those are our two positions that blitz the most. He has good opportunities to do what he does best and kind of keep him out of the thing he doesn’t do as well. It’s a good defense for him.”
Another veteran for the Idaho linebackers is Chris Edwards, although he didn’t play linebacker last season. Edwards’ spring season was cut short with an injury, but the 6-foot-2, 217 pound senior is expected to bring more speed to the linebacker position. He played safety for Idaho last season, where he grabbed two interceptions before leaving the team mid-season for unknown reasons.
Another solid lock to start at linebacker is senior Broc Westlake in the middle. At 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds, Westlake had 41 tackles for the Vandals last season.
To round out the linebackers, 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior college transfer Leonard Hazewood is expected to start, although he is listed as a defensive end on Idaho’s roster. Cornerback Armond Hawkins also received some time as a nickel backer for Idaho this spring and used his new position to grab an interception in the second spring scrimmage.
“He’s playing that right now and he did a good job,” Brown said of Hawkins’ new position after the second scrimmage. “He’s athletic and that’s what we’re looking for at that position. He did a real good job of staying underneath … and got an interception out of it. He’s picked it up pretty quick, so I think he fits that position well.”
The new 3-4 defense allows the Vandals to field more speed at the position, and if the spring is any indication, it will allow Idaho to put different players on the field depending on the situation.
Idaho had the 111th ranked defense in 2014, but the new 3-4 defense that defensive coordinator Mike Breske — who is still currently a volunteer coach — is using could offer improvement, and it starts at the linebacker positions.
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]