Date: Tuesday, Aug. 25
Venue: Kibbie Dome
Format: Full pads — wrap up but don’t take down and quarterbacks off limits from hitting.
Practice rundown:
– Stretches
– Position warm-ups
– Offense walkthroughs red zone plays
– More specific position drills — quarterbacks worked with wide receivers, defensive line went against offensive line and other positions worked within their respective groups.
– One vs. One — wide receivers went against defensive backs in a one-on-one drill, with quarterbacks throwing to receivers.
– Punt coverage/kickoff coverage
– Team — 11 vs. 11
– Skelly — seven vs. seven
– Closed practice with the first-team offense working against the scout-team defense, and vice versa.
Notes:
— Senior linebacker Marc Millan was back in full pads after nursing a hamstring injury throughout fall camp. Idaho coach Paul Petrino said Millan will have to earn his way back into the starting lineup.
“Marc has to go to win his way back, though,” Petrino said. “Right now, Kaden (Elliss) is ahead of him with all those practices, but it’s great to see Marc back out there, no question.”
— Junior punter Austin Rehkow booted a punt around 70 yards during the punt coverage part of practice.
— The offensive line is still in a heavy rotation. Junior Mason Woods and sophomore Jordan Rose have both been shuffling between guard and tackle. Nothing appears to be set on the first team offensive line besides junior Steven Matlock at center and senior Dallas Sandberg at one of the guard positions.
— The much-anticipated debut of junior college transfer tight end Khalin Smith ended Tuesday. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder had his first practice in full pads for the Vandals after his arrival to Idaho was delayed by waiting on if he passed a summer class or not.
Smith looked the part, too, as the tight end pulled down a few nice grabs and looked to be getting a good grasp on the offensive playbook. Between him, junior Deon Watson and junior Buck Cowan, the Vandals will have plenty of depth at tight end this season — all have impressed throughout fall camp.
— Freshman quarterback Kareem Coles was taking snaps as the scout team quarterback. Idaho’s first opponent, Ohio, is expected to start senior Derrius Vick, who in limited time against the Vandals in last season’s contest, rushed for 86 yards on just four attempts. Coles fits the bill, too, as he has plenty of speed to pull off his best Vick impression.
Korbin McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @KorbinMcD_VN