When the Idaho football team takes the field this week for spring practices, the program will be missing its starting quarterback.
Sophomore Matt Linehan will miss the entirety of the spring semester with a foot injury, said Vandal head coach Paul Petrino in a press conference Tuesday.
Petrino said the injury occurred during team activities in the fall, but the quarterback continued to play through the injury. The head coach said Linehan will spend the offseason recovering and would return for practice during the summer months.
Petrino said freshmen Jake Luton and Gunnar Amos would split time at the position during practices in March.
“It’s a good opportunity for both Jake and Gunnar to get all kinds of reps,” Petrino said. “It’ll be a great opportunity for them to take all the reps between the two of them. The more reps you take at quarter back, the better chance you have to get better.”
The absence of Linehan will not be the only loss of the spring for the Vandals. Quarterbacks coach Bryce Erickson left Idaho on Feb. 26, after it was announced he was hired as the head coach at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene. Petrino said wide receivers coach Charley Molnar will assume coaching duties at the quarterback position.
“It was something that (Erickson) felt like was for his family, to be around his kids more,” Petrino said.
The Idaho head coach said the program signed former Bozeman High School head coach Troy Purcell as the inside linebacker coach for the upcoming season.
“He’s probably the best high school coach in the state of Montana,” Petrino said. “He’s had all kinds of success and won state championships with a couple different high schools. Very excited about that, and he’ll bring great knowledge and enthusiasm and fire to our defense.”
Petrino said he is excited to watch the competition develop for the starting running back role this spring. The Idaho head coach said the battle will occur primarily between sophomore Aaron Duckworth and redshirt freshman Isaiah Saunders.
“Both Duckworth and Saunders did a great job this offseason of getting stronger and faster,” Petrino said. “I think those would be the first two guys, just because they’ve been in the system a little bit longer.”
Petrino said he also expects freshman Denzal Brantley and incoming high school recruit Dylan Thigpen to contribute to the running game.
“Denzal Brantley is a guy that redshirted last year that has all kinds of talent,” Petrino said. “He can really run, make cuts. Did a lot of good things in practice last year.”
The Idaho head coach said the play of the four running backs during the next few months would determine who secures the starting role.
“Out of the four of them, what happens?” Petrino said. “Does one just take control and be the main guy, or is it a little bit more where the reps are split up? That is something that will be determined on the practice field.”
The Idaho head coach mentioned offensive lineman Noah Johnson as a grayshirt athlete who could potentially make an immediate impact for the Vandals offense.
“Noah Johnson looks great in the weight room and out there running,” Petrino said. “(For) those younger guys on the offensive line, this spring will be very important to them, and I think Noah has done a lot of good things.”
The Vandals began spring practices Thursday afternoon in the Kibbie Dome.
Josh Grissom can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @GoshJrissom