Intensity and aggressive behavior highlighted the start of the second week of spring football practices.
With pads back on, the Vandal defense flew around the field with emotion and ferocious hits Monday in the Kibbie Dome.
“We have to keep getting 22 to guys who like to go play tackle football.” Idaho Head Coach Paul Petrino said after practice Monday. “We have to get the guy across tough by them playing tough. The more we can do that the better off we are.”
With many familiar names leaving the notable linebacker core for the Vandals, new faces will have an opportunity to make themselves known entering the new season.
Junior linebacker Christian Elliss will aim to be one of the new cornerstones of the Vandal linebackers, filling the void his older brother Kaden Elliss dom- inated for the past four seasons.
Idaho also brings in two new junior college transfers to add to the linebacker spots in redshirt junior Austin Holt and junior Jalen Jenkins.
Jenkins said the relocation came easy with the support he found at Idaho.
“Everything is pretty much easy coming into it because the players brought me in as family straight away.” Jenkins said. “The coaches treat me like family, so it helps out with that and a good winter workout. So now we just need to learn the playbook and start ball.”
As a whole, many of the linebackers on Monday were flying to the ball and making open field tackles, showcasing the talent and potential the new set of linebackers can bring to the program.
“We’re getting real good at communication and with our bonds, we know how each other play and it’s only going to get better as we keep going forth,” Jenkins said.
The defense will be highlighted by the ravenous linebacker core, which many of the position group continue to practice into existence.
“We call it ‘the hunt,” Jenkins said. “Every time we break a meeting down, we hunt and hit the hunt board, so I guess that’s our little motto.”
One of the future bright spots of the linebacker core to keep an eye out for will be sophomore Tre Walker. Walker had many hard-hitting tackles at Monday’s practice with the highlight coming toward the end of practice on a powerful run stop at the line of scrimmage, igniting the enthusiastic defense to finish practice strong.
“I was just trying to go after it and set the tone for the defense,” Walker said. “I felt like if I set the tone fast then the team will match my energy and keep on going.”
Walker’s playmaking didn’t go unnoticed, with Petrino giving nothing but praise to the sophomore linebacker.
“Tre Walker, I would say, won the day,” Petrino said. “He plays with great intensity, likes football and plays really hard.”
On the back end of the defense, the Idaho secondary hopes to improve after a bumpy first season in the Big Sky Conference.
“We have some different players now and I think we are a little closer as a team,” senior defensive back Lloyd Hightower said. “I think that will help us a lot with our connection and commu- nication in the back end.”
Hightower enters his senior campaign looking to help lead the secondary but said he be- lieves relying and helping each other out can help push for a successful season.
Another anchor for Idaho will be junior college transfer Satchel Escalante.
The junior out of Scottsdale Community College has already gained early recognition from Petrino as a staple for the Vandal defense.
“I’ve been super happy with (Escalante),” Petrino said. “I’d say he’s been one of the brightest spots of the bright spots. He is fast, can play the ball in the air, is physical and can tackle so I have been really happy with him.”
Escalante set high expectations for himself, looking to become an instant powerful force for the Idaho secondary.
“I want to win and be as perfect as I can,” Escalante said. “I’m trying to be All-Conference Big Sky, go for All-American if that’s possible and start each game and stay healthy.”
The redesigned linebacker core and improved secondary will have plenty to prove after replacing former standouts in their attempt to make a run at a Big Sky Championship.
“I think you all will see a big difference in the fall,” Hightower said. “We just have that fire this year, and we will be loud and communicating. We’ll just have more fire to us this year.”
Idaho will cap off the spring season with the Silver and Gold game at 6 p.m. April 19 in the Kibbie Dome.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @chris_DEREMER