Vandals making progress in the trenches
MOSCOW, Idaho —
Idaho football used Friday and Saturday to focus on live situations, pitting the offense against the defense for much of Friday’s practice, while focusing on special teams for the majority of Saturday’s officiated scrimmage. The team will enter its final week of Fall Camp Sunday, with game week preparations beginning the following week and the fall semester starting Aug. 26.
The fall camp conversation continues to focus on the Vandals’ improved play in the trenches. The offensive line, which returns four starters, ranks among the team’s most experienced position groups. The defensive line, though vastly new from a year ago, is arguably the most talented. The two units have spent the month of August sharpening each other in competitive drills and team situations.
Emerging as a highlight has been the one-on-one battles between 2018 Freshman All-America tackle Logan Floyd and defensive end Kayode Rufai , who joined the team in the summer after transferring from Boise State. Floyd and Rufai each spoke with reporters Friday after practice, as well as defensive line coach Luther Elliss . Those interviews are available at the links above.
Elliss ‘ position group has also been aided by the recent addition of two interior linemen, including his son. Noah Elliss , who stands 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds , originally signed with Mississippi State out of high school. He enrolled at Idaho last year and passed his final summer class in July to earn full eligibility for the coming season. He has been flanked by Jonah Kim on the defensive line for the last week of practice. Kim, at 6-foot-3 and 353 pounds , arrived in Moscow a few days into fall camp after finishing his academic obligations at Santa Rosa Junior College.
The Vandals enter the 2019 season with 14 returning starters, including preseason All-Americans Cade Coffey and Noah Johnson . The season kicks off Aug. 31, at Penn State. Idaho’s home opener is Sept. 7, against Central Washington.
Tickets for the 2019 Idaho football campaign are on sale now. Purchases can be made online, over the phone at 208-885-6466 or in person at the Idaho Athletic Ticket Office. Season tickets offer the best value, starting at $100. Three-game mini plans are also available for the 2019 season, while single-game tickets went on sale last week.
