Idaho ramps up practice with in-team scrimmage, as breakout players emerge on both sides of ball

Aug. 13—MOSCOW, Idaho — Even through battling dings and nicks, the Idaho football team brought the tempo on Thursday. Midway through preseason camp, the Vandals powered through the tedium of repetitive practices by finishing with a 52-play, 11-on-11 set that left coach Thomas Ford Jr. generally pleased with both his offensive and defensive units. "Both sides of the ball handled it well in spurts," he said. "We can build off that." The Vandals finished their two-hour workout with three series starting at the 3-yard-line and a half-dozen more that began between the 30-and 45-yard lines. Players flowed on and off the field with dispatch, lined up quickly and conducted their shifting and counter-shifting without needing to stop to get realigned. Not surprising, the defense dominated the long field scenarios and did not give up even a first down. Having 97 yards of field behind them built confidence, Ford said. Starting quarterback Joshua Wood, though, starting from his own 45, led the first team on a 12-play drive that ended with Ryan Jezioro catching back-to-back passes, including a right-to-left end zone crosser for a 7-yard touchdown. Ford said Jezioro, whose season was cut short by an injury last year, is having a great training camp, and is turning in work that could make him a No. 1 receiver. Backup quarterbacks Sawyer Teeney and Holden Bea, starting near midfield, led Idaho to a field goal and touchdown, respectively. The defensive line caught Ford's eye throughout the practice. Defensive line coach VJ Malo said the line, mostly starting in a four-down front, did a good job of defeating blocks. "These kids, they want it. It's like giving a steak to a pitbull," Malo said. Twin senior defensive ends Jamarion Augustus and Javen Augustus, who displayed leverage and speed in abundance, took advantage of the interior pressure to flush quarterbacks. "Those guys are phenomenal athletes," Malo said. Depth on the defensive line is coming into focus, according to Malo. However, behind the first and second teams there are still battles for position. "It's more on the back end," he said. "Who are we going to travel with among the young guys?" Linebacker Darrell Gipson Jr., a junior transfer from the University of Cincinnati, won the day's practice award. "I'm a new guy. You want to come in and make a bunch of plays," he said. Gipson has been particularly delighted by playing in the Vandals' multiple defense, where he is able to display his versatility. "I love this defense. It's a system," Gipson said. "A lot of dudes can play multiple, different spots." The way the Vandals played it Thursday, Idaho could crowd as many as six players on the line of scrimmage to flood backfields. Ford said he has been taken by Gipson's speed and his ability to instantly read offenses and get into the backfield. For his part, Gipson, from Lacey, Washington, said a relationship with Ford that goes back to his high school days made it an easy decision for him to join Idaho when he entered the transfer portal following last season. "I'm loving it here," Gipson said. Also, winning the practice award couldn't have come at a better time. "It's my mom's birthday," he said.