Vandals begin spring football practice
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 year, 4 months AGO
Photo by IDAHO ATHLETICS First-year Idaho head football coach Thomas Ford.
MOSCOW — First-year Idaho head football coach Thomas Ford and the Vandals opened spring practice on a sunny Tuesday morning on the practice field outside the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
“Day one, it felt great. The energy was really good today, the guys came out with a purpose,” Ford said after a the first practice. “It was really awesome to see all their work come to something. ... For them to be able to play football today and be able to be their head coach, it’s pretty special.”
With the start of spring practice, Ford mentioned that some of the priorities is maintaining student-athlete health and further evaluating position battles — specifically mentioning the offensive line, quarterback, linebacker, and defensive end positions — and instilling the culture of viewing every day as an opportunity.
Seniors Nate Azzopardi and Eli Cummings both were spotlighted by Ford who said, “Having guys like that that know me so well on an individual level ... it’s huge. Now they’re echoing our message in the locker room every day.”
Cummings was awarded the first battle axe of the season as the best performer of the day. “Day one was a blast,” a bulked-up Cummings said, mentioning how good it was to be back at full speed. Despite roster turnover and bringing in new players, the running back also said that it feels even more like a brotherhood and a family than in years past.
Of the players who were not on Idaho’s roster last season, Ford and the Vandals welcome 11 new transfers to the squad:
Lonyatta Alexander Jr. (wide receiver; Montana State)
Will Cornelson (linebacker; Tyler JC)
Maurice Heims (defensive line; Washington)
Tim Jackson (defensive back; College of the Canyons)
Josh Macon (defensive line; Bakersfield College)
Donovan Parham (defensive line; Mississippi Valley State)
Khaled Rawls (defensive back; NE Mississippi CC)
Kai Richardson (defensive line; Oregon State)
Zahkari Spears (defensive back; UConn)
Howard Stedford (offensive line; Pace)
Daveon Superales (wide receiver; Montana State)
Idaho will continue with spring practice on Thursday. Pro day will also be held on Thursday at 8 a.m.
The spring game is scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.