Coach Robb Akey has been improving his win total each season at Idaho. The Vandals are returning plenty of starters this season, which should lead to an increase in their win total from last season.
With a solid recruiting class, the Vandals should be more talented and add more depth on both sides of the ball. Nathan Enderle returns at quarterback and he brings with him two years of starting experience. Max Komar and Preston Davis return at wideout and hope to give Enderle some solid weapons in the air. Dewey Hale, a former defensive back, also showed some positive signs during spring practice.
Deonte’ Jackson returns in the backfield after rushing for 696 yards last season. Jackson finished 10th in the WAC averaging 56 yards on the ground per game. The offensive line looks to improve upon last year where they allowed 3 sacks per game that placed them 111th in the nation.
The defense was awful last year, giving up 472 yards per game. There was no pass rush and opposing offenses just ran all over the Vandals. Safety, Shiloh Keo, will be the leader of the defense and is the focal part of the secondary. Virdell Larkins returns as the leading tackler last year at safety with 58 total tackles. Both corners, Isaac Butts and Kenneth Patten, return in hope of improving on their inexperience last season.
Although, coach Akey and company will have another year of experience and some talented recruits, I don’t see them making a huge improvement from last season.
Prediction: 2-10