Denim Millward
Sports Editor
The Bengals know what’s in store for them, and they’re ready for it.
With the daunting task of battling a PAC-12 opponent looming on the horizon, The Idaho State University football program worked feverishly to wring as much preparation and experience as possible out of both fall scrimmages.
While the odds are always heavily in favor of any NCAA FBS program that plays against an FCS team, the intensity and focus with which the scrimmages were played are a clear indicator the Bengals intend to make their upcoming clash against the University of Utah more than the run-of-the-mill blowout.
The 3-9 overall record the Bengals ended with last season falls well short of accurately indicating the considerable strides the Bengals took on either side of the ball in 2013. After arguably the worst statistical season in Idaho State football history the preceding year, head coach Mike Kramer’s squad was discernibly better in nearly every facet of the game.
Every game except for bouts against FCS schools Washington and Brigham Young was a competitive affair, the points-against average was reduced by just under three touchdowns per game and an elusive conference victory was earned.
This season, Kramer and his team are in search of more than just statistical improvements and moral victories: they want more wins.
One of the largest hurdles for the Bengals to clear in their quest for Big Sky Conference relevancy is the replacement of high-caliber players who have graduated since last year or are otherwise no longer with the team.
The departure of wide receivers Cam Richmond and Luke Austin, as well as defensive back Cameron Gupton, left sizeable holes in both leadership and production.
Several new faces have already made great strides in fall training camp and have done their fair shares of head-turning as well as attention grabbing.
Perhaps the most interesting newcomer to the squad is redshirt senior defensive back Daniel Roundtree.
Roundtree transferred to Idaho State fairly recently from Southern Methodist University, from whence he has already earned his Bachelor’s Degree.
Roundtree was one of a few players praised by name by Kramer following the first scrimmage.
“He has great knowledge and has great maturity being a sixth-year guy who has already graduated from SMU,” Kramer said of Roundtree. “[Roundtree] will be a great addition to our backfield.”
Roundtree continued his impressive play after only eight practices with the Bengals in the second scrimmage, coming up with one of four interceptions snagged by the defense that day.
Sophomore wide receiver and BYU transfer Madison Mangum has emerged as a likely key component to Kramer’s pass-heavy offense and looks to be in the early stages of developing a nice rapport with redshirt senior quarterback and team leader Justin Arias.
Mangum followed up his three-catch, 30-yard performance in the first scrimmage with an even better performance in the second scrimmage, catching a 45-yard touchdown pass from Arias, a result Bengal fans hope will replicate multiple times in the regular season.
Perhaps the most impressive and surprising emergent from fall training camp has been redshirt sophomore running back Jakori Ford.
At just 5’8,” Ford has demonstrated very good speed and a knack for finding open lanes at the most opportune times, as was demonstrated by his 45-yard touchdown scamper in the second scrimmage.
Following the emergence of Xavier Finney last season, which gave the Bengals a desperately-needed added dimension to their pass-heavy offense, adding Ford and his ability to break big runs has the potential to transform the ISU rushing attack, which was virtually nonexistent a scant two years ago, into a legitimate threat that requires defensive adjustments and game-planning.
While players such as Mangum, Roundtree and Ford are reasons for optimism, question marks on the Bengal roster still remain.
While ISU has a rock-solid starter at the quarterback position in Arias, the backup quarterback position is muddled.
Vying for the primary backup job are three quarterbacks who have zero collegiate football experience: redshirt freshmen James Delacenserie and Trae Pilster and true freshman Tanner Gueller.
While each of the three gunslingers have shown promising raw talent in flashes, they’ve also shown their age and inexperience via interceptions, inaccurate balls and other various miscues that aren’t entirely unexpected for such young players.
Should Arias stay healthy for the duration of the 2014 season as he did last year, the position battle will essentially be a moot point.
However, if Arias misses any time, the potentially-explosive Bengal offense is certain to be placed in inexperienced hands.
The Bengals open the season in a rare Thursday competition against the University of Utah Utes on August 28 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kickoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
