Idaho added 24 players to its football program Wednesday, and did it despite being significantly shorthanded.
Coach Robb Akey lost three assistant coaches this offseason — offensive coordinator Steve Axman (retired), wide receivers coach Luther Carr (left) and offensive line coach John McDonell (hired at Tulane). He has yet to officially name their replacements, citing the university’s hiring policy. He expects to announce two hires in the next week or so.
The Spokesman Review reported last month that former Washington State assistant Mike Levenseller will serve as Idaho’s offensive coordinator.
Despite being without a third of his staff, the Vandals brought in “some very good additions to our football team,” Akey said.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the guys that were with me during this process because they had a little extra on their plate,” Akey said. “Did it add to the degree of difficulty? Yes. But it did not cost us in regards to the kids we were going after. It did not impact us, thank goodness.”
The recruiting class includes 15 high school seniors, eight junior college transfers and one grayshirt who signed in 2011. Twenty-one of the recruits are from the West, including three from Idaho, three from Washington and one from Western Canada.
“We got stronger in the Northwest,” Akey said.
The three Idahoans — Eagle High kicker Jace Johnson, Coeur d’Alene High teammates Chad Chalich and Deon Watson — were important to Akey.
“It tells everyone that the people around us who know us the best believe in what we’re doing or they wouldn’t let their guys come here and play for us,” he said. “That has me as the head coach being very proud.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Vandals, though. Akey took a phone call at 4:15 a.m. PST Wednesday from a recruit who backed out of a commitment in part because of the uncertainty of Idaho’s conference affiliation.
The Vandals are remaining in the WAC, which has undergone wholesale membership changes and is down to seven football playing members for the upcoming season. The conference could lose additional members if Conference USA or the Mountain West look to plug holes from teams they lost to the Big East.
Idaho does have one open scholarship, which Akey said he likely will use on a defensive back if he can find one in the spring.
ROSTER UPDATE
Wide receiver Preston Davis (career statistics: 91 catches, 1,023 yards) and running back Troy Vital (career statistics: 413 yards, two touchdowns) won’t return for their senior seasons, Akey said.
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