The Idaho Vandals wrapped up spring practice with a clear sense of purpose, and the biggest takeaway? It's what's between the ears that counts.

With a spring roster of 94 players—only 15 of them newcomers—head coach Thomas Ford Jr. sees a team that's already ahead of the curve. "We are not having to teach so many basic things," Ford said. That's a luxury for any program, especially one installing two new systems under coordinators Ian Schoemaker (offense) and Lee Stalker (defense). The returning core has the foundation to absorb those changes faster and more effectively.

Experience is the theme of the offseason. Last summer, starting quarterback Joshua Wood wasn't even on campus. Now, he's a proven leader heading into player-guided summer workouts. Ford also singled out redshirt junior safety Zach Wusstig and redshirt junior cornerback Khalid Rawls as players who stepped up this spring.

The spring game offered a glimpse of a deep, balanced roster. The running back room is crowded with talent, and the offensive line—anchored by four returning starters in Charlie Vliem, Layton Vining, Leon Evans, and Kiegan Henson—looks poised to reload despite losing Big Sky all-conference guard Nate Azzopardi. Tight ends Chance Bogan, Aiden Nixon, Mason Culmer, and Gabe Hoffmann are more involved in the passing game than a year ago, while young wide receivers have gained valuable reps due to injuries to veterans. The quarterback competition behind Wood, however, remains a work in progress.

Defensively, Ford is excited about the pass rush, led by twin senior defensive end transfers Jamarion and Javen Augustus. They'll be joined this summer by New Hampshire graduate transfer defensive lineman Luke Teskey. The Vandals showed a base 3-5-3 alignment in the spring game, but expect multiple looks come fall. Wusstig and redshirt senior linebacker Cruz Hepburn bring experience to the back end—both finished in the top five in tackles for Idaho in 2025.

One of Ford's primary spring goals was to play with tempo—both deliberate and fast on offense—and he's pleased with the progress. The running back rotation is deep, with newcomers Damonte Bias and Ferrari Miller joining short-yardage specialist Hayden Kincheloe and redshirt junior Art Williams (recovering from injury). Redshirt junior Carlos Matheney made the most of his spring game opportunities, while freshmen Taeshaun Reece and Kenny Golston could push for playing time.

For Vandals fans, the message is clear: this team is further along than a year ago, and the foundation is set for a strong summer push. Spring ball may be over, but the real work—and the real growth—is just beginning.