Coaches Hit Recruiting Trail As Vandals Begin Overhaul

The top receiver graduates. Four of five starting offensive linemen are out of eligibility and so is the starting quarterback. Heck, even the place kicker’s done.

And you thought your basement needed work.

Idaho’s 1995 offense was its weakest in years and faces a major personnel overhaul as UI football coaches begin scouring the countryside for talent.

Not that the offense was a slouch. Its 28 points per game would be welcomed at most schools, but that was two touchdowns less per game than generated by the 1994 offense.

“It’s sort of scary, losing four of five (offensive) linemen,” Vandals coach Chris Tormey said. “That’s got to be an emphasis in recruiting.”

Another emphasis figures to be at wide receiver, a hole created there by the loss of senior Dwight McKinzie and the potential loss of Robert Scott.

Scott shifted from quarterback to wide receiver in fall drills and responded with 29 catches and six touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. At the time of the move, Scott was told he’d have another chance at quarterback, a spot that is up for grabs following the graduation of Eric Hisaw.

Tormey said no decision has been made on Scott’s future.

“He’ll definitely be involved (in the decision),” Tormey said. “We’re not going to force him to do something.”

However, there’s no assurance that Scott can win the job from the seeming incumbent, Brian Brennan, a strong-armed junior-to-be who has started eight games over the last two seasons.

Tormey seems pleased with the development of Post Falls’ Darick Pope during his true freshman year.

Idaho will join the Division I-A Big West Conference in 1996 and over the next couple of years scholarships will be bumped from 63 to between 75-80.

Idaho’s next recruiting class, and possibly the one after that, should have the NCAA maximum of 25, Tormey said.

Though he hasn’t set precise numbers, Tormey said UI will bring in eight to 10 offensive/defensive linemen and roughly six wide receivers/ cornerbacks.

UI’s next class will be similar to Tormey’s first one - heavy on high schoolers over JCs, perhaps a 20 to five ratio. Tormey likes the fact that freshmen have four years to develop and are generally more successful academically.

Several freshmen, Jerome Thomas, James Durrough, Yaphet Warren, punter Justin Spiva (who will compete with Troy Scott for place kicker) and Kevin Hill, made immediate impact this year.

Tormey described his first season at UI as “bittersweet.”

Bitter: Losing three of its first four, and, after squaring its record at 3-3, UI suffered what Tormey termed the “toughest loss of the season” to Weber State.

Sweet: Whipping four ranked foes over the last five weeks to earn an atlarge playoff berth. Top-ranked McNeese State stomped UI 33-3 last Saturday, sending the Vandals to a 6-5 mark in Tormey’s inaugural season.

Idaho’s slow start was no doubt influenced by a screwy schedule (four home games, six away). The Vandals had two byes in the first three weeks and made little or no progress from game one to game four.

“I don’t think it helped us,” Tormey said.

Tormey bluntly reviewed his own performance.

“I’m like everybody else, I can get better. Everybody should have that sense of trying to get better.”

Tormey is counting on last year’s recruits to step up next season as starters or key backups.

Some names from that group include Matt Jasik, Pierre Erick, Jevez Robinson and Bryson Gardner, already penciled in as starting free safety.

JC transfer Robert Mulder saw some time at defensive end this year and appears too talented not to be on the field somewhere. Safety Antoine Chambers, another JC transfer, performed well.

The defensive line, strong this season, should only get better since the entire crew returns. Linebackers Dave Longoria and Avery Slaughter graduate, but there’s talent in the wings in Whitney Mayer, Ryan Skinner, Durrough and several other true freshmen.

On the offensive line, starter Richard Zenk returns and his brother, Steve, a reserve this year, may step into a starting job. Other candidates are Sandpoint’s Crosby Tajan, Kentucky transfer Bill Verdonk, Boisean Nate Lundquist, Jason Stark, Ryan Schienle and Mike DeGraw-Tryall.

The offense will have some building blocks in running back Joel Thomas (who will be returning from knee surgery), tight end Andy Gilroy and slot receiver David Griffin.

, DataTimes