This time around, scrimmage will be a short one

University of Idaho football coach Nick Holt prefers scrimmages in which the No. 1 offense faces the No. 1 defense and the No. 2s square off against each other.

For the most part that will hold true today – except there won’t be as many ones or twos to go around. Injuries and class commitments have put a bite on the number of players participating in Idaho’s second spring scrimmage today at 11 a.m. at Post Falls High.

Therefore, Holt expects to run only about 70-80 plays compared to last week’s 120-snap scrimmage. The offensive line is particularly thin with mainstays Desmond Clark and Jade Tadvick unlikely to play. Projected starting cornerbacks Reggie Jones and Jason Martin also won’t participate.

“It’s just not going to be very long because we’re short on linemen,” Holt said. “We’ve got a bunch of kids who have a class commitment.”

Class commitment on Saturday?

“Yeah, they’re floating down a river or something,” Holt said.

Holt is anxious to see the resumption of the quarterback competition between returning starter Michael Harrington and junior college transfer Steven Wichman. The battle will probably continue into fall drills.

“They’re both doing a good job and getting better,” Holt said. “It’s a perfect scenario. Michael knows the offense really well and he’s getting better fundamentally. Steven has a really good arm and he had a really good practice (Thursday).”

Some of Idaho’s injury list is probably attributable to staging its first six practices on the unforgiving artificial turf in the Kibbie Dome.

“We’re a little dinged up and sore,” Holt said.

Several players have had stellar springs, topped perhaps by Jaron Williams, a junior linebacker who saw limited playing time last season before being sidelined by a midseason injury. Williams is pushing middle linebacker Cole Snyder, an All-Sun Belt selection last year when he led Idaho with 136 tackles.

“Jaron is physical and he plays hard,” Holt said. “He’s doing a really nice job.”

Mike Anderson is adjusting well to his change from defensive end to outside linebacker. Holt likes the depth at linebacker with Snyder and Williams inside and Robert Davis, David Vobora, Nate Nichols and Josh Bousman manning the outside.

Holt also lauded the spring efforts of rising sophomore receiver Desmond Belton, JC receiver Daniel Smith and Lake City grad Luke Smith-Anderson and Keith Greer at tight end. Smith-Anderson won’t play today.

Today marks a homecoming for Post Falls graduates Tracy McCormick and John Willy. McCormick, returning from a knee injury, is a wide receiver who sees time on special teams. Willy, a transfer from Carroll College, is a kicker.