ATHLON SPORTS
 
MOSCOW, Idaho – Athlon Sports has released its Preseason FCS Top-25, with the Idaho Vandals earning the No. 24 ranking. The 2021 Spring Football Season, presented by Famous Idaho Potatoes, is right around the corner.
 
The Vandals are third among Big Sky schools, with Weber State ranked second and Eastern Washington 12^th. UC Davis finished just outside the top-25.
 
Idaho will open at home on Saturday, Feb. 27, against EWU, before facing UC Davis in the Kibbie Dome the following week. The final home game of the regular season comes on March 27 against Southern Utah.
 
The Vandals return a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball, including Preseason Stats Perform All-America honorees, Christian Elliss and Tre Walker. Alongside the likes of Charles Akanno, Jonah Kim, Tyrese Dedmon and Rahsaan Crawford, among many others, the Idaho defense looks to create chaos in 2021.
 
The offensive side of the ball will feature a lot of new faces for Vandal fans. Graduate transfer quarterback, Mike Beaudry, has stepped in well and has taken full control of the starting job, while true freshman CJ Jordan has impressed everyone since day one and is keeping the pressure on. A re-tooled receiving group, with veteran Cutrell Haywood and tight end-convert Hayden Hatten providing leadership has balanced the offense well. Sophomore Nick Romano looks to take even larger strides in 2021 after an impressive freshman season at runningback.
 
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