COUNTDOWN TO CAMP: Who will replace the production of All-American wide receiver Chedon James?

The Idaho State football team begins fall camp on Aug. 1.

And to get you ready, we’re counting down with a question every day until the start of it.

Today’s question: Who will replace the production of All-American wide receiver Chedon James?

James, who transferred to Fresno State in the spring, led the nation in receiving with 102 catches and finished fourth in yards at 1,045, leaves a gaping hole at one of the slot receiver spots in the Idaho State offense.

The Bengals return Christian Fredrickson, who caught 53 passes for 791 yards and five touchdowns last year, and Mike Shulikov, who caught five passes for an average of 19 yards a catch and two touchdowns before he went down with an injury in Game 5. But they are both outside receivers and ISU head coach Cody Hawkins says you can’t replace inside production with outside receivers.

“Outside guys don’t skyrocket to that level of production,” said Hawkins. “You just don’t. Slots are kind of pseudo-running backs and receivers, the way we use them in our offense. So it’s going to have to be somebody who is playing inside.”

Some of that increased production might come from Alfred Jordan, Jr., who played opposite James last year and caught 44 passes for 479 yards and three touchdowns.

It may also come from UNLV transfer Jeff Weimer, who put on a show during April’s spring game at the outside receiver spot, catching a couple of acrobatic touchdowns against the Bengal defense. With the addition of Washington State transfer Tsion Nunnally at the outside receiver position, Hawkins has talked about moving Weimer into the slot.

Or it could come from one of a group of redshirt freshmen who have been eagerly awaiting their turn: Ian Duarte from Eagle High, Raiden Brown, out of Long Beach, Calif., or Adam Watts, a walk-on from Washington State who has made an impression with his work.

It’s likely that no one player will replace all 102 catches from James, but Hawkins is hoping that with a more balanced offense that can run the ball better, he won’t need the same number of catches. But one thing is for sure — when the Bengals needed a catch last year, most of the time they went to James. They’ll be trying to identify who that “security blanket” will be early on this season.