Previewing the Idaho Vandals offense ahead of Week 1 game vs. Oregon Ducks

Every FCS team wants to go to a Division I stadium and pull off a major upset like Appalachian State did at Michigan in 2008. To do that, having a veteran group on both sides of the ball can go a long way toward shocking the world.

But for Idaho’s offensive unit in 2024, that’s just not the case.

The Vandals will have Jack Layne, a redshirt sophomore, under center. While he may be a veteran in the Vandals system, he doesn’t have the experience. Layne was a backup for his first two seasons until he was needed to start the Idaho State game last season.

As for the good news, Layne was successful as he was 20-of-26 on pass attempts, throwing for 275 yards, and throwing six passing touchdowns in the 63-21 win over their in-state rival.

The bad news is Oregon isn’t Idaho State and Autzen Stadium certainly isn’t the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. This will be somewhat of a homecoming for Layne as he spent his prep career at Lake Oswego and he was the Oregon State Player of the Year.

Unfortunately, Layne doesn’t have much experience around him either to help him out. His receiving corps is very young, comprised of mostly redshirt and true freshmen.

Idaho will get a significant look at those young receivers, especially if Jordan Dwyer can’t go. He’s their projected top receiver, but he has missed a lot of the fall camp due to injury. That gives freshmen such as Mark Hamper a few extra reps. Hamper scored a touchdown in the Vandals’ most recent scrimmage.

Running back Nate Thomas, a redshirt junior and transfer from South Dakota, might be difficult to bring down at 5-foot-8 and 210 pounds. Thomas missed the 2022 season due to injury and had limited carries (64) last season, but did gain nearly 400 yards and scored five touchdowns.

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