CALDWELL, Idaho – With the Frontier Conference moving their football schedule to the spring, The College of Idaho had a rare opportunity to utilize the fall season as a training camp for both returning student-athletes and first-year Coyotes.
Instead of the stress of a typical fall camp, the Yotes were able to work around COVID-19 protocols – getting the 100-plus student-athletes all on the same page – heading into the start of the unprecedented 2021 winter camp.
For the Coyotes, a big key was the offensive line, as C of I had to replace three All-Frontier Conference performers.
Left tackle
Josh Brown was a consensus NAIA All-American, center Ricky Bowman was a 4-year starter and 2-time all-league pick, while left guard
Gabe Zurita-Haber had a banner senior year. All are now C of I graduates – leaving open spots for the current club.
The current offensive linemen have a new leader, as former Eastern Washington, Central Washington and Southern Oregon coach,
Greg Stewart, joined the staff prior to fall camp.
"Coach Stewart has done a phenomenal job this fall," said offensive coordinator,
Brian Taylor. "He is a great leader, teacher and mentor to our offensive line group, bringing a lot of passion and energy to the table."
At center, sophomore
Clayton Wolfe (6-2 270) had a great fall camp and looks to build off of a great 2019 season. The Homedale product was poised to be in the rotation heading into 2019, but an injury sidelined him for the first nine games. Wolfe made his debut in Week 10 against MSU-Northern and was a starter in both of the 2019 NAIA Football Championship Series games.
Also back at center is junior,
Drew Leick (6-2, 275), who has been key for the squad in a back-up role throughout his career.
Returning starter
Braden Bale (6-0, 275) looks to play guard in 2021 after splitting time last season between the center and guard spots. The sophomore started eight games at right guard and another at center – giving the squad a veteran voice in the middle of the line.
Three other returners split time between the guard and tackle positions during the fall – sophomores
Cy Hicks (6-3, 270),
Ryan Halford (6-2, 275) and
Camille Massaad (6-4, 275). Hicks had a dominant 2018 season, starting all 11 games at right tackle, but missed all of 2019 due to injury. Halford was part of the interior line rotation in 2019, starting three games at left guard and another at right guard. Massaad was a reserve lineman and special teams player as a freshman and made a great impression on the staff this fall.
Sophomore
Garrett Rehberg (6-7, 285) returns at tackle and will make the move from the right side of the line to the left. As a true freshman, Rehberg started all 12 games, anchoring the right tackle slot.
In addition,
Carter Ballenger (6-4, 315) returns to the squad after missing all of 2019 due to injury. The junior was a mainstay on the line throughout the 2018 season and looks to make an impact in 2021.
C of I has an outstanding group of young players who look to crack the line-up in 2021 – transfers, redshirt freshmen and true freshmen. Of the group – the staff pointed towards true freshmen
Tyler Barron (6-3, 260) and
Brett Gydesen (6-4, 255) – both having a great fall camp, with Barron seeing action at guard and Gydesen at tackle.
