VANDAL NOTES: Several players exit portal to return to Idaho, Ford continues to fill his coaching staff

Jan. 9—The Vandal football program has changed quite a bit with new coaches, new players and even a scheduling change in the weeks since new coach Thomas Ford Jr. returned to Moscow as Idaho’s next football coach after former coach Jason Eck took the helm at New Mexico.

Here is a look at the coaches and players new to Moscow, those who chose to return and where some former Vandals are playing next in this January Vandal football notebook.

Idaho retains RB Eli Cummings, other key pieces

After a player-led campaign, Ford’s hiring convinced a number of players to withdraw from the NCAA transfer portal or not enter at all. Several players had entered the portal after Eck’s departure in early December.

Ford was a part of Eck’s staff as running backs coach and special teams coordinator from 2022-23. He coached running backs at Oregon State in 2024.

Ford said he met with the majority of the roster on Zoom shortly after his hiring in December. The meeting included many of the players who were in the transfer portal.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been more happy in my life than that first five minutes of that Zoom,” Ford said. “Just seeing so many familiar faces, seeing so many guys that are just fired up about being Vandals — that was pretty special to me.”

In the weeks since that meeting, Idaho running back Eli Cummings has headlined a group of Vandals who had entered the portal but have since withdrawn.

Cummings posted the following to X on Dec. 31: “I have decided to withdraw from the transfer portal & Run It Back one more time wit my guy @CoachTFord!”

Cummings has spent four years in Moscow and welcomed the arrival of Eck and Ford with 965 combined yards in 2022 and 2024. He redshirted in 2023.

Offensive lineman Nate Azzopardi withdrew from the portal as well, he announced on Dec. 23.

“Officially withdrawn from the portal….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/vandal-notes-several-players-exit-141100876.html

Author : Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, Idaho

Publish date : 2025-01-09 14:11:00

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