The Idaho Statesman has an article up that says Idaho coach Robb Akey is now looking for a tight ends coach. Quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith left for Montana, but the article says O-coordinator Steve Axman will take over those duties, and Akey will be looking for someone to coach his tight ends.

First, a few highlights from today’s signing day over in Moscow.

• The unexpected development was that Idaho got Maxx Forde, whose dad played at Washington State and who (according to Cougfan.com) had verbally committed to the Cougars. He’s rated as a 3-star defensive lineman, from Woodinville, Wash., and that’s quite a steal for the Vandals.

• UI made an obvious effort to go after offensive and defensive linemen, signing seven and six, respectively at those positions. They also picked up an intriguing transfer in Ryan Bass, who was a 4-star recruit coming into Arizona State and played two seasons before getting suspended last year for team violations. He’s also a cousin of Idaho WR Marsel Posey.

Now, Robb Akey also answered some questions about his contract negotiations and the departure of quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith to Montana (as an O-coordinator). Here are some quotes on those subjects.

On his contract renegotiation …… “I do expect for the contract, for those things to get taken care of. And that’s something that we’re in negotiations, we continue to be in negotiations, and I expect that that’ll get itself cleaned up a little bit more here shortly. And while we’re in negotiations, I think that that’s where I need to leave it at.”

On whether he thinks the contract issues would be done if it wasn’t recruiting season….“Oh I would expect. There have been a few things that have gotten in the way since the end of the season. And it hasn’t been ignored. The university hasn’t ignored it, and I haven’t ignored it. It’s just, we’re having conversations and I think that’s a good thing. I also felt like the Humanitarian Bowl was pretty important and the recruiting process was pretty important, and I think we all have the same goal in mind.” Continue Reading

Here are  a few things Idaho coach Robb Akey had to say about his new class of recruits.

In general…. “I’m obviously excited about this class. I don’t think you’re going to hear one football coach come on the screen today and say ‘hey, you know, we really didn’t do very well’ … every coach in the country is excited about who they’re signing today, and we are, we are with good reason.”

On the impact of a winning season……“Well, I think that the success of the season, as we were going through things that certainly had a lot of folks excited. I think it strengthened the interest level of the people we were going after … that got some of those guys to commit to us early. A number of these kids have been committed to us for a long period of time. And I think the completion of the season and the exclamation point of the Humanitarian Bowl … I think that that really helped us solidify the kids that had been committed to us. I think it got some of those guys that decided after the …. we pulled off a couple of deals here at the end of the recruiting that – one of them is a guy that was going to go play for somebody else in our league that elected to come here. And that wouldn’t have happened before.” Continue Reading

TRANSFERS
RYAN BASS — running back, 5-9, 201, Arizona State/Centennial High School, Corona, Calif. … ASU transfer rushed for 120 yards as ASU freshman and 173 yards as a sophomore before being suspended. … will sit out the 2010 season.
MATTHEW HARVEY — cornerback, 5-10, 160, Ellsworth JC, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., joined UI in fall of 2009 and saw time on the field … returned 14 kickoffs for 276 yards. … spent one season at Ellsworth and had 46 tackles and six INTs.
ARMAUNI JOHNSON — receiver, 6-4, 210, West Los Angeles College, Jacksonville, Fla. … hauled in 80 passes for 796 yards in two seasons … Akey said “he’ll be able to come in and compete for a job.”
HOMER MAUGA — linebacker, 6-0, 224, Grassmont College, La Mesa, Calif. … Region III all-California first-team at Grossmont. … “changes direction very well,” Akey said.
AARON STRUMSKI — defensive tackle, 6-2, 303, Ellsworth CC, Hollywood, Fla. … Second-team all-America. … 79 total tackles, 15 TFL and 8.5 sacks in 2009.
BEN SWARTS — defensive tackle, 6-2, 285, Arizona Western, Tucson, Ariz. … First-team JC All-American. … became undefeated state heavyweight champ in wrestling during senior year of high school after the coach asked him to come out for the team so it wouldn’t have to forfeit that weight class. … Akey said he still has academic issues to take care of.
THAAD THOMPSON — defensive back, 6-3, 215, Ellsworth CC, Margate, Fla. … 27 total tackles and three TFL during 2009 season.
SAM TUPUA — offensive line, 6-3, 374, Palomar JC, Wilmington, Calif. … part of offensive line that helped Palomar average 429 yards a game and yield only 12 sacks during the year. … will compete for one of four open spots on the line.
CHARLES WILEY — offensive line, 6-5, 302, Grossmont College, Knoxville, Tenn. … chosen to play in Triumphant Sports Junior College All-American Game in 2009. … will compete for one of four open spots.
HIGH-SCHOOL SIGNINGS
SPENCER BEALE — offensive lineman, 6-4, 321, Lewiston High School. … started on offensive and defensive lines as a senior but missed time with a knee injury. … first-team all-state as a junior.
MITCHELL CROCKOM — receiver, 6-2, 177, Alhambra High School, Alhambra, Calif. … had 43 receptions and 672 yards with nine TDs in 2009. … “great leaping ability,” said Robb Akey.
JESSE DAVIS — defensive lineman, 6-6, 265, Asotin High School. … first-team all-state 2B tight end in 2009. … had four TD catches at tight end and two sacks.
MAXX FORDE — defensive end, 6-4, 270, Woodinville High School, Woodinville, Wash. … made AP 4A all-state team and had 34 tackles with two sacks in senior season.
KAREL KEARNEY — defensive tackle, 6-2, 273, John B. Connelly High School, Austin, Texas. … had 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks in senior season. …. first-team District 25-5A selection.
TYLER KUDER — defensive tackle, 6-4, 289, Payette High School, Payette, Idaho. … first-team All-Idaho 3A pick in 2009 as offensive and defensive lineman. …. had 15 TFL, two sacks and two INTs.
MIKE MARBOE — offensive lineman, 6-2, 297, Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, Wash. … already enrolled in school. … father and uncle played at Idaho. … 4A first-team All-State selection in 2008.
JUSTIN PODRABSKY — quarterback, 6-6, 240, Lewiston High School. … only quarterback in this class. … top-ranked recruit in Idaho. … Threw for 2,733 yards and 34 TDs as a junior.
JAMES RANDALL — safety, 6-0, 205, Compton High School, Compton, Calif. … 68 tackles and four fumble recoveries as a senior. … all-area selection.
KYLE SALM — offensive lineman, 6-6, 290, San Dimas High School, San Dimas, Calif. … blocked in an offense that put up 341 rushing yards a game. … All-California Interscholastic Federation Mid-Valley Division first team.
DALLAS SANDBERG — offensive lineman, 6-4, 300, Bradshaw Mountain High School, Prescott Valley, Ariz. … Arizona Football Coaches Association 4A all-state team in 2009. … recorded 62 tackles.
CALVIN THOMPSON — running back, 6-2, 203, Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park, Texas. … ran for 605 yards and six TDs in 2009.
SHAWN TUCKER — cornerback, 5-9, 164, Laguna Hills High School, Laguna Hills, Calif. … joined UI in fall of 2009. … had four interceptions as a senior.
JAYSON WASHINGTON — running back, 5-7, 165, Moscow High School. … co-offensive MVP in 4A Inland Empire League as a senior. … carried 75 times for 1,004 yards and 13 TDs as a senior.
BEN WESTRUM — offensive lineman, 6-7, 308, Black Hills High School, Tumwater, Wash. … first-team AP 2A all-state as a senior.
DEMETRIUS WILLIAMS — receiver, 5-11, 183, Inderkum High School, Sacramento, Calif. … all-City first-team quarterback in 2009. … passed for 1,321 yards and 17 TDs while running for 307 yards and three TDs. … Idaho got him late in the recruiting process.

This was supposed to go up earlier, but better late than never. The Detroit Free Press had a funny/informative article about former Idaho LG Mike Iupati and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator/former Idaho quarterback Scott Linehan during Senior Bowl week. Iuptati seems to be impressing NFL personnel thus far.

Take a glance here.