For the Washington State football team, there was something palpably different about Day 1 in Lewiston this year.

The regional wildfires weren't choking the air. The brown patches on the practice field at Sacajawea Junior High seemed to have shrunk. And, most noticeably, the thermostat hung at 88 degrees, with intermittent cloud cover and occasional breeze.

"I've never seen Lewiston this cool in the summer," receiver Gabe Marks told a group of spectators after one of his countless impressive grabs along the right sideline.

Quarterbacks and receivers capitalized on the relatively mild conditions for a surprising number of pretty and sometimes spectacular pass plays Saturday as the Cougars launched their annual 11/2-week stay in Lewiston for preseason camp.

The difference was perhaps most keenly felt by a receiver at the X, or left outside, position.

C.J. Dimry, a 6-foot-5 senior who has encountered mostly hard luck during his year at WSU, created a rangy target for QBs and insinuated himself into what coach Mike Leach calls the most competitive battle for a starting wideout role.

That's a big improvement over Day 1 last year when Dimry, still acclimating himself to the area after transferring from a junior college, apparently fell victim to the oppressive Lewiston heat and was whisked away from the field for treatment.

"Coming here a second time, I know what to expect," Dimry said. "It was definitely cooler than last year. Any breeze or anything - I'll take it."

Dealing with harsh or uncomfortable conditions is a built-in part of the challenge of preseason camp, even for established stars like Marks. He has become the most prolific receiver in school history, and one of the best in the Pac-12, despite what he calls "a breathing thing" that sometimes harshens his task - and Dimry's as well, he said.

He said it's not an allergy and it's unrelated to the regional wildfires. It's just the football grind.

"You can't prepare for fall camps," Marks said. "It's like this for everybody, and I tell myself not to panic sometimes. I've got three more plays and I'm wheezing over there almost."

These days, Marks isn't inclined to take it easy on himself. Leach puts him in the "elite" category of diligence quotient, along with cornerback Darrien Molton and nickelback Parker Henry.

But even as Lewiston was going soft on the Cougars, the rigors of Day 1 made themselves felt. Toward the end of practice, Marks amended his impressions to spectators.

"I changed my mind," he said. "It's still hot."

Marks is playing something of an advocate's role for Dimry, a fellow senior who wound up missing last season with an injury and now has only one year to establish himself at the NCAA level. He was evidently impressive during 7-on-7 drills this summer, a fact that Marks relayed to coaches who are forbidden to watch such sessions.

"He's going to be a guy, you know what I mean?" Marks said. "He's got the same breathing thing as me ... (but) C.J. is going to be awesome. He's huge, he's fast, he's got big hands."

With the departure of 2015 senior Dom Williams and the recent defection of Kyrin Priester, prominent roles at the X are up for grabs.

One of the top contenders is sophomore Tavares Martin Jr., who has beefed up his slender 6-foot-1 frame and switched to the left side after backing up Marks at Z last year. And a true freshman, 6-foot-4 Dezmon Patton, made enough sweet catches Saturday to put himself in the mix.

Still, the re-emergence of Dimry at that position was a welcome sight.

"Just throw it up to C.J. and he'll get his arms out there and get it," quarterback Luke Falk said. "He made it through his first practice - that's a big accomplishment. We're going to celebrate tonight with him."

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Grummert may be contacted at daleg@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2290.