Quarterback

Redshirt freshman Nathan Enderle leads an Idaho offense that is ranked sixth out of nine teams in the Western Atheletic Conference. Enderle has guided the Vandals to 153.7 passing yards per game while throwing four interceptions and four touchdowns.

Enderle, a recruit of former Vandals and NFL coach, Dennis Erickson, was efficient against the No. 1 team in the country, USC, in his first-ever collegiate start. The Nebraska native went 16-of-34 for 155 yards. All four of Enderle’s interceptions came last week in a 45-28 loss to Washington State.

NIU and its depleted defense will look to rattle the young quarterback early and often.

Grade: C

Running back

Most likely the biggest surprise among WAC teams this year has been the play of Idaho’s redshirt freshman Deonte Jackson. Jackson is the seventh leading rusher in the nation and first in the WAC with 426 yards on 80 carries, good enough for 5.3 yards per carry.

The Arkansas native ran for 99 yards against USC and had his most impressive performance against Cal Poly, rushing for 214 yards with one touchdown. Junior Jayson Bird gets a few carries a game to give Jackson a rest and has run for only 56 yards on 10 carries.

Jackson is explosive and could cause a big problem for the injury-plagued Huskie Defense.

Grade: A-

Wide receivers

A young quarterback and a young receiving corp have made it hard to get the passing offense going for the Vandals this year. Sophomore Max Komar is Idaho’s leading receiver with 11 receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior Eddie Williams has been Enderle’s second favorite target, catching 10 passes for 123 yards. Idaho’s No. 3 wide out, junior Lee Smith, is the only other receiver with at least 100 yards on the season.

Last year, Smith saw limited action, catching only seven passes for 139 yards. With the play of Jackson at running back, the Idaho receivers haven’t been counted on to make big plays.

Grade: C

Offensive line

A big reason why Jackson has had so many yards running has been because of the offensive line in front of him. The Vandals front line consists of all upperclassmen and is led by their center, Adam Korby.

The junior from Colorado is up for the Rimington Award Watch List, which honors the most outstanding center in the country. The 6-foot-2 inch, 292-pound center is in his third season as a full-time starter for the Vandals.

Left guard Mike Iupati comes in at 6-feet-6-inches tall and 330 pounds, making him the biggest offensive lineman on both sides of the ball. The only senior of the group is Marcis Fennell, who saw action the last three years as a back-up.

Grade: B

Special teams

Idaho is last in the WAC in kickoff return yardage and fifth in punt return yards. Freshman Dewey Hale has been the best return-man for the Vandals thus far, averaging 17.9 yards per return.

Safety Shiloh Keo is also the punt returner for Idaho and has five returns for only 43 yards so far. Junior Tino Amancio came in as a walk-on for the Vandals last year and has made 3-of-5 field goals this season with a long of 51 yards.

Sophomore T.J. Conley is averaging 41.2 yards per punt this year after a freshman season that saw him punt 67 times.

Grade: C