We’re going through each of ISU’s position groups in a continuing series that takes a look at how they stand coming out of spring practice and heading into fall camp. Thursday it was the cornerbacks, Friday the safeties and up next: the linebackers.

OUTLOOK

One thing is for certain: Idaho State’s linebackers are going to be a faster, more athletic bunch than in the past. Hayden Stout is shifting from outside to inside linebacker to play alongside sophomore phenom Mario Jenkins.

Each of the starting outside linebacker spots are wide open. Fall camp will be an absolute battle between ISU veterans Kurt Karstetter and CJ Langlow and junior college transfers Jake Pettit and Luis Navarro to see who else starts.

All four will have an opportunity to play, and depth could prove crucial over the course of a long season.

CONCERNS

Idaho State needs to get after the quarterback on a more consistent basis. The Bengals were third in the Big Sky Conference with 29 sacks a season ago. But it was still 16 fewer than the leader, Montana, and ISU had one sack in its final three games.

Idaho State lost its top pass rusher in Austin Graves, leaving a gaping hole that someone has to fill. Is it Karstetter, who had a standout spring, or one of the JC transfers?

THE STAR

Mario Jenkins. He broke out on the national scene with 120 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and three interceptions and finished fourth in the voting for the Jerry Rice award, annually given to the top freshman in the FCS.

He’s a freak athletically and a building block for Idaho State’s defense over the next three seasons. Jenkins missed the spring with a lower leg injury, but expect the Nampa native to take big steps forward in his second season as a starter.

PLAYER ON THE RISE

Kurt Karstetter. The senior has 42 career tackles and has never been a dependable on-the-field contributor for the Bengals. Not yet, at least. Karstetter was a star of the spring and named the most improved defensive player.

At 6 foot 2, 215 pounds, he isn’t going to beat defensive ends with pure strength. But he does have elite speed and might be ISU’s best option to replace Graves as the team’s top pass rusher.

UNDERRATED PLAYER

Hayden Stout. This is the junior’s moment to take on a centerpiece role in Idaho State’s defense.

For the past two seasons, Stout started at sam linebacker, which is essentially a part-time position in Idaho State’s 3-4 defense. Moving inside to join Jenkins means Stout is expected to star for ISU and help shore up a defense that allowed 501.9 yards a game a year ago.

He’s ready.

“Hayden Stout has really made a great transition from a part-time player to being a full-time, all-the-time mike linebacker,” Kramer said in the spring. “I think he’s going to be just fine.”

BOTTOM LINE

Jenkins and Stout make a formidable duo in the heart of Idaho State’s defense. Throw in the athletic Karstetter, Langlow and the junior college newcomers and ISU has the pieces for the best linebacking corps during Kramer’s tenure.

They’ll need to be. The Bengals can’t finish another season in the bottom third of total defense in the Big Sky. Not if they’re going to survive a schedule with one home game in a 55-day stretch.