POCATELLO — It’s hard to miss Michael Dean, even through the thicket of massive bodies that surround him on the football field.

Dean is shorter than most Division I football players at 5-foot-6 – all the better for him to fit into small spaces and blow past defenders down field.

Dean quickly became a fan favorite last season as a freshman. He scored a touchdown in ISU’s season opener against Simon Fraser and broke off TD sprints of 62 and 91 yards in the Bengals’ homecoming win against Sacramento State. The 91-yard run is the second-longest in Idaho State history.

Dean ended the season second on the team in yards rushing, despite netting fewer carries than three running backs and two quarterbacks. The slightly built freshman was used sparingly by former head coach Mike Kramer, who used Dean’s perceived higher injury risk as his rationale.

This spring, Dean moved to slot receiver. First-year head coach Rob Phenicie emphasized Dean’s importance to the offense and the Bengals’ need to get their speedster closer to 15 touches per game.

With a deep backfield led by redshirt sophomore Ty Flanagan and redshirt junior James Madison, Dean’s services were determined to be better utilized along the line of scrimmage. Dean’s transition has continued into the fall, where he has been entrenched into the starting unit and figures to be a primary target for quarterback Tanner Gueller.

Phenicie also has not eliminated the option for Dean to slip into the backfield, whether it be for a handoff, reverse play or a bit of razzle-dazzle out of ISU’s pistol formation.

“We think it’s an excellent move,” Phenicie said Tuesday after practice at the ICCU Practice Fields. “He’s going to be all over the field. We’ll use him a lot more.”

Dean almost always played running back in high school, though he played quarterback in certain formations. He said the transition from running back to receiver at ISU has been tedious, but Phenicie didn’t sense any difficulty.

“It’s definitely a big difference relearning most of the playbook, learning the different route concepts, learning coverages,” Dean said. “But I definitely like the space that is out there in the slot.”

“Our route combinations, our route-running progression is pretty intricate,” Phenicie said. “He picked it up easy.”

Dean’s elusiveness allows him to sneak into space in the middle of the field, while his straight-ahead speed can be used to beat defenders deep down field. Dean is a sure-handed receiver whose athleticism surpasses most, and based on his usage through the first five days of ISU’s fall camp, he’ll be one of the Bengals’ top offensive weapons this season.

“He’s real good at making guys miss underneath,” Gueller said. “At the same time, with his speed, he takes the top of defenses at times. Using him both ways, and any way you can, it’s been really good for us.”

NON-SCHOLARSHIP QB POSADA REPORTS TO CAMP

Freshman quarterback Anthony Posada made his ISU debut Tuesday. Phenicie said Posada is a non-scholarship player who arrived late to camp because he had to make last-minute arrangements to move to Pocatello from Chula Vista, California.

Posada gives the Bengals five quarterbacks. Phenicie said Posada must participate in five practices before he can play in full pads.

FIFITA BACK FROM ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

Bengals defensive line coach Steve Fifita was back at practice Tuesday after serving a brief administrative leave. Fifita was placed on paid leave Aug. 1 following charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence and open container. First-year graduate assistant coach Nikko Taylor and defensive coordinator Spencer Toone coached the defensive line in his absence.

“Love his juice, love his attitude out on the field,” Phenicie said of Fifita. “The kids were really fired up about having him back.”