Idaho State was missing a number of players for Thursday's practice. Some were sick, some were in class and others were injured.

The offensive line, in particular, was lacking a few key guys. Starters Thomas Vazorka, Skyler Phillips and Terrence Carey were all gone.

Defensively, Mario Jenkins is still wearing a boot on his right foot and there has been no indications he'll be ready to participate in the spring any time soon.

Jenkins "unavailability" — Kramer's code word for injured — has created an interesting wrinkle. In his place, Joe Martin has started repping with the first-team defense.

Martin is a redshirt freshman and a converted safety. He's listed at 6-foot, 206 pounds on Idaho State's current roster, but looks like he's bulked up since last fall.

Martin and fellow freshman James Madison have both had larger defensive roles in the spring.

In regards to Martin and Madison, Kramer said: "They're both athletic. They'll help us in our linebacking corps. Our linebacking corps has to have more depth, has to have more foot speed. Those guys help us quite a bit because I think both those guys will play a lot of kick teams. Their size, they're both 200 pounds plus. They've got good foot speed and I think they can be excellent Big Sky linebackers."

VIDEOS from Thursday's practice ... both preview Saturday's scrimmage + there are some highlights from Thursday's practice ... quarterbacks Tanner Gueller and Trae Pilster had all the first-team reps.