Sure, Idaho State is known as a passing football team, but what would you say if I told you the preseason favorite for most valuable player on offense this season is a running back?

That would be former linebacker Dason Brooks, who was the Bengals’ leading rusher last year — and is the only returning back with more than three carries on his Idaho State resume.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 228-pound redshirt senior from Chandler, Ariz., is primed for an All-Big Sky Conference season — not just because he’s a powerful back who averaged 6.2 yards a carry in limited action last year. But also because Idaho State head coach and de facto offensive coordinator Cody Hawkins knows both what he’s got in Brooks — and what he needs from him this fall.

“It’s fun to be a run-and-shoot team,” Hawkins said while overseeing the first practice of fall camp this week. “It’s fun to throw the football all over the place. But we’re going to be better on defense and we’re going to be younger on our offensive skill positions. But that is a place where Dason has the ability to be an All-American. I expect him to be an all-conference player — in large part because of the work the offensive line has done.”

When you look at the personnel on the Idaho State offense this year, there are a lot of question marks — who will be the quarterback? Who will replace the production of departing All-Big Sky Conference receivers Jeff Weimer and Christian Fredricksen? Who will replace the 228 carries (out of a total of 334) that left the program after last season?

I can’t answer the first two questions for you, but after talking to Hawkins, I’m pretty sure most of those carries are going to go to Brooks, who started out his ISU career as a linebacker before moving to the other side of the ball last season.

Brooks led the Bengals in rushing yards (506) last season, scored four touchdowns and added eight catches out of the backfield for 65 yards. He essentially split carries in the backfield with the departed Kaua Kauhi, while backup quarterback Hunter Hays got most of the running opportunities in the red zone or short yardage situations.

Hays graduated, but his role as offensive jack-of-all-trades may be going to redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Spencer, who captured the attention of Bengal coaches and players alike with an entertaining spring.

That doesn’t figure to diminish Brooks’ role in the backfield, though.

“Dason has really stepped it up,” said Hawkins. “The last two seasons, we’ve been caught in this mold of, ‘We have a bunch of running backs, so let’s play them all and play the hot hand.’ We’re in the position this year where Dason has the experience, the ability and the maturity and leadership that you want from a leader in that position group. We feel comfortable with him taking charge.

“It doesn’t mean that he’s going to get all the carries,” Hawkins added. “But if he’s not out there at least half the time, then I’m doing some things wrong.”

With uncertainty hanging over the quarterback and wide receiver positions, that may mean the Bengals will rely on the running game considerably more this season. Especially given the confidence Hawkins and his staff have in the ISU offensive line.

“Coach (John) Hughes, he’s been absolutely fantastic,” said Hawkins of his offensive line mentor. “Keeping him here was probably the single greatest accomplishment of the offseason,” said Hawkins, referring to fending off Montana’s attempt to poach Hughes. “I really am pleased with the work the offensive line has done.”

The other indicator that Brooks may be the bell cow for the Bengal offense this season is the lack of experience in the backfield behind him. Returners Hunter Roddy, Carson Sudbury and Jackson Riddle combined for a total of 6 carries last season. Hawkins is excited about the potential of Utah State transfer Robert Freeman IV, but he will likely see most of his time in the slot position. That leaves a lot of youth lined up behind Brooks in the single-back role the Bengals prefer.

ISU hasn’t had an all-conference running back since Malaki Rango was an honorable mention choice during the COVID-shortened spring season of 2020. Their last first-team all-conference running back was James Madison in 2017. If the Bengals can keep Brooks healthy through a 12-game gauntlet, he has an opportunity to join the all-conference club. And keeping Brooks healthy and productive is one of the key factors in the Bengals having a successful season.

Brad Bugger has followed athletics in southeastern Idaho since 1979, as a sports writer, broadcaster and fan. He can be reached at bpbugger@gmail.com.