Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of the Idaho State Journal’s Summer Football Series that checks in with Pocatello, Century and Highland football as each prepares for the 2015 season.
Talk to Travis Hobson for five minutes and you’re bought in.
The first-year Century coach has taken over the Diamondbacks football program with the same fire, intensity and passion that helped him win two state titles with Shelley. His new football team will be a mirror image.
Hobson is wiping the board clean of former coach Dave Spillett’s pass-heavy spread offense. He’s instilling a sense of balance and toughness to a squad Hobson says won’t be particularly big, but will have an abundance of playmakers and guys who see a size disadvantage as a welcomed challenge.
“They don’t back down from anybody,” Hobson said.
He’s sold his players on his system and philosophies. They’ve circled all district games on their calendars and won’t worry about non-league matchups or even their annual cross-town showdown with Highland. What’s the point?
Besides, Century’s real rivalry game is on a Thursday night with Pocatello. Or as Hobson affectionately coined them, “the school downtown.”
“We’re not going to concern ourselves with the games that don’t matter,” Hobson said. “The games that matter are Blackfoot, Rigby, Preston and the school downtown.
“We don’t have a rivalry with Highland. We’re making a rivalry with the school downtown.”
Bought in yet?
QUARTERBACKS
Exit Lucas Rawlings, enter Chris Hansen. The senior suffered an injury in Century’s first game last season but is ready to take the reins of Hobson’s offense. Hansen is a mobile signal caller who will benefit from the D-backs’ pistol and shotgun formations.
“We’ll have the ability to do a lot of things,” Hobson said. “We can run the ball. We can pass the ball. We can run read-options. We can do a lot of things, especially with Chris under center. It’s going to be a great advantage for us.”
Hansen will also be the team’s kicker and punter and earned a spot at the Kohl’s National Invitational Scholarship kicking and punting camp in Wisconsin.
Hobson said junior Blaize Trulson is taking reps at QB with Hansen and figures to be the backup.
RUNNING BACKS AND RECEIVERS
The star of the offense will be senior running back Tristan Kayembe. Hobson said Kayembe has garnered attention from college coaches and has a chance to expand and refine his game this season in Hobson’s system, working between the tackles more than he did in Spillett’s spread.
“He’s having to learn how to run through a hole,” Hobson said. “That’s something he hasn’t been taught. ... We’re going to be able to do some things that match his strengths as well.”
Hobson raved about Kayembe’s quickness and ability to skirt to the outside. With a more balanced attack and a focus on controlling the clock, Kayembe figures to be a major part of the offense.
Senior Griffin Joseph will be used as a fullback and senior Jesse Mitchell will slot in as a receiver/running back hybrid.
The wide receiver position — skinny kids (another Hobsonism) — will be an area of depth for the Diamondbacks. Senior Rhett Fackrell is a returning starter and will line up with the likes of seniors Tyler Johnson and Dallin Blaser, two of the fastest players on the team who will likely return kicks and punts as well.
“We definitely have the big playmakers,” Hobson said. “We have guys that are fast enough to be able to get behind defenses.”
Expect senior Mac Hicks and junior Cole EchoHawk also to be used frequently in the passing game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line is a major question mark for Century. Left Tackle Tanner Mauseth graduated and is off to the University of Idaho and senior Kolby McKee is the lone returning starter. The rest of the starting front is in flux prior to the season.
“That’s the one spot we’re focused on the most right now,” Hobson said. “Trying to find the right guys in the right places.”
Hobson said McKee is locked in to be the unit’s anchor at center. Senior Jeremiah Ditton and junior Easton Anderson have been taking reps at guard while juniors Brody Tracy and Ryan Williams have been practicing at tackle. But Hobson said a lot could change in the time leading up to Week 1, and the O-line may be an ever-changing conveyer belt of players.
“We’re really open to whatever comes our way,” Hobson said.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Hobson plans to stick with the aggressive system defensive coordinator Jay Ferguson solidified, albeit with a few tweaks.
Hobson will use three down linemen and outside linebackers will act as hybrid defensive ends. The defense won’t stack up to many offenses size-wise, but Hobson is hoping his unit’s ability to fly around and out-tough opponents will be enough.
“Guys up front, they’re there to wreak havoc,” Hobson said. “We’re not going to be as big as some of the teams we’re going to play, but that’s OK. We’re going to compensate for that through scheme and through guys’ motors and attitudes.”
Ditton is a returning starter along the line and perfectly fits Hobson’s bulldog mold for his defense.
“A wrestler. Tough, gritty, fast. Not the biggest guy, but he’s fast,” Hobson said. “He’s not going to let up an ounce.”
The rest of the defensive line is undetermined, but Hobson said senior Mason Shipley and junior Drake Daniels will be in the mix, along with junior Sam Muse, who Hobson said he’s been impressed with this summer.
“A guy that jumped out in camp, that really just blew me away,” Hobson said of Muse. “The guy is able to, at the nose guard position, just go wherever he wants.”
LINEBACKERS
Century’s linebackers will be the stars of the defense despite losing seniors Connor Moon and Christian Vaughn. With returners Kayembe and Jesse Mitchell, both two-way starters, Hobson is excited about the quality of the corps.
“Linebackers will be heart of our defense,” Hobson said.
The linebackers will be all over the field and likely blitz heavily.
“Just aggressive as all get out,” Hobson said. “As mean and nasty and aggressive as we possibly can be.”
Hobson said senior Carson Fernandez and juniors Easton Anderson and Ryan Wilson will also be featured at linebacker this season.
SECONDARY
The secondary is another point of depth for Century.
Junior Marcos Huerta leads the unit that features junior Adam Ping and seniors Jon Treasure and Brayden Haney, a Highland transfer. Century’s defense is predicated on wreaking havoc up front, so the DBs will largely have to fend for themselves, a task Hobson said the secondary is up to.
“We can then bring a lot of guys, bring pressure from unique ways and still have the guys in the backfield we trust to get their jobs done,” Hobson said.
Haney is the new addition to the group, but Hobson’s first impressions are excellent.
“The guy will not back down to anybody,” Hobson said. “He’s probably our biggest fighter. I like him a lot and his attitude.”
PERCEIVED STRENGTH
Coaching. Hobson won two state titles with Shelley and ingrained a confidence and swagger in them that helped them confirm they were the best. It worked. Hobson is carrying that mentality over to Century and oozes an infectious tenacity.
Hobson’s coaching staff will consist of, among others, incumbent defensive coordinator Jay Ferguson, former Pocatello coach Jeb Harrison, two-time state champion coach Bill Vassas and former Idaho State football players Jake Pele and Mitch Beckstead.
“I got a bunch of guys who really know football, won a lot of state titles, a lot of college football players on the staff,” Hobson said, “so a lot of experience going into this. Guys that love the game and have a lot to offer the kids.”
OVERVIEW
Century certainly doesn’t have the most talent in Pocatello or in the 5-6 District and probably can’t win many games based on talent alone. But a fearless attitude and size-doesn’t-matter sashay all over the field will sure make the Diamondbacks a fun group to watch.