POCATELLO — On Preston Holfeltz’s second day of Idaho State football practice, his NFL-bound predecessor briefly sat on the grass behind the field-goal posts at the ICCU Practice Fields, just beyond the turf where Holfeltz went through drills with the offensive linemen.

Holfeltz, a junior transfer from Snow College and ISU’s first-string right guard, is replacing one of the best players in team history. Former Swiss Army knife offensive lineman Skyler Phillips was relied upon to anchor the front for five seasons in Pocatello, and leaves as big a hole as any departed player this season. With less than a month until April’s NFL Draft, Phillips ducked into the opening minutes of ISU’s Friday practice.

Holfeltz, who’s filling one of the most notable vacancies on the field, hasn’t played in a game since 2016. He’s one of a handful of transfers who may be relied upon to make an immediate impact as the Bengals look to improve upon their 4-7 record last season.

Holfeltz played left tackle at Snow, but welcomes the change to right guard.

He redshirted last season for academic reasons and is ISU’s lone newcomer taking consistent practice reps with the starters.

“First couple days here have been pretty good,” said Holfeltz, who’s listed at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds. “I’ve been a little rusty, but I’m getting over that.”

Holfeltz joins an offensive line led by three returning starters in left tackle Brian Fineanganofo, left guard Jacob Molenaar and center Dallen Collins. Flanking Holfeltz is first-year starter Dakota Wilson at right tackle. Holfeltz took his official visit to campus for Idaho State’s homecoming game last season against Cal Poly and committed to join the team a week later.

While many eyes this spring will be focused on quarterbacks and a defense in desperate need of improvement, Holfeltz will do his best to help solidify ISU’s front line in the post-Phillips era.

No pressure?

“Not really,” Holfeltz said. “I’ve just got to focus on doing my job and just focus on learning the playbook, doing all I can to help my team get better.”

Another junior college transfer is safety Christian McFarland. Idaho State is his third school in as many years, and the former Air Force commit joins a secondary looking to rebound after getting pulverized for 279.5 yards passing per game in 2017 — ranking 119th out of 123 FCS programs.

As a senior in high school, McFarland was set on playing for Air Force. Once he realized the non-football commitments that would entail, he enrolled at Division II Azusa Pacific University. He played his sophomore season at Sacramento City College, where he earned all-conference honors.

Now, the Sacramento native is acclimating to the Division I game and the Idaho weather.

“Everything’s going good right now,” McFarland said. “Just getting in the flow of things, getting the calls, just getting used to my teammates and getting used to the cold.”

McFarland’s ESPN recruiting profile lists his 20-yard shuttle time at 4.32 seconds, his vertical jump at 34.1 inches and his power throw at 36.5 feet. He played cornerback at Azusa Pacific, switched to safety at SCC and has been practicing with the second-team safeties at ISU.

McFarland’s third school also presents a third level of college football. He said ISU’s offensive tempo has been the most noticeable difference, but the task of adjusting to the Division I game isn’t overly daunting for the one-time Mountain West Conference recruit.

“It’s easy to get used to,” McFarland said.

Joining McFarland in the defensive backfield is Boise State transfer and Meridian native Jace Richter. After earning two first-team all-Idaho nods as a defensive back at Mountain View High, Richter walked on at BSU. But he was dismissed in October 2017 after being accused of assault by a fellow Boise State student. Prosecutors did not pursue charges against Richter, and he was offered a fresh start at Idaho State.

“Coach (Roger) Cooper, coach (Rob Phenicie), they really welcomed me,” Richter said. “They looked past everything. … They just really accepted me for who I was, not for what they’ve read about me.”

Richter joins a crowded safety corps, led by senior Jayson Miller and reigning Sophomore All-America pick Adkin Aguirre. Richter’s ISU debut Thursday started a new chapter and quelled his months-long thirst for football.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played football,” Richter said. “So it’s just great to be out here again.”

ISU’s second FBS drop-down transfer is defensive lineman Kainoa Fuiava, who spent the better part of the last two seasons at BYU. But a coaching staff overhaul and a play style that didn’t fit Fuiava’s skill set made him pursue a mid-year transfer last season.

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound sophomore from Downey, California, is backing up Rasheed Williams at right defensive end in ISU’s 3-4 base scheme. Fuiava said he prefers to shake one blocker off the edge rather than take on two O-linemen in the trenches — which he was tasked with at BYU.

“More inside the trenches was a lot more difficult to see who was going to come at you first and make reads from there,” Fuiava said. “Working more on the outside at defensive end, more room to work, to take your opponent wherever you want, and sack the quarterback from there.”

ISU’s other newcomers this spring include former Snow College defensive back Colton Bennion, Sandpoint native and former College of Idaho signee Tyler Harris at linebacker, and Los Angeles Pierce College transfer Jared Recchia at defensive line. Redshirt senior defensive back Fondereaux Wilson is also back on the roster after being absent last season. Wilson is also a meber of ISU’s track and field team.