Smart money is on Cooke or Sharman to replace Tracy as Bengals’ QB1

POCATELLO — The Idaho State Bengals had one of the Big Sky Conference’s top passing attacks a year ago. With the graduation of trigger man Kobe Tracy, the “Throwin’ Idahoans” will need to find a new leader.

Tracy was second in the Big Sky Conference in 2024, passing for 256.4 yards per game. He was fourth in passing touchdowns (24).

Opening fall practice Wednesday, the Bengals have six quarterbacks listed on the current roster. Asked after practice where that group stood, as far as competition for the starting job, head coach Cody Hawkins said the battle is down to three guys. He then proceeded to name just two.

He spoke about Jordan Cooke’s experience, having appeared in 11 games with ISU in 2023 and passing for 2,453 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 58.9% of his pass attempts.

“Jackson Sharman has worked as hard as anybody and has great intangibles, the guys love him,” the coach said. “Jordan and Sharm could probably play at any school in America, if they wanted to, and we’re really lucky to have them.”

Both, Hawkins added, worked really hard all offseason.

Now, the entire coaching staff will look at how they compare with a fine-tooth comb, as the team works toward a decision as to who will be the signal-caller in Las Vegas for Week 0 and going forward.

Redshirt freshman Davis Harsin, an Eagle High School graduate, also got his share of reps with the offense Wednesday and could be a dark horse for the job.

Cooke, a redshirt junior from Santa Rosa, Calif., played his freshman season at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif. before transferring to ISU in 2023. He threw for 71 yards in his lone appearance last season.

Sharman, a redshirt freshman from Torrance, Calif., appeared in three games last year and threw for 74 yards.

A decision on which will be the started on Aug. 23 will likely not be made public until the days leading up to the road opener.

“At the end of the day, I’m going to have to make that call,” Hawkins said. “It’s not purely based on numbers, but I’m excited to see those guys compete a little bit and continue to make this team better.”

Day 1 of fall practice

The Bengals practiced Wednesday for the first time on the newly revamped ICCU Community Field. Hawkins said after practice that the team is excited about the commitment the university and athletics department has made to improving facilities on campus.

“I do believe that happy cows make the best milk — our guys aren’t cows, they’re wonderful thoroughbreds, but we want to make sure we take care of them,” the coach said.

RELATED | ISU’s ICCU Community Field gets facelift

Hawkins also spoke about what the coaches are looking during the first few days of fall camp, when the NCAA limits contact and even equipment.

“What we’re really looking for is detail and communication,” he said. “Our guys might not be able to make contact, but can your first two steps be perfect? Can your aiming points be right? Those are things that you can still see on tape.”

Players wear helmets only for their first two days of fall practice, meaning there is no contact at all. But these first few practices, according to Hawkins, are just a “formality,” due to the amount of time collegiate athletes put into their craft. Most of the players have already spent months working together in unofficial practices and have already logged hours upon hours both in the weightroom and on the practice field.

“But putting on the helmets always makes it taste a little bit different,” Hawkins said. “Day one is all about getting out and working the fundamentals — working on a couple schematic operation things that they’re not able to do in full scale during the summer.”

Finally, Hawkins listed a handful of players he believes are primed to make leaps into breakout seasons. Among the players named were running back Dason Brooks, wide receiver Michael Shulikov and cornerback Gabe Tahir, a transfer from Boise State University.

Brooks led the team in rushing yards, with 506, last season, his first at running back after he was recruited by ISU as a linebacker. Shulikov caught just 20 passes a year ago, for 166 yards, but four of those receptions ended in the endzone.

“We’re really excited about where we’re heading,” Hawkins said.

Here are some photos from day one of fall practice. Practices, Hawkins explained, that are open to the public.