Yet despite the absence of tailback Mason King, receivers Daniel Sobkowicz, Xavier Loyd and Jalen Carr and offensive lineman Hunter Zambrano among others, the Redbird offense showed plenty of punch.

“We’ve just got good players,” said ISU coach Brock Spack after the Red defeated the White 33-21 in the intrasquad scrimmage. “They made plays everywhere.”

Competing for the starting quarterback spot for the Aug. 31 season opener at Iowa, Tommy Rittenhouse and Jake Rubley both fared well.

Rittenhouse completed 16 of 24 passes for 133 yards and a TD, while Rubley was 15 of 22 for 166 yards and three TDs. Neither threw an interception.

“We had a blast. We had a lot of fun playing the game we love,” Rittenhouse said. “We’re just deep at all positions on offense. Guys just stepped up and knew what they had to do and had fun doing it.

“It’s been a great competition (with Rubley). It’s been great building off each other and learning from each other. It creates good chemistry throughout the whole offense being able to build off each other.”

Rittenhouse and Rubley both saw time with the first and second team offenses.

“We’re a little light with injuries,” said Rubley. “With what we dealt with, I think our offense had a great spring. It’s a lot of fun just being out here and playing ball.”

“Our quarterbacks are really good,” Spack said. “Our quarterbacks played well all spring. I’m very happy with them.”

Western Illinois transfer Seth Glatz wrapped up his head-turning spring with 122 rushing yards on 12 carries.

“It was a good time being able to get out in front of fans and being able to feel the energy,” said Glatz. “I feel like I played pretty solid. I was able to showcase the offensive line pretty well and just get out there and run. Our offense looked really good. We seemed to be clicking really well.”

Josh Robinson rushed for 28 yards on 15 carries and Wenkers Wright 25 yards on six tries.

“Seth Glatz has good a really good job here,” Spack said. “Wenkers ran well and Josh Robinson ran well.”

King, who led ISU in rushing last season as Mason Blakemore, dressed in full pads despite sitting out the entire spring while rehabbing a shoulder injury.

“I tried,” King said of his unsuccessful attempt to get on the field.

Eddie Kasper topped all receivers with 10 catches for 58 yards. Tommy Donovan reeled in three receptions for 98 yards, Rylan Crawford four for 35, Braden Contreras four for 44, Scotty Presson Jr. four for 58 and Javon Charles two for 55.

Donovan and third string quarterback Jimmy Makuh teamed up on a 60-yard scoring toss. Charles turned in spectacular catch on a 28-yard pass from Rittenhouse, reaching over a defender to secure the ball.

Linebacker Tye Niekamp led the defense with nine tackles and two sacks. Christian Kirenga and Keondre Jackson had six stops each and Jamarcus Smith five.

“We didn’t do a lot defensively. We kept it pretty vanilla,” Spack said. “We wanted to see some young guys play. We put some young guys in some adverse situations to see how they would respond.”

Spack wasn’t overly concerned about the defense’s statistical performance.

“We’ve been playing pretty well defensively,” said the ISU coach. “We’re deeper up front. We’ll be just fine.”

Linebacker LaVoise-Deontae McCoy believes it is “very obvious we ‘ve made progress. Each player is getting experience they may not have had or had to learn on the fly last year. Each year we learn a little bit more and get a little better.”

Linebacker Amir Abudullah expects the ISU defense to be better in critical situations in 2024.

“This year is going to be really good for the defense,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to do a better job finishing out plays this year. Last year it was a bit of a problem getting off the field on third down. This year I’m confident that’s going to change.”

Punter candidate Hayden Futch unleashed a 66-yard punt, while returning starter Ian Wagner had a 52-yard boot.

Wagner had the distance on a 52-yard field goal attempt but was wide right.

ISU has received a commitment from interior offensive lineman Andrew Johnson.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Johnson is a native of Glen Ellyn and attended Glenbard West. Johnson was a second team all-Lone Star Conference player last season at Division II Texas-Permian Basin.