ISU starting linebacker suspended indefinitely one eve of matchup with Utah

With Idaho State's opening game of the season a little more 24 hours away, head coach Mike Kramer has suspended starting linebacker PJ Gremaud indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.

Kramer will have no further comment on the matter.

As a junior, Gremaud racked up 56 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacked in 10 games. As a senior, Gremaud was expected to start alongside fellow senior Mitch Beckstead at the heart of ISU's defense.

Gremaud, the "Will" linebacker in Idaho State's 3-4 defense, is likely to be replaced by redshirt freshman Mario Jenkins, who played for Columbia High School in Nampa.

Idaho State had already planned to play Jenkins in its nickel packages. During Idaho State's fall camp co-defensive coordinator Roger Cooper said Jenkins is "so athletic, he's so fast for a young kid."

ISU's depth takes a hit with Gremaud's absence. The Bengals will have to take the field against an uptempo Utah offense Thursday night with a freshman playing Division I football for the first time. Junior Kurt Karstetter, who has 30 career tackles and has been largely a contributor on special teams, is a potential option to backup Jenkins.