Idaho Vandals offensive lineman Nate Azzopardi has been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl’s prestigious 1,000 Watchlist, earning recognition as one of the top college football prospects in the nation. Azzopardi is one of eight players from the Big Sky Conference and one of 50 players from an FCS school to appear on the list.
This honor comes just months after Azzopardi decided to stay with the Vandals after entering the transfer portal.
On Dec. 14, 2024, Vandal Nation was turned upside down when former head coach Jason Eck departed for the University of New Mexico and several key Vandal players decided to test their options by entering the portal — Azzopardi among them.
Four days later, on Dec. 18, Thomas Ford Jr. was named head coach of the Vandals. Five days after that announcement, despite offers from FBS teams including UNLV, UTEP, UMass, Fresno State, Colorado State and New Mexico, Azzopardi trusted the process and Coach Ford, withdrawing from the transfer portal.
The Pacifica, California, native has been a cornerstone of Idaho’s offensive line, starting 26 games across the last two seasons while earning team captain honors before the 2023 campaign.
Azzopardi’s development throughout his Vandals career has been remarkable. He has logged over 2,000 snaps and established himself as one of the premier linemen in FCS football, highlighted by his outstanding 87.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus last season. He will be key for the Vandals in the upcoming season.
With Ford calling Azzopardi the “heartbeat” of the Vandals, keeping the veteran leader was crucial for the program’s stability during the coaching transition. His decision to stay has paid immediate dividends, both for team morale and his individual recognition.
Azzopardi’s younger brother, Drew Azzopardi, also made the list as an offensive lineman at the University of Washington.
For Azzopardi, making the watchlist represents another step toward his ultimate goals of winning a championship and reaching the NFL. But he’s not satisfied with just making the list.
“It was a great honor to make the watch list along with some of the best players in college football,” Azzopardi said. “It was also really cool for my little brother to make it as well, but the goal is to have a great season and get a real invite at the end of the year.”
The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place on Jan. 25, 2025, at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. For now, Azzopardi’s focus has turned to fall camp, which began Tuesday, as the Vandals prepare for their season opener against Washington State on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected].