Speedy Wide Receiver Zack Card Transfers to Idaho Vandal Football
MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho head football coach Thomas Ford Jr. has added a proven pass catcher to the Vandals’ offensive arsenal, announcing the transfer signing of wide receiver Zack Card, who arrives in Moscow after three seasons with Oregon State.
Card, a 5-foot-9 wideout from Brentwood, California, brings Power Conference experience to a Vandal receiver room already stocked with young talent. During his most recent season with the Beavers, he appeared in eleven games, hauling in nine receptions for 64 yards. He capped that campaign with a three-catch, 19-yard performance in the season finale against Washington State in Pullman.
A Connection to Head Coach Ford
Card’s path to Moscow has a familiar thread running through it. Ford served as Oregon State’s running backs coach during a portion of Card’s time in Corvallis, meaning the two already have an established working relationship. That familiarity likely factored into Card’s decision to follow Ford to the University of Idaho.
As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Card saw action in all eleven Beaver games, pulling in five catches for 35 yards and adding a rushing touchdown in a victory over Purdue. He had previously appeared in four games during the 2023 season, recording five receptions — four of them in a single contest — while maintaining his redshirt eligibility.
High School Pedigree Points to Big-Play Ability
Before arriving at Oregon State, Card built a strong reputation as one of the Bay Area’s more dynamic playmakers at Pittsburg High School. Over his final two prep seasons, he compiled 71 receptions for 1,411 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, while also recording two rushing scores on offense and posting 123 tackles with two interceptions on defense. Pittsburg went 21-6 across those two years, including a flawless 10-0 mark in league play, and advanced to the CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game in 2023.
Card entered college as a three-star recruit, a rating that reflected his versatility and straight-line speed — traits that earned him the “deep threat” label Ford’s program highlighted in the signing announcement.
He joins an Idaho receiver group that includes Ryan Jezioro, Tony Harste, Marquawn McCraney, and Daveon Superales, giving offensive coordinator and play-callers a variety of sizes and skill sets to deploy. Card’s sub-6-foot frame makes him a different kind of weapon in that room — a quick-twitch target capable of stretching the field vertically.
The signing reflects continued roster-building efforts under Ford, who has worked to bring in experienced transfer talent alongside the program’s younger contributors. For more on recent additions to Pribble’s Vandals, see the signing of junior college big man Mo Diao, and for a look at the program’s legacy, check out the recent recognition of Vandal legends Erickson and Mattox, elected to the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame.
What Comes Next
Card will have remaining eligibility to contribute to the Vandal offense as the program prepares for the upcoming season. With the transfer portal continuing to reshape college football rosters nationally, Idaho’s ability to attract a player with Power Conference experience speaks to the momentum Ford is building in Moscow. Fans can follow the latest Vandal football news through the team’s official social media channels.