As Montana State begins fall camp next, Skyline Sports will break down the Bobcats’ roster by highlighting prominent battles for playing time in each position group.
Today’s position: Backup defensive end
The players: Devin Jeffries (6-foot-1, 250-pound sophomore), Zach Wright (6-foot-2, 255-pound redshirt freshman), Shiloh LaBoy (6-foot-4, 255-pound sophomore from College of the Redwoods JC) and Jessie Clark (6-foot-3, 245-pound junior college transfer from Los Angeles Harbor CC).
What’s at stake: The defensive line opportunities within Kane Ioane’s new scheme will open the door for a slew of players to compete for playing time. Down and distance will be a priority as will fresh bodies who can make plays. MSU ninth-year defensive line coach Bo Beck said that sophomore Tyrone Fa’anono did enough during spring ball to earn the starting job at one end position. Junior Zach Hutchins, who had two sacks in a reserve role last season, is a tentative starter at the Bandit end spot. But the competition for reps, spots in the rotation and as backups to the two starters is wide open, especially considering a few upstarts (Jeffries, Wrigth) will battle a pair of junior college transfers (LaBoy, Clark) all of fall camp.
How they fared in 2014: Jeffries, the 2012 Class AA Defensive MVP at Kalispell Glacier, carved out a niche as a special teams player that covered kicks and played on the return teams as well. Last fall, he played in 11 games, notching six tackles, including a sack as a redshirt freshman.
Wright, a product of New Braunfels High outside of San Antonio, spent his redshirt season packing on almost 25 pounds.
LaBoy, the grandson of former San Francisco 49er defensive end Cliff LaBoy, had six sacks at the College of the Redwoods last fall.
Clark, who is the lone transfer among the nine MSU added in the off-season who is yet to qualify, had 9.5 tackles for loss at Los Angeles Harbor Community College. He garnered interest from Alabama State, UNLV, Fresno State and Idaho State before committing to the Bobcats.
Jefferies
How they fared during spring practice: Jeffries played a great deal, rotating steadily with Hutchins at MSU’s Bandit end. In the past, the Bandit has played without its hand on the ground occassionally. Players like Dane Fletcher and Brad Daly thrived. The Bandit will still play standing up but will also move out and play in space at times. Jeffries acclimated to the role surprisingly well, proving he can at least provide a punch and cover the flat.
Wright had a standout spring, using his newfound size and strength to turn heads. He still is raw in terms of understanding defensive schemes but he plays with toughness and a high motor that will help him keep his name in the mix this fall.
LaBoy was finishing up his two-year degree at College of the Redwoods. Clark is still trying to finish his associate degree before earning eligibility to MSU.
The case for Jeffries: Jeffries acclimated to the defensive changes well during the spring. He proved he can chase down ball carriers in the flats and occasionally lay a big hit. The only reason Jeffries is on this list is he might find himself in another battle if either LaBoy or Clark prove they can play the Bandit position to its full capabilities. Beck said he wouldn’t know where to place either until he seems them perform in practice. Until then, Jeffries is solidly entrenched as MSU’s No. 2 Bandit behind Hutchins.
The case for Wright: Wright is likely a year away from being a serious contributor but he showed enough potential during spring drills to garner at least a mention as a player to watch. He would find himself as a situational player this fall.
The case for LaBoy and Clark: The two junior college transfers are the biggest mysteries among MSU’s defensive transfers. Clark may not even make it to MSU. If he does, it remains to be seen if he can be more than just a straight-line pass rusher. If LaBoy doesn’t have the skill set to play in space and compete at the Bandit, he’ll find himself in a battle with Wright to back up Fa’anono, who by all accounts took to Ioane’s new defense as quickly as any Bobcat.
What they must accomplish during fall camp: The first priority for the ends will be determining where each one can play. If they are all hand on the ground players, Jeffries won’t have much competition. If any of them can play standing up, competition for time in the various rotations will increase. Either way, the four are among the 11 players vying for time alongside captain tackle Taylor Sheridan. The specific spots will be intriguing to watch, as will observing how the group as a whole sorts itself out.
