With the big news about Montana State University’s depth chart coming along the offensive line some other announced starting spots were a bit overshadowed on Monday with MSU’s 2023 season opener against Utah Tech less than a week away.
The Bobcats have had heated battles at cornerback, nickelback, running back and wide receiver from spring ball to fall camp. While the outcomes weren’t as dramatic as the offensive line, they were still noteworthy.
Miles Jackson might have been the biggest surprise by being announced as the starting cornerback opposite Simeon Woodard, who is entering his third year as a starter. Much of the talk coming from fall camp was about junior college transfer Jon Johnson, sophomore upstart Devin Davis and true freshman Andrew Powdrell. Jackson went relatively unnoticed in part because he missed the beginning of fall camp. But the three-star recruit from Portland won the job, although Vigen said that MSU planned on rotating five cornerbacks this season.
Jackson and Woodard are listed as the starters while Powdrell is listed as Jackson’s backup and Johnson is listed as Woodard’s backup, while the 6-foot-1 Davis is the next man up at both spots.
Perhaps most substantial was the development of all five players as would-be contributors in 2023. Last season MSU was limited to just three players at the position and when James Campbell missed some time due to injury Woodard and Dru Polidore were ran ragged in the secondary at times.
“Miles had a really good spring,” Vigen said. “He missed some time in fall camp, but I think once he got back in there, he did a really good job. I suspect we’re probably going to play five corners, which is a good thing.
“We sometimes played three most times played two from week-to-week last year, so to have the thought that you play five is exciting. I think it’s for (the coaching staff) to sort (who will play) out from series to series and week to week.”
Polidore moved from cornerback to safety this season and earned the free safety spot alongside junior strong safety Rylan Ortt.
“Dru found his home,” Vigen said. “He played corner for us last year and you can see his comfort level continuing to grow. His aggressive nature really showed up in scrimmage. His ability to cover ground has always been something that’s apparent. I think he’s going to allow us to do quite a bit from that free safety position.”
Level Price, Jr. got the nod at nickelback, but Vigen stressed in his Monday press conference that Caden Dowler and Price would basically split time at the position as both bring unique strengths to the field.
All indications are that running back will be filled by a committee of players. While Lane Sumner was tabbed the starter and Wisconsin transfer Julius Davis his backup, there’s still a strong likelihood that Elijah Elliott, Jared White, Garrett Coon, Scottre Humphrey and Marqui Johnson will get numerous carries.
“Lane’s performance last year, albeit in a short window, really was impressive,” Vigen said. “He’s a guy that can be an every down back. I don’t know if he’s every going to be a 25-30 carry a game kind of guy, but the balance of him and Julius coming out of fall camp makes the most sense. Their maturity, their ability to make positive plays and their ability to be out there on first, second and third down is what separates them.”
Wide receiver didn’t have any surprises, but the Bobcats will trot out two new faces in highly-touted transfers Ty McCullouch (Colorado State) and Lonyatta Alexander, Jr. (University of Washington, Arizona State), who will start alongside super senior Clevan Thomas, Jr, a former Kentucky transfer who returned for his seventh year.
MSU tends to run numerous receivers onto the field due to the demands of blocking in its run-based scheme meaning Christian Anaya, Aidan Garrigan, Jacob Trimble and Johnson will most likely see playing time.
Aside from the offensive line, the remainder of the two-deep includes Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers at quarterback; Treyton Pickering and Ryan Lonergan at tight end; Derryk Snell is listed at fullback but he’ll also play tight end; Danny Ulialakepa and Neil Daily at Mike linebacker; Nolan Askelson and McCade O’Reilly at Will linebacker; and Brendan Hall will handle kicks and punts with Casey Kautzman backing him up.
The defensive line is one of MSU’s deepest positions, but it will be without the services of defensive tackle Paul Brott for the early part of the season. Senior Blake Hehl will backup Blake Schmidt at least until Brott returns. The front four remains the same from 2022 with Schmidt and Sebastian Valdez manning the interior while Brody Grebe and Ben Seymour man the ends. Kenneth Eiden IV, who had a solid 2022 campaign, backs up Grebe and David Alston is behind Seymour.
“I’m proud of everyone for what they’ve done through fall camp,” Mellott said. “We’ve got more of a veteran group this year. They’re very disciplined. They knew what they had to take care of throughout fall camp and I think they did that every single day. Now we’re just taking it day by day. We have three more real practices then a little bit of a walk-through and then we’re rolling for the game.”
The Bobcats began prepping for Utah Tech late last week for the Gold Rush game being played at Bobcat Stadium this Saturday at 6:15 in the evening.
“I love Gold Rush, it’s a night game with a sea of gold and there’s nothing else like it,” Askelson said. “Fans are ready to go, I mean they bring it every game but I feel likes it’s a little more turned up for this game.”
