When you have a pair of really good players at one position, the coach draws up a play just for them. And when those two really good players are confident, they put together a celebration dance before they run that play. Confidence is key, and Montana State’s top-notch tight end duo has it in spades.
MSU tight ends Derryk Snell and Treyton Pickering certainly knew they had to have something ready leading up to the rivalry matchup with the University of Montana last season.
The Bobcat TE duo combined for 41 catches for 635 yards and four touchdowns (Snell: 22-324-3; Pickering: 19-311-1) in 2022. Those numbers – combined with their versatility – are why many consider them the best tight end combo in the Big Sky Conference and one of the best in the nation.
That’s also why a coach is comfortable drawing up a play for them just 24 hours before a game.
During the runup to the 2022 Cat-Griz game, MSU offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright took in the Thursday night NFL game between the Tennessee Titans and the Green Bay Packers. Housewright saw a play involving Titans All-Pro running back Derrick Henry taking a handoff and then throwing a jump pass to tight end Austin Hooper to give Tennessee a 20-9 lead in a game the Titans won 27-17 at Lambeau Field.
Housewright knew right then his pair of tight ends could handle the play. The brash MSU OC put it in the gameplan during Friday’s walk-through leading up to the 2022 Cat-Griz game. The next day, Montana State ran the tricky play to perfection.
Snell took a deep handoff while Pickering threw a quick chip block and headed straight up field. Snell’s jump pass was on target and the uncovered Pickering took it a short distance to the end zone as MSU built a 48-7 lead in the fourth quarter of its 55-21 win that day.
When they met near the Bobcats’ sidelines the duo put their fairly detailed touchdown celebration on display, which was caught by the MTN cameras broadcasting the game.
“They put it in the night before, so we were like, ‘well shoot, if it comes down to it, we gotta think of something cool,” Pickering said regarding the sideline celebration.
“It was pretty special just because Derryk’s my roommate and I know how much he’s worked to get to where we’re at. Just the whole build up to it and that being the first time I’ve got to play in the Cat-Griz game due to injuries, it was a very special moment and something I’ll never forget, for sure.”
Pickering finished that game with four receptions for 61 yards and the touchdown. Snell had two catches for 50 yards and his one pass to Pickering covered 18 yards.
Snell lined up in the Bobcat’ backfield on numerous occasions last season, running for two touchdowns and 15 yards on six carries. He was named first team All-Big Sky as a fullback although he lines up as a tight end on most down. In the complex world of modern football verbiage, Snell is an H-back and wing tight end, a versatile player who can move in motion across the formation as well as block at the point of attack out of the backfield in a more traditional fullback role.
Snell also lines up on the kickoff receiving team and returned several kicks as teams avoided kicking to dangerous return specialist Marqui Johnson. Snell returned a kick 66 yards against South Dakota State in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs last year.
“I want to get in the backfield a little bit and see what happens,” Pickering, who’s a few inches taller than Snell at 6-foot-4, said with a laugh. “But that was cool that they were able to do that for him. He’s more of the build for it. It’s definitely a little different seeing my big body in the backfield.”
Snell and Pickering weren’t the only two excited about the outcome of the play. Following the game Housewright poked his head into the MSU press conference room to quickly let everyone know how that play came about.
“Did you like that jump pass? I saw that on the Thursday NFL game and put it in on Friday!” Housewright proudly exclaimed.
The two tight ends are looking to put up more exciting plays in 2023 as they enter their senior seasons with one goal in mind: winning a national championship.
Snell and Pickering played in the 2021 championship loss to North Dakota State with Snell catching a pair of passes for 29 yards. Last year’s semifinal loss to South Dakota State saw Snell grab three passes for 32 yards. Both games weigh heavily on their minds as they seek to navigate their way to a title in 2023.
“Throughout the spring and summer, you got to see people work. I feel like that’s where you gain the most respect from other people. A lot of people did that this summer,” Snell said.
“I think me and Derryk taking the next step in the pass game and trying to help Tommy (Mellott) and Sean (Chambers) out,” Pickering stated in describing the key to MSU’s 2023 success. “Understanding what we want to do and what they’re really good at and what we’re really good at and just trying to compliment everybody, including the receivers.”
Both players are fan favorites due in no small part to their roots. Snell hails from Anchorage, Alaska, where he was the Gatorade Player of the Year, while Pickering is from tiny Sunburst, Montana. MTN color commentator Ty Gregorak has dubbed Snell the “Alaskan Assassin” and hollers “Sunburst, Montana!” whenever Pickering makes a play.
“I love it,” said Snell, who was a preseason All-Big Sky selection heading into his senior year. “Being the Alaskan Assassin is awesome. Me and Treyton are roommates and we’ve been friends since we got here. Being able to share that chemistry on the field, it’s amazing. When we’re blocking together or running routes together it’s pretty fun.”
Snell, Pickering and the Bobcats will be back at it on September 2 when MSU kicks off the 2023 campaign with the annual Gold Rush game.
