One of the tallest orders Montana State University has had in replacing star linebackers came in 2022 after other worldly Troy Andersen graduated and moved on to the National Football League. This season, the Bobcats need to replace Callahan O’Reilly, who had an uncanny knack for getting the ball back for the MSU offense.
Andersen was a second-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons and is slated to start after a promising rookie season. O’Reilly had four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles in 2023 to earn All-Big Sky accolades and get a tryout with the Chicago Bears. The Bozeman product is now on an XFL roster.
The Bobcats return a solid linebacker nucleus with junior Danny Uluilakepa and senior Nolan Askelson. Uluilakepa was a starter in nearly every game for MSU and Askelson was essentially a starter as he rotated in and played nearly as many plays per game as O’Reilly and Uluilakepa. Before injuring his knee, Askelson’s performance in 2022 was so highly thought of that he’ll don the team’s No. 41, which is given to a player from Montana that best exemplifies the character and qualities that the team promotes.
“We’ve had great guys in the room all the way back to my freshman year,” said Askelson, a former Class AA Defensive Player of the Year during his prep days at Billings Senior. “Just being able to learn from those guys and how they go about their business. I’ve just taken bits and pieces from each guy and applied that to myself.”
Uluilakepa was second on the team last season in total tackles with 77, including four tackles for loss. He also had two interceptions and three pass breakups. Askelson was fourth in tackles with 63. He forced a fumble and had three TFL, including one sack.
“We’re feeling a lot better and we’re all excited,” Askelson said of the entire defense regarding the upcoming season. “That front four is going to be fighting for best defensive line in the nation in my opinion.”
Askelson and Uluilakepa are joined by O’Reilly’s younger brother junior McCade O’Reilly, sophomore Neil Daily, sophomore Jace Fitzgerald and junior college transfer Cole Bullock as the main contenders for the two linebacker spots entering fall camp. Eli Aby, Ryan Krahe, Zac Waible all return from last year’s team. Freshmen newcomers Cole Taylor and Bryce Grebe fill out the rest of the linebacker group.
“McCade has had a really good calendar year so far, really good spring,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said in terms of who would be the main rotational/third linebacker. “He played a little more at the tail end last year and picked up a lot of confidence through that. Nolan, Danny and McCade would be the three (in the rotation), not that we can’t play four. Neil Daily and Cole Bullock are in that conversation.”
In 2022, the Bobcats took a step back, statistically speaking, after a banner 2021 season saw them finish first in the Big Sky Conference in points allowed per game, second in total yards, fourth in rushing defense and second in passing defense. MSU fell to sixth in points allowed and fourth in total defense last season. MSU did have the No. 1 rush defense in terms of yards per game allowed, but the yards per carry (4.3) was well behind the 2021 defense’s clip (3.3). The Bobcats dropped to fifth in passing yards allowed per game, including a precipitous drop in pass efficiency defense where they allowed a 137.1 rating in 2023 after just 115.2 in 2022.
The 2023 Bobcats aren’t lacking in terms of leadership and that may be what’s needed in order to transform the defense from good to great.
“We have some good leaders in the senior class,” defensive end Brody Grebe said. “Nolan Askelson especially just teaching us the ropes and being a leader by example. And bringing the rest of the team and us along with him, he’s always just teaching us the right way to go about our business.”
Depth has been a strength for the Bobcats over the past four years and 2023 is no different.
“The linebackers have quite a bit of depth,” Grebe said. “Last year, we had Cal, but those guys under him got quite a few reps, and Nolan’s coming back from his injury full strength.”
A year ago, the Bobcat’ defense gave up a bevy of explosive plays throughout the season and while they improved, especially in the final two regular season games and the first two games of the playoffs, that was still a problem at South Dakota State. For the 2023 defense to improve, it’ll need to work together that much more, which is a point that Grebe is well aware of.
“We just hope to make their lives easier on the front, take some double teams,” Grebe said with a grin.
The linebackers and secondary, in turn, will need to make the effort of the defensive line pay with sure tackling to get the defense rolling by the season opener against Utah Tech on September 2. A good measuring stick for MSU’s success this season comes from last year’s opener when MSU faced McNeese State and the Cowboys had plays of 75 and 66 yards that went for touchdowns that day to go along with two running plays of 31 yards.
