It’s a rare moment when Ty Gregorak is not being animated. But some things get him particularly excited and when that happens, those around him are sure to be entertained.
Take the Montana State first-year defensive coordinator’s two true freshmen “Buck” defensive ends. When Michael Jobman and Kyle Finch came up earlier this week, Gregorak did his best visual impression of his long-limbed rookies.
MSU buck ends Kyle Finch (53), Michael Jobman (91), & junior Shiloh LaBoy (2)
“You watch them run out onto the field and their hands are dragging across the grass,” Gregorak said as he broke away from the interview circle to imitate just what the lanky newcomers look like when they run onto Dyche Field. “That’s just beautiful. It just warms my heart.”
Jobman, a 6-foot-5, 211-pounder out of Huntley Project and Kyle Finch, a 6-foot-4, 216-pounder, will not be expected to see the field this fall “barring a total train wreck” said Gregorak, the man primarily responsible for coaching Montana State’s “Buck” defensive end/outside linebacker hybrids in MSU’s new defense. The duo are two of a collection of Montana State freshmen receiving high praise both for their physical tools and appearance along with their ability to potentially compete for playing time.
“I really like our freshman class,” new head coach Jeff Choate said following his team’s second practice of fall camp. “(Wide receivers) Kevin Kassis and Karl Tucker, those are guys you look at and think could be really good players. (Running back) Anthony Pegues, that guy is kind of a different talent. (Taylor) Tuisasosopo and Jake Sessions look good on the offensive line, Finch and Jobman on the defensive line, (Chase) Benson, Derek Marks, I could go down the line.”
MSU offensive lineman Jake Sessions (61)
Choate signed a class of 19 players, including 16 freshmen in his first recruiting class in February, just two months after being hired for his first college head coaching job. From 6-foot-4 quarterback Chris Murray to 6-foot-6 safety Jacob Hadley to 6-foot-7 defensive lineman Lewis Kidd to the 6-foot-4 Tuiasosopo and Benson, the class has noticeable height and length, something Choate has stated repeatedly as an immediate goal as he reconstructs MSU’s roster.
“Our objective was to get longer as a team,” Choate said. “When you look at our freshmen class, that’s what they look like with the exception of Anthony (Pegues). Length is at a premium in modern football where they spread you horizontally. What’s the best way to eat up that space? To be longer physically.”
During Thursday’s morning session, several freshmen stood out. Pegues took reps with the first-team offense and Kassis worked with the 2s, occasionally rotating in with the starters. Tuiasosopo sat out Thursday morning but has worked with the second offensive line at times as well.
MSU running back Anthony Pegues (26)
“You have to put them in there a little bit as they start showing they deserve more reps,” first-year offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said following Thursday’s practice when asked about Pegues and Kassis specifically. “They have to be putting out more urgency, more pressure, you have to think on your own because I can’t stand out there and help you. They’ve both done a good job.
“We have a number of freshmen who have done a nice job so far. Still a long ways away from really picking and choosing who the guys are who are going to play and who is going to redshirt. But both of those two have done a nice job to this point.”
The 5-foot-7 185-pound Pegues is a ball of muscles and explosive jump cuts. At Centennial High in Frisco, Texas north of Dallas, Pegues rushed for 1,792 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. As a senior in 2015, Pegues rushed for 1,888 yards and 17 touchdowns against Texas 5A competition. He has turned heads a week into fall camp.
“I’m not going to anoint anybody just yet,” Choate said. “I want to get through a scrimmage and see what he’s like when the bullets are flying for real. But I do like him. We will find out if Anthony is ready for prime time here pretty soon.”
MSU wide receiver Kevin Kassis (85)
His senior year at Oak Ridge High in El Dorado Hills, California, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Kassis caught 72 passes for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns, all from Ian Book, one of the top quarterback prospects in the country. Book threw for more than 3,000 yards, rushed for nearly 800 yards and totaled 42 touchdowns. He is committed to Notre Dame. Kassis received interest from San Jose State, UC Davis, Eastern Washington and West Point. He also received interest from Boise State when MSU wide receivers coach Matt Miller was a graduate assistant at his alma mater.
“He’s real sudden, has a real good ability to put his foot in the ground and change directions,” Messingham said.
Kassis has impressed during camp, particularly in one-on-one drills. He runs crisp, precise routes and has good hands.
MSU quarterback Chris Murray (8)
“He’s a stud,” said junior quarterback Tyler Bruggman, a transfer from Scottsdale Community College who is the front-runner to replace Dakota Prukop under center. “He’s very explosive, a great guy to have the ball in his hands and if you get him in space and he is dangerous.”
Partially due to injury, several freshmen got elevated reps on defense on Thursday morning. Hadley and walk-on safety Will Martel played with the starters at times. Cornerback Damien Washington had two interceptions – one during 7-on-7 and one during the final two-minute team period of the session. Kidd’s size alone continues to impress while MSU’s lack of depth at safety might mean Hadley plays as a true freshman simply because of attrition.
“Lewis Kidd is a monster,” Gregorak said. “He’s a grown man. (Linebacker) Balue Chapman is making a ton of plays (two interceptions on Wednesday). That guy is twitchy. He’s doing a lot of great things. Damien has made some plays. Jacob Hadley is in the safety rotation. There’s some freshmen that I really like.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
