BOZEMAN — Montana State experienced success reshuffling its defensive lineup coming out of its bye week. With new starters at middle linebacker, Buck end, free safety and cornerback, the Bobcats smothered North Dakota’s normally potent run game in a 49-21 win in Grand Forks.
MSU’s defense held North Dakota’s normally-potent rushing attack to 102 yards on the ground, a total that included Brady Oliveira’s 34-yard touchdown. UND rushed for just two yards in the first half. Montana State controlled the ball and the clock, possessing the pigskin for 40 minutes in its first win in 2017.
Montana State sophomore linebacker Josh Hill against South Dakota State
With sophomore inside linebacker Josh Hill out for a second straight game last weekend in Montana State’s homecoming matchup against No. 18 Weber State, MSU started junior Grant Collins at Mike linebacker. In Collins’ normal starting spot at Buck end, MSU started junior Tyrone Fa’anono.
Because of UND’s physicality, the Bobcats continued to play converted safety Brayden Konkol at Will linebacker — the sophomore moved there the week before the season began after senior Mike linebacker Lukas McCarthy suffered a non-football related career-ending injury — and shifted senior Khari Garcia into the starting lineup at free safety over the less brutish JoJo Henderson.
At cornerback, true freshman Tyrel Thomas overtook sophomore Damien Washington bookending senior Bryce Alley. MSU’s defense did not miss a beat and in fact arguably played at its highest level against UND.
“No matter where guys move around, we all keep the mentality that we are going to do the job we are assigned,” MSU junior defensive tackle Zach Wright said last week. “When we go into it, there’s no question of our abilities. And we put guys where we need to put them so we can get the job done to the best of our ability.”
Montana State true freshman cornerback Tyrel Thomas
As Montana State prepares for a third straight stylistically powerful opponent in Portland State, the Bobcats will reshuffle their defense once again.
During Monday’s news conference, MSU head coach Jeff Choate confirmed Hill remains questionable against the Vikings. He also confirmed that Henderson will miss this week for sure and maybe a few more in the future with a knee injury suffered in the first half against Weber State. Thomas will also be out for Portland State and could be out “for a little while or a long while” depending on how his medical checkup went on Monday for what one source confirms is an injured and potentially broken hand.
Two weeks ago, Montana State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ty Gregorak deemed his group “on life support”, hence the necessity to move Collins, a starter at Mike as a redshirt freshman in 2015, back to his old spot. The group had already lost Sam linebacker Jacob Hadley to a season-ending knee injury during spring drills. McCarthy, MSU’s slated starter at Mike, went down the weekend before MSU’s opener at Washington State.
That has left MSU with Collins and sophomore Walker Cozzie as its remaining Mike linebackers. Konkol is backed up by Lukas’ twin brother Jakob McCarthy. In an emergency, true freshman Chad Kanow would likely be the third option at both inside linebacker spots.
Montana State junior Grant Collins
Collins showed flashes of the form that helped him notch 88 tackles as a redshirt freshman during his return to the middle at UND. Last week, Collins’ ability to run sideline to sideline, collapse the interior of the offensive line when blitzing on passing downs and his tackling ability were in full force during an 11-tackle, 1.5-tackle performance in MSU’s 25-17 loss.
“I’ll tell you what, 41 is playing pretty good,” Choate said Monday. “It gives us the chance to not rush Josh back. We are going to get Josh back and I really believe it’s going to be at the most opportune time.”
“If you put on the film from Grand Forks and last week, it was not perfect by any stretch but I thought he played hard and really took a big step from Week 1 to Week 2,” added Gregorak. “As much as he’s gotten in and tried to learn, remember some things from playing linebacker a few years ago, it’s a different defense, different coaches and he’s different. He’s much bigger. I did think he went out and played well for two weeks into playing Mike.”
Montana State junior Tyrone Fa’anono
In Collins’ place on the edge, Fa’anono, a starter for two seasons before missing last year with a foot injury, has reemerged. He had his best game last weekend, notching two tackles for loss.
“Tyrone is doing great and I loved having a big front and being able to play some Sam linebacker,” MSU sophomore defensive end Derek Marks said. “Having Tyrone at Buck was really good. I thought it was good for us. We know we are going to have to stop the run if we are going to play well in this conference and he helps us do that.”
With Todd on the shelf, Washington will reassume his starting job. The injury to one true freshman cornerback will likely mean the loss of the redshirt of another. Jalen Cole, a three-start recruit who came to MSU as one of the most heralded recruits in the Big Sky Conference, is listed as Washington’s backup on this week’s depth chart.
“He’s going to be a very good player for us,” Gregorak said. “He is competitive, he’s athletic. I’m really glad he’s here with us. What he lacks in overall length, he definitely makes up for with his competitive spirit and his fight.”
“I feel really good about Jalen,” Choate added. “He is a competitive kid, he has good quickness, he’s physical. Don’t let his size fool you (5-foot-8, 150). This kid will throw his body around and make plays. He’s a guy you will see starting to get some reps.”
Montana State true freshman cornerback Jalen Cole
Garcia will slide back into the starting role at free safety, a spot he’s occupied for the better part of the last three-plus seasons. The biggest change at the safety position is the presence of Dre Jackson as a No. 2 on the depth chart. The junior college transfer from Ventura College did not join the Bobcats until August roughly a week before fall camp. It’s taken him until now to get into playing shape.
“The kid has impressed me because I thought he was going to tank it,” Choate said. “You come here intending to play and you are down on the depth chart and you are running with the scout team. He’s embraced that as a challenge and stepped up. I’ve been impressed with his character with how he responded. He’s a guy who can help us whether it’s in the kicking game or playing in the defensive backfield.”
Montana State kicks off against Portland State at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Brooks Nuanez contributed to the writing of this story. Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
