Alex Neale will be the first to admit that his first round of spring football as a Bobcat has been taxing. But when he has been called upon to bulldoze a hole, the athletic center has had no problems taking care of business.
The sophomore transfer center is living up to his billing as an immediate impact player as Montana State reaches the midpoint of spring drills. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder has taken the reigns as MSU’s starting center, directing a makeshift offensive line missing several key cogs as the Bobcats try to learn new offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham’s schemes during the five-week session.
“I really like Alex Neale,” first-year MSU head coach Jeff Choate said earlier this spring. “He has the ability to be an immediate impact guy for us. He is already a leader in that group and we have to have that.”
On Fridays, Montana State engages in full contact team periods emphasizing red-zone situations. During last Friday’s session, MSU scored a pair of short touchdowns thanks in large part to Neale’s decimation of the interior defensive line with crushing blocks, the second of which might have left the center seeing stars himself.
MSU offensive line (from left) Mitch Brott, Alex Neale, Jake McFetridge & Dylan Mahoney
“He’s a bright kid, been doing a great job of learning the offense, making the calls and hitting people,” said senior running back Chad Newell, a team captain who scored 11 touchdowns last season. “Being the center, there’s a lot or responsibility up front. You have to see things that are tough to see from that position. He’s been doing a great job of seeing things, making his calls and really doing what’s asked of him. He’s a young guy and he’s doing a great job for us right now.”
Neale earned a 3-star designation and a reputation as one of the top center prospects in the Northwest during his standout prep career at Eastside Catholic High in the greater Seattle area. The state champion wrestler initially verbally committed to the Montana Grizzlies before deciding late in the process to sign with UNLV.
After a year of not fitting in in Sin City, Neale wanted a change of scenery — “Up here, I can actually wear my Carharts,” Neal said on Tuesday.
Choate spent the last three seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Washington so he had familiarity with Neale’s skill set. With the departure of Joel Horn, a two-year All-Big Sky performer at center, the move seemed like a good fit.
Neale arrived in January and worked out with his offensive line cohorts for all of winter conditioning. Eight practices, Neale has done a good job acclimating into an offense that returns most of its skill players but is looking for replacements for four offensive linemen along with All-America quarterback Dakota Prukop.
“He’s coming along great,” said MSU junior Dylan Mahoney, the front-runner to be the Bobcats’ new starting left tackle. “It’s almost like he’s been with us this whole time. This winter was really big because we needed to come together as an o-line, especially with those four guys graduating.”
Former MSU offensive lineman Joel Horn, John Weidenaar & Alex Ekhoff
Horn, All-America left tackle John Weidenaar along with Alex Eekhoff and Kyle Godecke, each three-year starters, all graduate off of Montana State’s offensive line. Brian Armstrong is the group’s third coach in as many years after Jason McEndoo jumped from MSU to Oklahoma State before last season and Jason Eck was not retained when Rob Ash was let go in November.
This spring, senior All-America candidate J.P. Flynn, senior center Doug Hanson and junior guard Monte Folsom have all been on the shelf with injuries. Recently, redshirt freshmen guard Jake McFetridge and center Bryan Wilkes along with walk-on Lane Knows His Gun have been too banged up to practice, leaving Montana State with eight healthy offensive linemen, including just Neale and sophomore Garrett Gregg at center.
“When you only have eight guys, a lot more people have to take a lot more reps and everyone is more tired,” Neale said. “I think it helps in a way because then you get to play with more guys you didn’t get to play with before. It definitely helps to bond a little bit too.
“We want to learn the whole system and get used to each other. When fall ball hits, you have to hit the big stuff, game plan, get ready for competition.
“It’s like a new, blank sheet. Everyone is learning and everyone gets to compete for a spot. I think that’s pretty cool.”
Last season at UNLV, Neale traveled to every away game and appeared in three total games amounting to what he estimates was seven total quarters of action.
UNLV’s multiple offense employed principles pretty commonplace to modern college football. Neale said the scheme Messingham is implementing is similar to the one he learned with the Rebels.
Former MSU quarterback Dakota Prukop and lineman JP Flynn and John Weidenaar/by Brooks Nuanez
“I like it a lot,” Neale said. “It’s kind of the same principles. It’s just different terminology and stuff that you have to learn. But it’s all football. You have to learn everybody’s words now so you can communicate that back and forth. It’s going pretty well so far.”
Although his playing time would’ve increased had he stayed in Las Vegas, Neale prefers wearing Bass Pro Shop cap hats and work boots like he did on Tuesday. He and his offensive line teammates seem to already have a light-hearted rapport and Neale said the joking in the meeting room has been prevalent already.
Flynn has been the star of the offensive line for the past two seasons, earning first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors each year. Weidenaar has been the stoic leader with an imposing presence, a player with NFL potential who started a school-record 49 straight games. Horn was the field general, a durable, massive 6-foot-4, 325-pounder who made up for any lack of quickness with a hard-nosed, punishing style. Now MSU turns to another former heavyweight wrestler with good size and an analytical mind to be the man in the middle.
“There’s definitely going to be pressure no matter where you play,” Neale said. “We know those guys were good players. For sure there is some pressure but I’m handling it just fine.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
