2015 Starters/Two Deep

[smallcat82]

What is the future looking like for this young team?

[gtapp]

You can probably predict the offensive starters but the only sure starter on defense will be Sheridan and maybe Keaton.

[Cat Grad]

You can probably predict the offensive starters but the only sure starter on defense will be Sheridan and maybe Keaton.

True. And even at that, where is Sheridan going to play? Spring ball ought to be interesting for the staff but I doubt anything on the defense is set before the first game, whoever and wherever that might be.

[Colter_Nuanez]

You can probably predict the offensive starters but the only sure starter on defense will be Sheridan and maybe Keaton.

True. And even at that, where is Sheridan going to play? Spring ball ought to be interesting for the staff but I doubt anything on the defense is set before the first game, whoever and wherever that might be.

Sheridan will start. He's a fifth-year senior who earned second-team All-Big Sky last season.

Here's the likely two-deep right now:

LT - SR John Weidenaar, FR Wade Webster/SO Dylan Mahoney
LG - SR Kyle Godecke, FR Joey Marinello
C - SR Joel Horn, JR Doug Hanson
RG - JR JP Flynn, JR Dillon Fraley
RT - SR Alex Eekhoff, SO Dylan Mahoney
QB - JR Dakota Prukop, SR Jake Bleskin
WR - SO Mitch Herbert, SR Manny Kalfell
WR - SR Tanner Roderick/SO Justin Paige, SO Jayshawn Gates
WR - SR Mitch Griebel, SO Jayshawn Gates/JR Brandon Brown
RB - JR Gunnar Brekke/ JR Chad Newell/SR Anthony Knight, Tavon Dodd
TE - SR Beau Sandland, SO Curtis Amos, JR Austin Barth
KR - SR Mitch Griebel
K - SO Luke Daly

DE - SO Tyrone Fa'anono, JR Shiloh LaBoy, JR Robert Wilcox (if he sticks around)
DT - SR Taylor Sheridan, SR Nate Bignell
DT - JR Joe Naotala, JR Conner Thomas
DE - JR Zach Hutchins, JR Shiloh LaBoy, SO Devin Jeffries
SLB - SO Blake Braun, JR Zach Stern, SO Mac Bignell
MLB - FR Grant Collins, SR Robert Walsh
WLB - SO Wyatt Christensen, ??? Maybe try Stern or Bignell or even Collins here?
CB - SR Bryson Keeton, FR Braelan Evans
FS - SR Des Carter/SO Khari Garcia, FR DeMonte King
SS - JR Bryson McCabe, SO Khari Garcia/FR DeMonte King
CB - SO Bryce Alley/ SO Jaylen Price

P - SR Trevor Bolton, FR Matt Stewart

[CatBlitz]

I think Grant Collins and Braun will be starting at LB with Toti or Christensen as the 3rd. I think Alley gets the 2nd corner spot and Garcia, Carter and King all getting significant time at safety.

Edit: did I miss something about Toti (don't see him on your list, Colter)?

[Bozcat003]

You can probably predict the offensive starters but the only sure starter on defense will be Sheridan and maybe Keaton.

True. And even at that, where is Sheridan going to play? Spring ball ought to be interesting for the staff but I doubt anything on the defense is set before the first game, whoever and wherever that might be.

Sheridan will start. He's a fifth-year senior who earned second-team All-Big Sky last season.

Here's the likely two-deep right now:

LT - SR John Weidenaar, FR Wade Webster/SO Dylan Mahoney
LG - SR Kyle Godecke, FR Joey Marinello
C - SR Joel Horn, JR Doug Hanson
RG - JR JP Flynn, JR Dillon Fraley
RT - SR Alex Eekhoff, SO Dylan Mahoney
QB - JR Dakota Prukop, SR Jake Bleskin
WR - SO Mitch Herbert, SR Manny Kalfell
WR - SR Tanner Roderick/SO Justin Paige, SO Jayshawn Gates
WR - SR Mitch Griebel, SO Jayshawn Gates/JR Brandon Brown
RB - JR Gunnar Brekke/ JR Chad Newell/SR Anthony Knight, Tavon Dodd
TE - SR Beau Sandland, SO Curtis Amos, JR Austin Barth
KR - SR Mitch Griebel
K - SO Luke Daly

DE - SO Tyrone Fa'anono, JR Shiloh LaBoy, JR Robert Wilcox (if he sticks around)
DT - SR Taylor Sheridan, SR Nate Bignell
DT - JR Joe Naotala, JR Conner Thomas
DE - JR Zach Hutchins, JR Shiloh LaBoy, SO Devin Jeffries
SLB - SO Blake Braun, JR Zach Stern, SO Mac Bignell
MLB - FR Grant Collins, SR Robert Walsh
WLB - SO Wyatt Christensen, ??? Maybe try Stern or Bignell or even Collins here?
CB - SR Bryson Keeton, FR Braelan Evans
FS - SR Des Carter/SO Khari Garcia, FR DeMonte King
SS - JR Bryson McCabe, SO Khari Garcia/FR DeMonte King
CB - SO Bryce Alley/ SO Jaylen Price

P - SR Trevor Bolton, FR Matt Stewart

You beat me to it! I wonder at the RB spot what we do there. So much talent cause I think LaSane is a fantastic player, hope he sticks around a little longer. I'm excited to see that competition in Spring Ball

[DicTater]

I would not be surprised to see Braun moved to the Will given that Christiansen has had the injury issues and given that Mac Bignell, Toti and new recruit Zach Stern all play the Sam. And, with more and more teams using 4 WRs all the time, speed is at a premium. I certainly would not be surprised if the Cats play a lot of nickel this year. As Ioane said to the Trib, you have to put your personnel in a position to succeed. Having LBs covering WRs is not the way to do that.

[BobcatLifer]

I've heard big things on Yates too, wonder if he'll crack two deep as rs freshman

[Cat Grad]

You can probably predict the offensive starters but the only sure starter on defense will be Sheridan and maybe Keaton.

True. And even at that, where is Sheridan going to play? Spring ball ought to be interesting for the staff but I doubt anything on the defense is set before the first game, whoever and wherever that might be.

Sheridan will start. He's a fifth-year senior who earned second-team All-Big Sky last season.

Here's the likely two-deep right now:

LT - SR John Weidenaar, FR Wade Webster/SO Dylan Mahoney
LG - SR Kyle Godecke, FR Joey Marinello
C - SR Joel Horn, JR Doug Hanson
RG - JR JP Flynn, JR Dillon Fraley
RT - SR Alex Eekhoff, SO Dylan Mahoney
QB - JR Dakota Prukop, SR Jake Bleskin
WR - SO Mitch Herbert, SR Manny Kalfell
WR - SR Tanner Roderick/SO Justin Paige, SO Jayshawn Gates
WR - SR Mitch Griebel, SO Jayshawn Gates/JR Brandon Brown
RB - JR Gunnar Brekke/ JR Chad Newell/SR Anthony Knight, Tavon Dodd
TE - SR Beau Sandland, SO Curtis Amos, JR Austin Barth
KR - SR Mitch Griebel
K - SO Luke Daly

DE - SO Tyrone Fa'anono, JR Shiloh LaBoy, JR Robert Wilcox (if he sticks around)
DT - SR Taylor Sheridan, SR Nate Bignell
DT - JR Joe Naotala, JR Conner Thomas
DE - JR Zach Hutchins, JR Shiloh LaBoy, SO Devin Jeffries
SLB - SO Blake Braun, JR Zach Stern, SO Mac Bignell
MLB - FR Grant Collins, SR Robert Walsh
WLB - SO Wyatt Christensen, ??? Maybe try Stern or Bignell or even Collins here?
CB - SR Bryson Keeton, FR Braelan Evans
FS - SR Des Carter/SO Khari Garcia, FR DeMonte King
SS - JR Bryson McCabe, SO Khari Garcia/FR DeMonte King
CB - SO Bryce Alley/ SO Jaylen Price

P - SR Trevor Bolton, FR Matt Stewart

I know he's going to start but where? They appear to have several options for this kid given what they'll look like on defense next year.

[CatsandCanesNation]

I am assuming Brekke will KR again. Kid is explosive. I think Amos is a redshirt fresh. And I also believe Mcabe will be soph not JR?

[blueandgoldblitz]

Here's a scheme question that maybe one of you x's and o's guys will be able to help me with. What is the responsibilities of a nose tackle as compared to the 3 tech DT? Is a nose tackle more of a run stuffer while the 3 tech pushes the pocket? And does our nose tackle play 0 tech or maybe 1 tech shade and what would determine why he's in that technique? And finally, which position does Sheridan play and what makes him more suited for that position over the other?

Sorry if this is kind of off topic. I've just been really curious about this for the last year or so.

[BigBruceBaker]

Colter, are you thinking Wilcox will retire due to injury? Or he will get buried and quit?


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[CatBlitz]

Colter, are you thinking Wilcox will retire due to injury? Or he will get buried and quit?


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I think it has to be injury. I would think he's good enough to get in the rotation when healthy.

[BigBruceBaker]

Colter, are you thinking Wilcox will retire due to injury? Or he will get buried and quit?


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I think it has to be injury. I would think he's good enough to get in the rotation when healthy.

I would totally agree, I was hoping he would come back healthy and could be close to starting. He definitely has some skills


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[Colter_Nuanez]

Colter, are you thinking Wilcox will retire due to injury? Or he will get buried and quit?


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I think it has to be injury. I would think he's good enough to get in the rotation when healthy.

I would totally agree, I was hoping he would come back healthy and could be close to starting. He definitely has some skills


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It's my understanding he had another surgery and he experienced a family tragedy. He's had such a tough run — goes to Grambling State because he's a legacy kid there and the football program is in complete shabbles. Comes to MSU, blows his knee, has surgery with a patella graf, comes back, tears his patella. Terrible. I don't know if he'd want me reporting his recent loss, but it's harder than any injury. I feel for the kid and hope he finds good fortune very soon.

[BigBruceBaker]

Colter, are you thinking Wilcox will retire due to injury? Or he will get buried and quit?


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I think it has to be injury. I would think he's good enough to get in the rotation when healthy.

I would totally agree, I was hoping he would come back healthy and could be close to starting. He definitely has some skills


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It's my understanding he had another surgery and he experienced a family tragedy. He's had such a tough run — goes to Grambling State because he's a legacy kid there and the football program is in complete shabbles. Comes to MSU, blows his knee, has surgery with a patella graf, comes back, tears his patella. Terrible. I don't know if he'd want me reporting his recent loss, but it's harder than any injury. I feel for the kid and hope he finds good fortune very soon.

All of that is terrible. I hope for his sake he can stick it out up here and get a great degree.

Wish him the best


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[Cat Pride]

I bet Yates not being in the mix with Bignell at DT was an oversight by Colter.

Why is everyone so high on Roderick? He might as well redshirted all but one game last season. I'd take Gates or Paige over Tanner at this point.

[mslacatfan]

I bet Yates not being in the mix with Bignell at DT was an oversight by Colter.

Why is everyone so high on Roderick? He might as well redshirted all but one game last season. I'd take Gates or Paige over Tanner at this point.

agreed. maybe for his senior year he will figure it out.... but yeah, for some reason Roderick just has not been able to live up to his HUGE potential.

[The MICKSTER]

Not to be 'Johnny Raincloud', but wasn't the main goal of this years recruiting effort to get better pass rushers, particularly at DE? I believe Coach Ash stated "We have to get pass rushers" in his end-of-season interview. If this projected 2-deep is correct all we've done at that position up til now is get a projected back-up. I hope there is a surprise out there somewhere that can make an impact in 2015, whether it be on signing day or a drop down in the spring. GO CATS!

[tdub]

Not to be 'Johnny Raincloud', but wasn't the main goal of this years recruiting effort to get better pass rushers, particularly at DE? I believe Coach Ash stated "We have to get pass rushers" in his end-of-season interview. If this projected 2-deep is correct all we've done at that position up til now is get a projected back-up. I hope there is a surprise out there somewhere that can make an impact in 2015, whether it be on signing day or a drop down in the spring. GO CATS!

How many incoming true freshmen or transfers do you expect to be given a starting nod on an unofficial depth chart created by Colter before even stepping foot on the field in Bozeman? Some of these kids may be starters.

Put some sunshine in your life Johnny Raincloud.