Who’s exceeded your expectations?

[tdub]

While we are still enjoying this ride, who on the team has exceeded your expectations? We can list almost every contributor and their great play, but who in your mind has really overachieved? My list:
Coach Walker: I know players can make coaches look good, but I can’t remember a year where players design and calling has ever been so incredibly good.
Paul Brott: I knew he was good, but how he has elevated since Schmidt’s injury is absolutely remarkable.
McCade O’Reilly: Although he played a lot, in my mind he was the #3 backer last year and it really showed when we were down one of the other two. Run fits were missed at times, a step slow here and there. This year…wow! There is a reason opposing coaches has identified him at the guy to watch on the defense.

[Cats92]

The defense. I knew they would be fairly good, but holy smokes they’re good. Especially the corners.

[TomCat88]

The defense and special teams. Defense the nickel with Grey backing up Jackson is suddenly killing it. Powdrell is more physical than I thought. O’Reilly exceeded every coach MSU has faced. A few coaches mentioned him before Grebe in pregame interviews. Daily has done a lot better than expected.

Sansted has been lots better than expected.

Mellott has been a little better than I thought he’d be. So has Adam Jones. And Rohan Jones and Lonergan. Sain and Mastel have been better than expected. Sain is one of the most valuable players on the team.

[RootinfortheCats]

Zac Crews.

Don’t get me wrong. I thought he’d be good, but I didn’t know he’d be the kind of difference maker he is. Watching his effort at the game yesterday, he is absolutely explosive.

Between Kenny and Zac, we could have two on the Buck Watch List next year.

[Pecos24]

...Mellott has been a little better than I thought he’d be...

Tommy was top on my list. To my eye he really expanded the throws he could make. Also the way he has taken care of himself running and scrambling. Running out of bounds instead of trying to get an extra 2-3 yds, getting down, etc.

[Cats92]

The defense and special teams. Defense the nickel with Grey backing up Jackson is suddenly killing it. Powdrell is more physical than I thought. O’Reilly exceeded every coach MSU has faced. A few coaches mentioned him before Grebe in pregame interviews. Daily has done a lot better than expected.

Sansted has been lots better than expected.

Mellott has been a little better than I thought he’d be. So has Adam Jones. And Rohan Jones and Lonergan. Sain and Mastel have been better than expected. Sain is one of the most valuable players on the team.

Powdrell is a scary individual. He has been a lot of fun to pick out and watch.

[technoCat]

...Mellott has been a little better than I thought he’d be...

Tommy was top on my list. To my eye he really expanded the throws he could make. Also the way he has taken care of himself running and scrambling. Running out of bounds instead of trying to get an extra 2-3 yds, getting down, etc.

Funny you say that about Tommy. I actually don't think we've seen his ceiling game. Yesterday was getting close but he didn't really look to run at all. Hoping he's saving it for the chipper!!

My vote is for Humphrey. Guy is just next level and I really hope he sticks around and can stay healthy. He will break some records.

PS This seems like a great golden coulee question.

[seataccat]

O'Reilly has beed incredible. Eiden has absolutely overachieved IMHO. This team has obviously focused their lives on this since last January. Crews is going to be a wrecking machine during his career and seems like such a cool kid. So glad he's a bobcat.

[Bozcat003]

Sansted

[BelligerentBobcat]

Sansted

Yeah, I don’t think any of us thought we’d be able to not worry about the kicking game.

[GoCats18]

The person that installed the new sound system. That man deserves a Christmas bonus!!

[nanacat]

The coaching staff as a whole. There were pages and pages on this forum last year complaining about the coaching, play calls, etc. This year, they've been awesome, incredible!

Tommy. Mature, focused, a true leader, and careful. He's protecting himself, making smart decisions, and not putting himself at risk. He's upped his passing game so much.

Both the OL and DL. The OL has been excellent but with losing so many last year, and frankly this year, there were concerns. No more! Same with the DL losing a few key players and others stepping in and making a difference.

The team, all of them. There's a focus, a goal, a love, a dedication that has taken them to 13-0, and they're not done yet.

[damnyoutuesday]

Tommy for sure. I thought we'd get basically the same Tommy we've seen the past few seasons, but he has stepped up to be elite in just about every facet of his game. It's been so damn fun to watch, and I'd argue yesterday was Tommy's best game ever. He just cooked UT Martin like I've never seen him do.

The coaching staff has exceeded my expectations. The new OC and DC are doing amazing, we look like a near perfect machine on both sides of the ball.

And an inanimate object: the new scoreboard. Holy ****** what a difference that has made to the gameday experience

[RockyBearCat]

I'm gonna change this up. Exceeded expectations? My back. I didn't know i could dance so well until I did it yesterday. My back held up great until the end of the drive home.....

[AFCAT]

I thought there was a thread like this earlier. Even though I saw his growth during Spring ball, it’s Adam Jones for me. Powdrell is also turning into a stud DB. Neil Daily and Bryce Grebe have stepped up their play. I truly didn’t expect Taki U. to play anything other than special teams for his entire career, but he has been great when he was playing. I believe Taki only played one year of high school football. When Taki puts on some weight and matures physically, watch out.

[91catAlum]

For me it's the depth that exceeded my expectations. This team, so far, knock on wood, has overcome injuries at Center, RB, DT, LB, Nickel. And I'm talking season ending, or nearly season ending, injuries.
Sain. Adam Jones. Brott. Daily. Grey. All these guys stepped in and the team never missed a beat, never lost a game. It's just so damn impressive.

[coloradocat]

Tommy

To quote Taco from yesterday's postgame: "I don't understand it either...he just keeps getting better."

[MSU01]

It's tough to single out individual players when the entire team has been so great this year, but I'd have to go with Taco Dowler on offense and Zac Crews on defense. Taco had a tough season last year but has turned into a major threat at WR in addition to his punt return prowess. I've said it a couple times before but it's worth repeating here, I think Zac Crews wins the 2026 Buck Buchanan award. He just makes plays every time he's out there.

I'd also mention Titan Fleischmann, who wasn't supposed to be a starter this year until Perkins got hurt and they moved Sain and Wehr inside by one spot each. I love watching the game replays and focusing on the offensive line play, and he has done a phenomenal job in an unexpected role this year.

And I keep adding to this post, but also Myles Sansted who has totally made us forget about last year's kicking woes. The 49-yarder he hit against the Griz right before halftime completely killed any chance they thought they may have had of making a second half comeback in that game.

[BgCATfan]

It's tough to single out individual players when the entire team has been so great this year, but I'd have to go with Taco Dowler on offense and Zac Crews on defense. Taco had a tough season last year but has turned into a major threat at WR in addition to his punt return prowess. I've said it a couple times before but it's worth repeating here, I think Zac Crews wins the 2026 Buck Buchanan award. He just makes plays every time he's out there.

I'd also mention Titan Fleischmann, who wasn't supposed to be a starter this year until Perkins got hurt and they moved Sain and Wehr inside by one spot each. I love watching the game replays and focusing on the offensive line play, and he has done a phenomenal job in an unexpected role this year.

And I keep adding to this post, but also Myles Sansted who has totally made us forget about last year's kicking woes. The 49-yarder he hit against the Griz right before halftime completely killed any chance they thought they may have had of making a second half comeback in that game.

Did you see Shawn Chambers in the sideline as he made that kick ?
If you didn’t notice see him, go find the highlight and watch it. It’s really cool!

I’ll post it if I can find it.

[BgCATfan]

It's tough to single out individual players when the entire team has been so great this year, but I'd have to go with Taco Dowler on offense and Zac Crews on defense. Taco had a tough season last year but has turned into a major threat at WR in addition to his punt return prowess. I've said it a couple times before but it's worth repeating here, I think Zac Crews wins the 2026 Buck Buchanan award. He just makes plays every time he's out there.

I'd also mention Titan Fleischmann, who wasn't supposed to be a starter this year until Perkins got hurt and they moved Sain and Wehr inside by one spot each. I love watching the game replays and focusing on the offensive line play, and he has done a phenomenal job in an unexpected role this year.

And I keep adding to this post, but also Myles Sansted who has totally made us forget about last year's kicking woes. The 49-yarder he hit against the Griz right before halftime completely killed any chance they thought they may have had of making a second half comeback in that game.

Did you see Shawn Chambers on the sideline as he made that kick ?
If you didn’t notice him, go find the highlight and watch it. It’s really cool!

I’ll post it if I can find it.