Bobcat Game Day Notebook vs. Idaho State

If Mark Desin decides to enter the coaching profession once his playing days are over, he'll have one major factor working in his favor.

He'll know a lot of positions.

The quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-quarterback-turned-receiver is on the move again this week, transitioning to cornerback to address an area of MSU's depth chart seriously thinned by injury. The early returns are positive.

"Mark's done very well there," said MSU coach Rob Ash. "he's athletic and a quick learner. He's picked it up well."

The move was spurred in a way that surprised no one on the Bobcat coaching staff. "Mark came to us about it," Ash said. "It was his idea, and we warmed to it quickly."

Desin came to MSU as a highly-decorated prep quarterback from Billings Senior, but prior to his redshirt freshman campaign moved to wide receiver. During his sophomore season, injury necessitated that he return to quarterback, and he started MSU's final two games of 2008 at that position.

He remained at quarterback during spring drills because Mark Iddins and Cody Kempt both continued to recover from injury, but by fall camp he again emerged as a starting receiver until an injury forced him out of the lineup for game five.

For now, Desin will focus on defense. There is no telling, however, where time may lead him. "We know one thing for sure about Mark," Ash says. "He will play wherever it will help the team the most."

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For the third straight week, Cody Kempt is slated to start at quarterback for Montana State on Saturday. "We'll start Cody, but both guys will play," Rob Ash said referring to Mark Iddins, who started MSU's first five games before missing the South Dakota game with illness.

Ash said both Bobcat quarterback remain in the team's plans. "We have two good quarterbacks, and we want to keep them both up and going regardless of who starts. We see this as a positive situation."

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Another player who has missed the last two games is expected to start, or at least see prominent playing time, on Saturday. Aaron Mason was cleared to play last week, and practiced throughout the days leading up to Saturday. He rushed for 355 yards in MSU's first five games before missing the last two with a concussion.

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Bengals cornerback Michael Wright signed to attend Montana State in 2005, but wasn't cleared to play and transferred to Palomar Junior College for the 2006 season. After two outstanding seasons there he transferred to Idaho State and has started at corner ever since. Wright registered 11 tackles against the Bobcats last season.

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Idaho State receiver Andrew Benavides suffered a spinal cord injury in last Saturday's game at Northern Arizona, and spent most of the week recovering in Flagstaff. Accompanied by ISU Athletic Director Jeff Tingey, Benavides left Flagstaff under his own power Friday. MSU Athletics wishes Andrew and his family the best for a safe and thorough recovery.

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Mark Desin wasn't the only Bobcat on the move last week. Freshman Brad Daly made the less drastic transition from linebacker to defensive end to address an area thinned by the loss of starters Dane Fletcher (mono) and Brad Smith (shoulder).

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TELEVISION INFORMATION: Altitude Sports and Entertainment airs Saturday's MSU-Idaho State game at 1:30. Altitude is available on Bresnan Cable systems around Montana, and also on DirecTV. See local listings for availability.

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