Scott Turnquist was a terrific WR from Billings who provided Bobcat fans with many thrills
Photo by: Mark MacLeod
Bobcats by the Numbers: 86
6/4/2013 11:34:00 AM | Football
If Joe Bignell isn't prominently mentioned, you know #86 is a really good number
Every day we look at players who donned the jersey number corresponding to the number of days until the Bobcats open the 2013 season on August 29 against Monmouth. The list of MSU football players by the jersey number is based on preseason rosters. The set of available rosters is complete from 1946-81 and '83-present. Only the 1926-27, 1934, 1937 and 1941 rosters are available in the pre-WWII years. Corrections, additions, or rosters that fill out the set are welcome to blamberty@msubobcats.com.
#86
Tanner Bleskin, WR: Tanner Bleskin just kind of sneaks up on you. He isn't supposed to be fast, but he finds his way behind opposing defenses at an alarming rate. He didn't become a receiver until late in his high school career, but he's been a polished, meticulous pass-catcher and route-runner since the moment he stepped on the field. A former high school quarterback, if you ask any coach what they like most it will be his blocking. Bleskin entered Bobcat fans' consciousness when stories began to emerge about a pass-and-catch scout team tandem in 2009 that couldn't be stopped, and after playing across from Elvis Akpla for two seasons he has emerged as a top-flight lead receiver in his own right. Tanner Bleskin is an Academic All-America receiver who has positioned himself to challenge all Bobcat receiving records. There are distinguished denizens of the Treasure State's sporting scene still maintains he could be playing college baseball at its highest level, but Bleskin's athletic career may very well end with standing as one of the greatest Bobcat receivers ever, and one of the most productive pass-catchers in Treasure State history.
Spotlight Player: If you're getting the impression that productive, home-grown receivers is right in BBTN's wheelhouse, you're pretty much right on the money. One of the best ever was, like Tanner Bleskin, the product of a coaching family whose work ethic, intelligence and attention to detail drove him to greatness. Turnquist was a player who did great work just outside the spotlight, and rather than produce one spectacular season built on three or four big games, he strung together three very solid seasons in which he blocked well, caught everything in his area, and used his under-appreciated speed and athleticism to catch between 135 passes (fifth in school history) for 1,856 career yards (fourth on MSU's all-time list). Turnquist was involved with one of the craziest and most important plays in Bobcat history, at Sacramento State on Nov. 2, 2002, when the Bobcats faced a last-second 30-28 deficit. On the last play of the game, Travis Lulay scrambled around, and as he was going down in the grasp of a Hornet defensive lineman heaved the ball downfield. Turnquist caught it, and in the process a Sac State defender grabbed his face mask. The clock expired on the play, but because of the penalty MSU received and untimed down. Nate Cook nailed the field goal for the win, which eventually provided MSU a tie-breaker and therefore a share of the conference championship and an automatic berth to the I-AA Playoffs. Scott Turnquist may not have been a star on those 2001-03 teams that literally turned the program from perennial after-thought to regular championship contender, but Turnquist's toughness, diligence and competitive tenacity resonate through the program still.
Notable #86s in the Bobcat Past: On the list of jersey numbers that have produced the most great Bobcats, it might be tough to top #86. Brad Daws and Gary Gustafson were All-America defensive lineman in the early '70s, Joe Bignell a dominant pass-catching tight end on the 1984 National Championship team. Add in Bleskin, Turnquist, and the sparkling but inujury-marred career of receiver DeSean Thomas and the number 86 has provided Bobcat football some outstanding players.
Through the years: Bill Mack (1956), Brad Lowell (1957-59), Bert Emery (1960), Archie Warwick (1961-63), Dave Pawlowski (1965), Dennis Muhlbeier (1966-67), Gary Gustafson (1968-70), Randy Martinson (1971), Gary Fetveit (1972), Brad Daws (1973-75), Les Sherrill (1976), Tom Fox (1977-80), Joe Bignell (1981-84), Terry Duncan (1985), Okey Ezeonu (1986-87), Scott McFarland (1988-90), Pat Gulick (1991-95), Travis Hille (1996), Matt Neumann (1997), Scott Turnquist (2000-03), Nick Parkter (2004-05), Joe Roberts (2006-07), DeSean Thomas (2008), Tanner Bleskin (2009-)
#86
Tanner Bleskin, WR: Tanner Bleskin just kind of sneaks up on you. He isn't supposed to be fast, but he finds his way behind opposing defenses at an alarming rate. He didn't become a receiver until late in his high school career, but he's been a polished, meticulous pass-catcher and route-runner since the moment he stepped on the field. A former high school quarterback, if you ask any coach what they like most it will be his blocking. Bleskin entered Bobcat fans' consciousness when stories began to emerge about a pass-and-catch scout team tandem in 2009 that couldn't be stopped, and after playing across from Elvis Akpla for two seasons he has emerged as a top-flight lead receiver in his own right. Tanner Bleskin is an Academic All-America receiver who has positioned himself to challenge all Bobcat receiving records. There are distinguished denizens of the Treasure State's sporting scene still maintains he could be playing college baseball at its highest level, but Bleskin's athletic career may very well end with standing as one of the greatest Bobcat receivers ever, and one of the most productive pass-catchers in Treasure State history.
Spotlight Player: If you're getting the impression that productive, home-grown receivers is right in BBTN's wheelhouse, you're pretty much right on the money. One of the best ever was, like Tanner Bleskin, the product of a coaching family whose work ethic, intelligence and attention to detail drove him to greatness. Turnquist was a player who did great work just outside the spotlight, and rather than produce one spectacular season built on three or four big games, he strung together three very solid seasons in which he blocked well, caught everything in his area, and used his under-appreciated speed and athleticism to catch between 135 passes (fifth in school history) for 1,856 career yards (fourth on MSU's all-time list). Turnquist was involved with one of the craziest and most important plays in Bobcat history, at Sacramento State on Nov. 2, 2002, when the Bobcats faced a last-second 30-28 deficit. On the last play of the game, Travis Lulay scrambled around, and as he was going down in the grasp of a Hornet defensive lineman heaved the ball downfield. Turnquist caught it, and in the process a Sac State defender grabbed his face mask. The clock expired on the play, but because of the penalty MSU received and untimed down. Nate Cook nailed the field goal for the win, which eventually provided MSU a tie-breaker and therefore a share of the conference championship and an automatic berth to the I-AA Playoffs. Scott Turnquist may not have been a star on those 2001-03 teams that literally turned the program from perennial after-thought to regular championship contender, but Turnquist's toughness, diligence and competitive tenacity resonate through the program still.
Notable #86s in the Bobcat Past: On the list of jersey numbers that have produced the most great Bobcats, it might be tough to top #86. Brad Daws and Gary Gustafson were All-America defensive lineman in the early '70s, Joe Bignell a dominant pass-catching tight end on the 1984 National Championship team. Add in Bleskin, Turnquist, and the sparkling but inujury-marred career of receiver DeSean Thomas and the number 86 has provided Bobcat football some outstanding players.
Through the years: Bill Mack (1956), Brad Lowell (1957-59), Bert Emery (1960), Archie Warwick (1961-63), Dave Pawlowski (1965), Dennis Muhlbeier (1966-67), Gary Gustafson (1968-70), Randy Martinson (1971), Gary Fetveit (1972), Brad Daws (1973-75), Les Sherrill (1976), Tom Fox (1977-80), Joe Bignell (1981-84), Terry Duncan (1985), Okey Ezeonu (1986-87), Scott McFarland (1988-90), Pat Gulick (1991-95), Travis Hille (1996), Matt Neumann (1997), Scott Turnquist (2000-03), Nick Parkter (2004-05), Joe Roberts (2006-07), DeSean Thomas (2008), Tanner Bleskin (2009-)
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