Bobcats Open Spring Football March 18
3/11/2014 11:25:00 AM | Football
Rob Ash welcomes seven starters on each side of the ball
The day is coming, and Rob Ash knows it, but coaching a Montana State football team without four Bobcat legends will certainly be a jolt when the team's spring camp opens on March 18.
Replacing four-year starting quarterback DeNarius McGhee is the spring's obvious storyline - for the record, two-game starter Jake Bleskin is joined by Tanner Roderick, Dakota Prukop and Quinn McQueary as candidates - but several other offensive positions should stage intriguing battles. Brian Flotkoetter is the only returning starter at receiver, and Shawn Johnson brings experience to the running back position manned by Cody Kirk the last three years.
Defensively, the Bobcats look to replace some history, as well. Defensive end Brad Daly, the school's second straight Buck Buchanan Award winner as the top defensive player in the FCS, departs. So, too, does his opposite, defensive end Preston Gale, also a talented and explosive defensive end, along with nose tackle Craig Ashworth. Half of the team's secondary is also gone, as well.
But on a positive note, the starting offense line and the linebackrer corps - plus 2012 starter Na'a Moeakiola - return intact. In fact, 14 Bobcat starters return for the ramp-up to 2014, which begins just after Spring Break and ends not long before Finals Week.
Practice begins at approximately 3:30 on Tuesday, March 18. The spring practice schedule calls for sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday each week. The Triangle Classic Scrimmage in Great Falls is on April 12, with the Sonny Holland Classic in Bozeman on April 19.
2014 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30 at Arkansas State TBA
Sept 6 Black Hills State TBA
Sept 13 Central Arkansas TBA
Sept 20 Eastern Wash. TBA
Sept 27 *North Dakota (HC) TBA
Oct 4 *at Sacramento St TBA
Oct 11 *at UC Davis TBA
Oct 18 *Weber State TBA
10/25 Open
11/1 *at Cal Poly TBA
11/8 *Portland State TBA
11/15 *Idaho State TBA
11/22 *at Montana TBA
KEY 2014 DATES
Feb. 5: Spring signing date
March 18: Spring ball begins
April 11-12: Triangle Classic, Great Falls
April 19: Sonny Holland Spring Game
August 2: Fall camp begins
PERSONNEL PROFILE
Starters Returning: 7/7/0
Lettermen Returning: 16/20/1
Lettermen Lost: 5/5/1
