Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats By the Numbers: #82
6/13/2015 1:25:00 PM | Football
Mitchell Herbert appears set to hold down #82 for some time
Every day we look at players who donned the jersey number corresponding to the number of days until the Bobcats open the 2015 season on September 3 against Fort Lewis College. 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 will be welcomed enthusiastically via e-mail at: blamberty@msubobcats.com. Complaints about featured players also welcome, but possibly with less enthusiasm.
#82
Mitchell Herbert, WR: Great college quarterbacks always seem to have a receiver to whom his success is closely bound. Bobcat fans will never be able to talk about DeNarius McGhee without Tanner Bleskin and Elvis Akpla popping into the conversation. Travis Lulay will always bring to mind Rick Gatewood and Scott Turnquist. The mention of Kelly Bradley's name is frequently followed closely by that of Joe Bignell. It's quite possible that the same symbiotic relationship is developing between Dakota Prukop and Mitchell Herbert. (The same can be said for Herbert's mercurial classmates Justin Paige and Jayshawn Gates, and even gritty Mitch Griebel, but for the sake of today's story we'll focus on Herbert.) That Herbert even got to Bozeman was an upset, given his bloodlines (his father played at UM) and pedigree (his prep program, Sheldon High in Eugene, produced a long list of Grizzlies). But when he arrived, it didn't take long to prove that his journey was a heck of a get for the Cats. An understated, intelligent person and player, Herbert caught 28 passes for 339 yards, and his four touchdown catches was tied for the team-high. His biggest moment might have provided MSU's signature catch of 2015, a four-yarder with four seconds to play that provided the winning margin in MSU's stunning 59-56 win at Sacramento State. He caught at least three balls in seven of the team's 13 games, second in that made-up category only to Griebel. But more importantly, as a counter to Griebel's work underneath and the threat provided by Gates and Paige over the top Herbert's ability to catch everything thrown his way settled things down on the receiving corps – which just weeks before the season was still considered a major question mark – and turned it into a team strength.
Spotlight Player: Duane Baker's most significant moment as a Bobcat germinated with an out-loud thought during offensive staff meetings in late September, 1984. "We thought, he's a 6-5 tight end, how could a cornerback cover him,'" said Dan Davies, Montana State's Senior Associate Athletic Director who at the time coached Bobcat receivers. So with a trip to the Kibbie Dome to face explosive Idaho looming, the decision was made to split Baker out, create a matchup mismatch with much smaller corners, and throw what legendary Voice of the Bobcats Dean Alexander would delightfully describe as a "rainbow pass." The jump ball scenario resulted in four catches for 59 yards and a crucial touchdown, as MSU topped the Vandals 34-28. Baker finished his sophomore season with 17 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns, as MSU finished off a magical run to the 1984 National Championship. He finished his solid Bobcat career with 88 catches, starting most of the next two seasons.
Through the years: Jim Stevens (1956), Bill Mack (1957-59), Carl Hinkle (1964-65), Don Mathern (1966-68), Ken Lucido (1970), Tim Allen (1971), Doug Vickery (1972), Scott Mizelle (1974), Al Reichow (1974, '75-76), Tom Pomroy (1977-78), Wade Abel (1979), Bill Walker (1980), Duane Baker (1982-86), Mark Woodcock (1987), Bucky Haynes (1988), Brian Plunkett (1989-90), Mike Cady (1992), Craig Galle (1995-99), Darryl Johnson (2000), Matt McCullough (2001-04), Nolan Lee (2005), Tyler Bolton (2006-08), Julius Lloyd (2009-10), Jake Olson (2011-12), Mitchell Herbert (2014-present)
#82
Mitchell Herbert, WR: Great college quarterbacks always seem to have a receiver to whom his success is closely bound. Bobcat fans will never be able to talk about DeNarius McGhee without Tanner Bleskin and Elvis Akpla popping into the conversation. Travis Lulay will always bring to mind Rick Gatewood and Scott Turnquist. The mention of Kelly Bradley's name is frequently followed closely by that of Joe Bignell. It's quite possible that the same symbiotic relationship is developing between Dakota Prukop and Mitchell Herbert. (The same can be said for Herbert's mercurial classmates Justin Paige and Jayshawn Gates, and even gritty Mitch Griebel, but for the sake of today's story we'll focus on Herbert.) That Herbert even got to Bozeman was an upset, given his bloodlines (his father played at UM) and pedigree (his prep program, Sheldon High in Eugene, produced a long list of Grizzlies). But when he arrived, it didn't take long to prove that his journey was a heck of a get for the Cats. An understated, intelligent person and player, Herbert caught 28 passes for 339 yards, and his four touchdown catches was tied for the team-high. His biggest moment might have provided MSU's signature catch of 2015, a four-yarder with four seconds to play that provided the winning margin in MSU's stunning 59-56 win at Sacramento State. He caught at least three balls in seven of the team's 13 games, second in that made-up category only to Griebel. But more importantly, as a counter to Griebel's work underneath and the threat provided by Gates and Paige over the top Herbert's ability to catch everything thrown his way settled things down on the receiving corps – which just weeks before the season was still considered a major question mark – and turned it into a team strength.
Spotlight Player: Duane Baker's most significant moment as a Bobcat germinated with an out-loud thought during offensive staff meetings in late September, 1984. "We thought, he's a 6-5 tight end, how could a cornerback cover him,'" said Dan Davies, Montana State's Senior Associate Athletic Director who at the time coached Bobcat receivers. So with a trip to the Kibbie Dome to face explosive Idaho looming, the decision was made to split Baker out, create a matchup mismatch with much smaller corners, and throw what legendary Voice of the Bobcats Dean Alexander would delightfully describe as a "rainbow pass." The jump ball scenario resulted in four catches for 59 yards and a crucial touchdown, as MSU topped the Vandals 34-28. Baker finished his sophomore season with 17 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns, as MSU finished off a magical run to the 1984 National Championship. He finished his solid Bobcat career with 88 catches, starting most of the next two seasons.
Through the years: Jim Stevens (1956), Bill Mack (1957-59), Carl Hinkle (1964-65), Don Mathern (1966-68), Ken Lucido (1970), Tim Allen (1971), Doug Vickery (1972), Scott Mizelle (1974), Al Reichow (1974, '75-76), Tom Pomroy (1977-78), Wade Abel (1979), Bill Walker (1980), Duane Baker (1982-86), Mark Woodcock (1987), Bucky Haynes (1988), Brian Plunkett (1989-90), Mike Cady (1992), Craig Galle (1995-99), Darryl Johnson (2000), Matt McCullough (2001-04), Nolan Lee (2005), Tyler Bolton (2006-08), Julius Lloyd (2009-10), Jake Olson (2011-12), Mitchell Herbert (2014-present)
Players Mentioned
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