Grant Collins
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #5: Grant Collins Again Starts at Middle Linebacker
10/7/2017 10:00:00 AM | Football
Nick LaSane slated to make 2017 debut in Bobcat Stadium today
Grant Collins has started every game of his Bobcat career, but the pressing question in recent weeks has been, where?
Montana State's rugged junior remains at the Mike (middle linebacker) position for today's Portland State game, signaling that Josh Hill will be out for at least one more week. A sophomore who started at Mike for his first 13 games at MSU, Hill has now missed three straight games with an injury. Collins' ability to make the move inside has allowed the Bobcat defense to continue functioning at a high level.
"What amazes me is that three weeks ago he was our starting boundary end," said MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak, "and he played well at North Dakota and even better against Weber State."
Choate said that Hill remains week-to-week. "We have six games (remaining) in the regular season after (today's game), and we want him available for as many of those as possible."
* * * * *
While today's early kick time raised eyebrows among Bobcat fans, it barely drew notice from the participants.
"We practice in that time," said Portland State coach Bruce Barnum, "so it should fit right into our deal. I'm not that worried about the (kickoff) time." PSU has practiced in the mornings for several seasons.
Like the Vikings, Montana State also practices in the morning. That is a new development this season, but players praise the move because it allows them to focus on practice from the time they wake until it's over, then turn their total focus to academics. Quarterback Chris Murray said the early start won't pose an issue for those on the field. "People last week said, 'Oh my gosh, next week is 11 am.' But we practice all the time in the morning, so we'll be ready for it."
* * * * *
Murray's development from raw athlete to more polished quarterback has caught Barnum's attention. "The kid gets better every game," Portland State's veteran head coach said. "He's faster than everybody on the field. They're building the offense around him and he's done a helluva job."
Portland State set out to follow that course with freshman Jalani Eason this season, tabbing him as the starter for the season opener at BYU. Along the way, though, Barnum and his staff transitioned returning starter Josh Kraght – who had played a number of different roles early in the season – back into the spot. "(Eason) is talented, he's going to be great, but he wasn't running the system like I need it to be ran," Barnum said. "I had hoped it would happen by game three, but I was wrong. So Kraght is essentially teaching him how to run my system on offense."
* * * * *
Today's game marks the return of Nick LaSane, MSU's senior running back who missed the first four games of 2017 due to a suspension.
"Nick had a number of obligations to meet, not just in football but off the field, or he wouldn't be playing (today)," said Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate. "He's handled it professionally and with integrity."
Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong is happy to have another talented player at his disposal. "Nick is a very physical presence," he said. "He runs the ball angry. He's one of those guys as an offensive lineman you love to block for because of the attitude he brings."
Sophomore quarterback Chris Murray agrees with Armstrong's assessment. "The biggest thing is he's just a physical presence," Murray said.
"We'll knock the dust off him a little bit," Choate said of how his team plans to use LaSane in his 2017 debut. "He'll have a significant role for us.
Montana State's rugged junior remains at the Mike (middle linebacker) position for today's Portland State game, signaling that Josh Hill will be out for at least one more week. A sophomore who started at Mike for his first 13 games at MSU, Hill has now missed three straight games with an injury. Collins' ability to make the move inside has allowed the Bobcat defense to continue functioning at a high level.
"What amazes me is that three weeks ago he was our starting boundary end," said MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak, "and he played well at North Dakota and even better against Weber State."
Choate said that Hill remains week-to-week. "We have six games (remaining) in the regular season after (today's game), and we want him available for as many of those as possible."
* * * * *
While today's early kick time raised eyebrows among Bobcat fans, it barely drew notice from the participants.
"We practice in that time," said Portland State coach Bruce Barnum, "so it should fit right into our deal. I'm not that worried about the (kickoff) time." PSU has practiced in the mornings for several seasons.
Like the Vikings, Montana State also practices in the morning. That is a new development this season, but players praise the move because it allows them to focus on practice from the time they wake until it's over, then turn their total focus to academics. Quarterback Chris Murray said the early start won't pose an issue for those on the field. "People last week said, 'Oh my gosh, next week is 11 am.' But we practice all the time in the morning, so we'll be ready for it."
* * * * *
Murray's development from raw athlete to more polished quarterback has caught Barnum's attention. "The kid gets better every game," Portland State's veteran head coach said. "He's faster than everybody on the field. They're building the offense around him and he's done a helluva job."
Portland State set out to follow that course with freshman Jalani Eason this season, tabbing him as the starter for the season opener at BYU. Along the way, though, Barnum and his staff transitioned returning starter Josh Kraght – who had played a number of different roles early in the season – back into the spot. "(Eason) is talented, he's going to be great, but he wasn't running the system like I need it to be ran," Barnum said. "I had hoped it would happen by game three, but I was wrong. So Kraght is essentially teaching him how to run my system on offense."
* * * * *
Today's game marks the return of Nick LaSane, MSU's senior running back who missed the first four games of 2017 due to a suspension.
"Nick had a number of obligations to meet, not just in football but off the field, or he wouldn't be playing (today)," said Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate. "He's handled it professionally and with integrity."
Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong is happy to have another talented player at his disposal. "Nick is a very physical presence," he said. "He runs the ball angry. He's one of those guys as an offensive lineman you love to block for because of the attitude he brings."
Sophomore quarterback Chris Murray agrees with Armstrong's assessment. "The biggest thing is he's just a physical presence," Murray said.
"We'll knock the dust off him a little bit," Choate said of how his team plans to use LaSane in his 2017 debut. "He'll have a significant role for us.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
