BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 95 Days Until the Gold Rush Game!
5/27/2018 12:01:00 PM | Football
Derek Marks didn't travel far to get to MSU, but he's come a long way
Bobcat by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats whose jersey numbers correspond to the number of days remaining before Montana State opens the 2018 football season against Western Illinois in Bobcat Stadium's annual Gold Rush game on August 30.
#95
Derek Marks, DT/DE: Derek Marks didn't travel far to get to Montana State, but the Belgrade High graduate has come a long way in the two-plus years since. Marks forced his way onto the field for MSU as a true freshman, then registered 43 tackles as a sophomore last fall, playing primarily end but also rotating into the middle of the line in some pass-rush packages. His 8.5 tackles-for-loss was second-most on the team in 2017, and his four sacks led the Cats. The grandson of former Bobcat Harry Huntsinger, Marks' ability to impact a play from a number of different spots on the field accentuates his value and talent.
Spotlight: Elliott Barnhart was known as a smart football player during his career as a two-year starting tight end for the Cats, and his post-collegiate career has done nothing to dispel that notion. He caught 49 passes at MSU, scoring the first points of the Rob Ash era on a scoring strike at Texas A&M's Kyle Field. Barnhart earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors as a senior, then launched a career as a brilliant microbiologist. He earned his master's and doctorate degrees from MSU.
Hall of Fame Bonus Spotlight: Jon Montoya followed a winding path to Bozeman, leaving his native Los Angeles for a small community outside of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but once entrenched in the Blue and Gold his career took off. Montoya started a then-school record 48 straight games and finished his career as one of a small handful of Bobcats to earn All-America and Academic All-America. More importantly, Montoya
Chronology: Don Wilson (1974-75), Chip Young (1976-77), Kevin Donovan (1978-80), Jim Huggins (1983), Joel Grace (1984-88), Scott Casagranda (1990), Danny Pickett (1991-92), Garry Smith (1993), Aaron Binns (1994), Colin Anderson (1995), Jerry Vekved (1996-98), Jon Montoya (1999-2003), Elliott Barnhart (2004-07), Kevin Steiner (2008-11), Zach Hutchins (2012-14), Joe Naotola (2015), Derek Marks (2016-)
#95
Derek Marks, DT/DE: Derek Marks didn't travel far to get to Montana State, but the Belgrade High graduate has come a long way in the two-plus years since. Marks forced his way onto the field for MSU as a true freshman, then registered 43 tackles as a sophomore last fall, playing primarily end but also rotating into the middle of the line in some pass-rush packages. His 8.5 tackles-for-loss was second-most on the team in 2017, and his four sacks led the Cats. The grandson of former Bobcat Harry Huntsinger, Marks' ability to impact a play from a number of different spots on the field accentuates his value and talent.
Spotlight: Elliott Barnhart was known as a smart football player during his career as a two-year starting tight end for the Cats, and his post-collegiate career has done nothing to dispel that notion. He caught 49 passes at MSU, scoring the first points of the Rob Ash era on a scoring strike at Texas A&M's Kyle Field. Barnhart earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors as a senior, then launched a career as a brilliant microbiologist. He earned his master's and doctorate degrees from MSU.
Hall of Fame Bonus Spotlight: Jon Montoya followed a winding path to Bozeman, leaving his native Los Angeles for a small community outside of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but once entrenched in the Blue and Gold his career took off. Montoya started a then-school record 48 straight games and finished his career as one of a small handful of Bobcats to earn All-America and Academic All-America. More importantly, Montoya
Chronology: Don Wilson (1974-75), Chip Young (1976-77), Kevin Donovan (1978-80), Jim Huggins (1983), Joel Grace (1984-88), Scott Casagranda (1990), Danny Pickett (1991-92), Garry Smith (1993), Aaron Binns (1994), Colin Anderson (1995), Jerry Vekved (1996-98), Jon Montoya (1999-2003), Elliott Barnhart (2004-07), Kevin Steiner (2008-11), Zach Hutchins (2012-14), Joe Naotola (2015), Derek Marks (2016-)
Players Mentioned
DL
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