BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 33 Days Left, and that Reminds Us of Shawn Johnson
7/28/2018 12:18:00 PM | Football
Coy Steel comes to MSU from Wyoming, which has provided plenty of Bobcat talent through the years
July 28: Bobcats 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.
#33
Coy Steel, WR: Back in the day, when the Bobcat program was building up to a phenomenal three-decade run of dominance that began in the mid-1950s, Montana State drew a number of good football players from Wyoming. (Ironically, in that same time frame the Cowboys, an ancient Montana State rival, were ramping up into a dominant three-decade run of their own, and men such as Gary Crum and Joe Tiller would play roles in both. Bill Roney (Powell) and Jim Argeris (Worland) are among some of the fine Bobcats that migrated north. Coy Steel probably doesn't know all of that, but he came to Montana State as a preferred walk-on a year ago after reeling in Gatorade Player of the Year honors at Sheridan (Wyoming) High School. He has impressed ever since, and enters this season projected for playing time at the slot receiver position.
Spotlight – Shawn Johnson: Shawn Johnson had two of the most dazzling all-purpose seasons in Bobcat history, with the distinction of wearing a different number in each. He exploded for 1,757 combined yards as a junior wearing number 33, and a year later, number 4, piled up 1,478 total yards. In that time he earned some flavor of Big Sky Player of the Week, All-Big Sky and All-America honors as a return specialist and as a running back, and without question had to be accounted for during every snap he was on the field. His electrifying presence on the field belied a shy kid, quiet and earnest, who had overcome incredible adversity during his formative years, in part thanks to the family of USC quarterback Cody Kessler and in large part due to his own ability to persevere. He grew and matured into a confident kid who took the right things seriously during his time at MSU, is currently working toward the process of becoming a law enforcement office in Montana, and this summer welcomed his brother Maleek Barkley to the Bobcat program.
Chronology: Francis Cashmore (1927), Ray Buzzetti (1930), Kenneth Freese (1931), Hugh Paris (1937), Jim Montforten (1940), Wm. Musselman (1941), Dick Ball (1946-48), Bill Leary (1949), Bob Graham (1950), Tom Parac (1953), Ed Conaughton (1954), Glenn Flatt (1955), Jim Landon (1956), Rocco Perciavalle (1958-59), Mark Dasinger (1960-61), Bob Senden (1964-66), Gary Hughes (1968-69), Monte Boston (1970-72), Len Kelly (1973-76), Jeff Muri (1977-79), Mike Shill (1980), Toby Petty (1981-82), David Pandt (1983-85), Pat Dringman (1986), Greg Liebelt (1987-88), Brad Kimball (1990-91), Tyler Sharp (1992-93), Albert Smith (1994), Jarrod Beekley (1996), Travis Hille (1997), Kyle Ecker (1998-2001), Mac Mollohan (2002-05), Brandon Grimsley (2006), Blayde Beckstead (2007-2010), Shawn Johnson (2011-13), Matt Stewart (2014), Jessie Clark (2015-16), Coy Steel (2017-)
#33
Coy Steel, WR: Back in the day, when the Bobcat program was building up to a phenomenal three-decade run of dominance that began in the mid-1950s, Montana State drew a number of good football players from Wyoming. (Ironically, in that same time frame the Cowboys, an ancient Montana State rival, were ramping up into a dominant three-decade run of their own, and men such as Gary Crum and Joe Tiller would play roles in both. Bill Roney (Powell) and Jim Argeris (Worland) are among some of the fine Bobcats that migrated north. Coy Steel probably doesn't know all of that, but he came to Montana State as a preferred walk-on a year ago after reeling in Gatorade Player of the Year honors at Sheridan (Wyoming) High School. He has impressed ever since, and enters this season projected for playing time at the slot receiver position.
Spotlight – Shawn Johnson: Shawn Johnson had two of the most dazzling all-purpose seasons in Bobcat history, with the distinction of wearing a different number in each. He exploded for 1,757 combined yards as a junior wearing number 33, and a year later, number 4, piled up 1,478 total yards. In that time he earned some flavor of Big Sky Player of the Week, All-Big Sky and All-America honors as a return specialist and as a running back, and without question had to be accounted for during every snap he was on the field. His electrifying presence on the field belied a shy kid, quiet and earnest, who had overcome incredible adversity during his formative years, in part thanks to the family of USC quarterback Cody Kessler and in large part due to his own ability to persevere. He grew and matured into a confident kid who took the right things seriously during his time at MSU, is currently working toward the process of becoming a law enforcement office in Montana, and this summer welcomed his brother Maleek Barkley to the Bobcat program.
Chronology: Francis Cashmore (1927), Ray Buzzetti (1930), Kenneth Freese (1931), Hugh Paris (1937), Jim Montforten (1940), Wm. Musselman (1941), Dick Ball (1946-48), Bill Leary (1949), Bob Graham (1950), Tom Parac (1953), Ed Conaughton (1954), Glenn Flatt (1955), Jim Landon (1956), Rocco Perciavalle (1958-59), Mark Dasinger (1960-61), Bob Senden (1964-66), Gary Hughes (1968-69), Monte Boston (1970-72), Len Kelly (1973-76), Jeff Muri (1977-79), Mike Shill (1980), Toby Petty (1981-82), David Pandt (1983-85), Pat Dringman (1986), Greg Liebelt (1987-88), Brad Kimball (1990-91), Tyler Sharp (1992-93), Albert Smith (1994), Jarrod Beekley (1996), Travis Hille (1997), Kyle Ecker (1998-2001), Mac Mollohan (2002-05), Brandon Grimsley (2006), Blayde Beckstead (2007-2010), Shawn Johnson (2011-13), Matt Stewart (2014), Jessie Clark (2015-16), Coy Steel (2017-)
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
