Casey Bauman hands off to Tyler Natee as Balue Chapman defends
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
CATS IN CAMP: Day #1 Notebook
8/3/2018 5:09:00 PM | Football
Quarterback competition heats up early in preseason camp
BOZEMAN, Mont. – In a position battle that didn't exist a month ago, Montana State quarterbacks coach Bob Cole liked what he saw from his group on day one.
"I thought they all went out there and seriously competed," Cole said Friday about the four-man race to replace Chris Murray, who is redshirting with academic issues. "We've got a heck of a battle out here right now."
That battle begins with sophomore Troy Andersen, the 2017 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year who is the closest thing the Cats have to an incumbent. He played primarily running back last year, but two years ago was a signal caller at Beaverhead County High School. Junior transfer Travis Jonsen was injured almost after arriving at MSU last January, and missed part of Friday when that injury flared up. Tucker Rovig redshirted at MSU last season, and Casey Bauman is a true freshman. Ruben Beltran is also a freshman, but he is awaiting paperwork clearance to join the fray.
"Casey showed good arm strength for a freshman, Troy's coming around, Tucker's miles ahead where he was in the spring," Cole said. "We're taking our time with Travis. I was pretty happy with the first day. We had great energy. We only had three plays in, so we'll know more (when more of the offense is installed)."
Third-year head coach Jeff Choate liked what he saw from his signal callers. "I thought Casey looked good early, then information overload got to him, which is bound to happen with a true freshman," he said. "I thought Tucker was proficient. I think (Bauman is) a really smart kid, he's very cerebral, he has a live arm and can really spin it. I think once he gets a chance to relax a little bit and absorb some of the install we'll probably know more."
Andersen impressed his teammates. "That kid's a freak athlete," said tight end Connor Sullivan. "He can play a lot of different positions." Andersen went through spring drills as a linebacker after playing running back most of last season, and receiver Kevin Kassis said, "There's not a lot of guys that could make that adjustment so quick."
Choate said installation of the offense is front-loaded. "They're drinking out of a firehose for a while, then once the thing clicks for them it slows down," he said.
KICK TEAMS: While it's early in preseason camp to evaluate the kicking game, Choate was pleased with the limited sample of what he saw. "I think our kickers are in shape, they're doing a nice job. They were proficient in what they were doing. The punt game is ready to go. I feel like we're just a lot further ahead than we've been in the previous two years." Jered Padmos returns as Second Team All-Big Sky punter, and Tristan Bailey joins the program as a strong-legged junior kicker.
CATCHING ON: The receiver position may feature less experience than other skill position groups, but with new players has come a serious influx of talent. And, Choate says, competition. "There's going to be a lot of competition in that area. Kevin Kassis is asserting himself as a leader, Lance (McCutcheon) played a bunch for us last year, Willie P(atterson) and Coy Steel were rolling back and forth with the ones and twos today (at the slot position). But there's an influx of talent here that's really good." Two transfers headline new arrivals. Maleek Barkley from Arkansas and Davine Tullis from Hawaia'i joined the program in the last month. Additionally, a handful of freshmen have already impressed. "Mekhi Metcalf made a catch in one-on-ones that was pretty impressive," Choate said. "Koby Duru, Logan Klienhans and Mark Estes did some good things. Even though we lose Jabarri (Johnson to injury) and an unbelievable leader like Mitch (Herbert, who graduated) I think this is the most talented group we've had in this group since I've been here."
EXPERIENCE: In his third season as Montana State's head coach, Jeff Choate has the most veterans he's led into a new campaign. He said after Friday's initial outing of the new season that familiarity seeps to every corner of the team. "It's easier to get work done," he said, "that's probably the biggest difference. Even the guys that don't know what the heck's going on, like I told them last night, we run everywhere on the field and if you don't know where you're going stop and then find the guys you're supposed to be with and run to them. We have a lot more guys that know where they're going, so we can get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time." Choate said the experienced translated into efficiency. "We weren't out here that long today for a first practice, but we got a ton of reps and dudes were gassed and they were going the whole time. That's the point of it, that's the way football is played. It's up-tempo, there are a lot of transitions, and that's what we try to replicate in practice. And it's a lot easier when you have a lot of experienced guys."
COMINGS AND GOINGS: Senior running back Logan Jones and junior linebacker Josh Hill, both from Kalispell, were non-participants due to injury on Friday, and both are expected to be shelved for a significant amount of time… defensive lineman Byron Rollins returned to the program from a religious mission. The 2015 signee is a legacy, as his father Josh played for the Cats in the 1990s… other new additions include freshmen Level Price Jr., a cornerback.
NEXT UP: Saturday's practice begins at 11 am on Dyche Field south of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
#GoCatsGo
"I thought they all went out there and seriously competed," Cole said Friday about the four-man race to replace Chris Murray, who is redshirting with academic issues. "We've got a heck of a battle out here right now."
That battle begins with sophomore Troy Andersen, the 2017 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year who is the closest thing the Cats have to an incumbent. He played primarily running back last year, but two years ago was a signal caller at Beaverhead County High School. Junior transfer Travis Jonsen was injured almost after arriving at MSU last January, and missed part of Friday when that injury flared up. Tucker Rovig redshirted at MSU last season, and Casey Bauman is a true freshman. Ruben Beltran is also a freshman, but he is awaiting paperwork clearance to join the fray.
"Casey showed good arm strength for a freshman, Troy's coming around, Tucker's miles ahead where he was in the spring," Cole said. "We're taking our time with Travis. I was pretty happy with the first day. We had great energy. We only had three plays in, so we'll know more (when more of the offense is installed)."
Third-year head coach Jeff Choate liked what he saw from his signal callers. "I thought Casey looked good early, then information overload got to him, which is bound to happen with a true freshman," he said. "I thought Tucker was proficient. I think (Bauman is) a really smart kid, he's very cerebral, he has a live arm and can really spin it. I think once he gets a chance to relax a little bit and absorb some of the install we'll probably know more."
Andersen impressed his teammates. "That kid's a freak athlete," said tight end Connor Sullivan. "He can play a lot of different positions." Andersen went through spring drills as a linebacker after playing running back most of last season, and receiver Kevin Kassis said, "There's not a lot of guys that could make that adjustment so quick."
Choate said installation of the offense is front-loaded. "They're drinking out of a firehose for a while, then once the thing clicks for them it slows down," he said.
KICK TEAMS: While it's early in preseason camp to evaluate the kicking game, Choate was pleased with the limited sample of what he saw. "I think our kickers are in shape, they're doing a nice job. They were proficient in what they were doing. The punt game is ready to go. I feel like we're just a lot further ahead than we've been in the previous two years." Jered Padmos returns as Second Team All-Big Sky punter, and Tristan Bailey joins the program as a strong-legged junior kicker.
CATCHING ON: The receiver position may feature less experience than other skill position groups, but with new players has come a serious influx of talent. And, Choate says, competition. "There's going to be a lot of competition in that area. Kevin Kassis is asserting himself as a leader, Lance (McCutcheon) played a bunch for us last year, Willie P(atterson) and Coy Steel were rolling back and forth with the ones and twos today (at the slot position). But there's an influx of talent here that's really good." Two transfers headline new arrivals. Maleek Barkley from Arkansas and Davine Tullis from Hawaia'i joined the program in the last month. Additionally, a handful of freshmen have already impressed. "Mekhi Metcalf made a catch in one-on-ones that was pretty impressive," Choate said. "Koby Duru, Logan Klienhans and Mark Estes did some good things. Even though we lose Jabarri (Johnson to injury) and an unbelievable leader like Mitch (Herbert, who graduated) I think this is the most talented group we've had in this group since I've been here."
EXPERIENCE: In his third season as Montana State's head coach, Jeff Choate has the most veterans he's led into a new campaign. He said after Friday's initial outing of the new season that familiarity seeps to every corner of the team. "It's easier to get work done," he said, "that's probably the biggest difference. Even the guys that don't know what the heck's going on, like I told them last night, we run everywhere on the field and if you don't know where you're going stop and then find the guys you're supposed to be with and run to them. We have a lot more guys that know where they're going, so we can get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time." Choate said the experienced translated into efficiency. "We weren't out here that long today for a first practice, but we got a ton of reps and dudes were gassed and they were going the whole time. That's the point of it, that's the way football is played. It's up-tempo, there are a lot of transitions, and that's what we try to replicate in practice. And it's a lot easier when you have a lot of experienced guys."
COMINGS AND GOINGS: Senior running back Logan Jones and junior linebacker Josh Hill, both from Kalispell, were non-participants due to injury on Friday, and both are expected to be shelved for a significant amount of time… defensive lineman Byron Rollins returned to the program from a religious mission. The 2015 signee is a legacy, as his father Josh played for the Cats in the 1990s… other new additions include freshmen Level Price Jr., a cornerback.
NEXT UP: Saturday's practice begins at 11 am on Dyche Field south of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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RB
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