Photo by: Kelly Gorham
CATS IN CAMP: Day #3 Notebook - Grant Collins is Glad to be Back
8/5/2018 4:35:00 PM | Football
Bobcat linebacker finds comfort his familiar surroundings, renewed health
BOZEMAN, Montana – Grant Collins is glad to be back.
Back to the routine of fall camp. Back in the middle of the Montana State defense at Mike linebacker. Back to playing football.
Because whatever else happens, the Bobcats' senior knows he's fortunate to be playing. "It was a lot of work," Collins said of rehabilitating from the injury and surgery which many thought would conclude his career. "I had a lot of PT, a lot of things. There were a lot of questions of will I be able to come back or whatnot. At that point (in the winter) I was like, 'I'm GOING to do this. There's no question. I worked as hard as I could and did everything in my power to come back for this season."
Montana State coach Jeff Choate was among those concerned for Collins' career. After surgery after Christmas, "I really didn't think he would be out here" by the start of camp, Choate said. "He went and got his checkup to get his release to train fully, and the doctor was very optimistic. And he went out just prior to fall camp started and basically got the green light. From what I head, the doctor was very, very pleased with his recovery."
It wasn't Collins' first trip down this road. "I've had four (surgeries) now, so it's not like it was my first time around," he said. "I knew what to expect. I knew it would be hard." His regimen called for three physical therapy sessions a week at first, a workload which decreased as time passed. The result, he said, is that "I haven't felt this good in years. This is the healthiest I've been since being here."
Collins also appreciates the move from Buck end, a reaction position geared to setting the edge or "go get the quarterback. As the Mike you need to know everyone else's role around you. The more you know on defense the faster you'll be able to play."
QUARTERBACK COMPETITION: Choate said that the five-man competition to replace Chris Murray as MSU's quarterback remains mostly as it was. "I don't know if we got any more clarity today," he said. "Every night I go to bed and I think we've got this figured out, and every day after practice my mind's a little bit different."
RECEIVERS' ROUNDUP: While competition proceeds under the bright lights at quarterback, an intriguing one is also underway at the other end of the pass game. Kevin Kassis is a returning starter at receiver, Willie Patterson and Coy Steel showed well in the slot during the spring, and Lance McCutcheon had some memorable moments last fall. Add to that mix several talented freshmen – Bobcat quarterbacks singled out Koby Duru, Mekhi Metcalf, Logan Kleinhans and Mark Estes on Sunday – and Choate likes what he has seen. But he knows where every receivers' mind is at. "What is their motivation? They want the ball. They want the opportunity to shine. They come here because, whether it's running a reverse or catching a touchdown pass or even on a dig route where they get a first down and they get to stand up and point. God bless 'em, that's what they love doing." With transfers Davine Tullis (Hawai'i) and Maleek Barkley (Arkansas) also in the room, he said defining roles is on-going. But he knows one thing for certain. "They want the rock. They want to make the play that wins the game."
VERBAL COMBAT: Jeff Choate likes the talent upgrade in his team's secondary, but he really likes the improved mentality and the escalating trash-talk. "I know we're the Cats, but we needed some dog in that room," he said. "You need a certain mindset to play, specifically, corner. Get up and press and let's go, and what you're trying to do is get into the wide receivers' head, and he's trying to get into your head. That's the game within the game that probably not a lot of fans truly appreciate, but the greatest programs I've been a part of, the most elite players, they use verbal combat more than anybody."
NEXT UP: Montana State practices at 10:30 am Monday in helmets and shoulder pads.
#GoCatsGo
Back to the routine of fall camp. Back in the middle of the Montana State defense at Mike linebacker. Back to playing football.
Because whatever else happens, the Bobcats' senior knows he's fortunate to be playing. "It was a lot of work," Collins said of rehabilitating from the injury and surgery which many thought would conclude his career. "I had a lot of PT, a lot of things. There were a lot of questions of will I be able to come back or whatnot. At that point (in the winter) I was like, 'I'm GOING to do this. There's no question. I worked as hard as I could and did everything in my power to come back for this season."
Montana State coach Jeff Choate was among those concerned for Collins' career. After surgery after Christmas, "I really didn't think he would be out here" by the start of camp, Choate said. "He went and got his checkup to get his release to train fully, and the doctor was very optimistic. And he went out just prior to fall camp started and basically got the green light. From what I head, the doctor was very, very pleased with his recovery."
It wasn't Collins' first trip down this road. "I've had four (surgeries) now, so it's not like it was my first time around," he said. "I knew what to expect. I knew it would be hard." His regimen called for three physical therapy sessions a week at first, a workload which decreased as time passed. The result, he said, is that "I haven't felt this good in years. This is the healthiest I've been since being here."
Collins also appreciates the move from Buck end, a reaction position geared to setting the edge or "go get the quarterback. As the Mike you need to know everyone else's role around you. The more you know on defense the faster you'll be able to play."
QUARTERBACK COMPETITION: Choate said that the five-man competition to replace Chris Murray as MSU's quarterback remains mostly as it was. "I don't know if we got any more clarity today," he said. "Every night I go to bed and I think we've got this figured out, and every day after practice my mind's a little bit different."
RECEIVERS' ROUNDUP: While competition proceeds under the bright lights at quarterback, an intriguing one is also underway at the other end of the pass game. Kevin Kassis is a returning starter at receiver, Willie Patterson and Coy Steel showed well in the slot during the spring, and Lance McCutcheon had some memorable moments last fall. Add to that mix several talented freshmen – Bobcat quarterbacks singled out Koby Duru, Mekhi Metcalf, Logan Kleinhans and Mark Estes on Sunday – and Choate likes what he has seen. But he knows where every receivers' mind is at. "What is their motivation? They want the ball. They want the opportunity to shine. They come here because, whether it's running a reverse or catching a touchdown pass or even on a dig route where they get a first down and they get to stand up and point. God bless 'em, that's what they love doing." With transfers Davine Tullis (Hawai'i) and Maleek Barkley (Arkansas) also in the room, he said defining roles is on-going. But he knows one thing for certain. "They want the rock. They want to make the play that wins the game."
VERBAL COMBAT: Jeff Choate likes the talent upgrade in his team's secondary, but he really likes the improved mentality and the escalating trash-talk. "I know we're the Cats, but we needed some dog in that room," he said. "You need a certain mindset to play, specifically, corner. Get up and press and let's go, and what you're trying to do is get into the wide receivers' head, and he's trying to get into your head. That's the game within the game that probably not a lot of fans truly appreciate, but the greatest programs I've been a part of, the most elite players, they use verbal combat more than anybody."
NEXT UP: Montana State practices at 10:30 am Monday in helmets and shoulder pads.
#GoCatsGo
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