Cody Kirk
BOBCAT FOOTBALL IN THE 2010s: The Running Backs
12/30/2019 2:00:00 PM | Football
From Cody Kirk to Isaiah Ifanse, MSU produced brilliant running backs in the 2010s
Rather than ranking the top Bobcat football players, games, and other moments from the decade that's coming to a close, let's take a look back position group by position group, at all that the 2010s brought Bobcat fans. It was quite a decade!
RUNNING BACKS
It's a testament to the strength of the running back position in the Big Sky over the past 10 years that Montana State produced only one First Team All-Big Sky running back in that period. Cody Kirk had a season for the ages in 2010, gaining 1,351 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns as the Bobcats captured a Big Sky Championship.
Five individual rushing seasons eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark during the 2010s, but only Orenzo Davis (1,126 yards in 2010) and Kirk (who also gained 1,088 as a senior in 2013) did so as running backs. Shawn Johnson was an amazing utility player for the Bobcats from 2011-14, earning All-America honors as a return specialist while gaining 1,450 yards on the ground in his career and 683 through the air. Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke formed a strong tandem in the middle part of the decade, and Nick LaSane was brilliant in his one healthy season as a starter (2017). Logan Jones was similarly excellent when healthy, and Isaiah Ifanse is poised to carry the torch into the2020s.
An interesting note regarding MSU's running backs position in the 2010s relates to the men who coached it. Kerry Dixon is now the running backs coach at Toledo (previously coaching at Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Florida International), Demo Odems is running backs coach at Mary Hardin-Baylor, while Michael Pitre currently coaches Oregon State's running backs.
Here is a look at Montana State's running backs during the 2010s…
PRIMARY STARTERS (Those who started the most games at a position for each season from 2010-19)
RUNNING BACK: Orenzo Davis (2010), Cody Kirk (2011-13), Shawn Johnson (2014), Chad Newell (2015-16), Nick LaSane (2017), Isaiah Ifanse (2018-19)
FULLBACK or RB2: CJ Palmer (2010), Tray Robinson (2011-12), Orenzo Davis (2012), Shawn Johnson/Chad Newell (2013), Chad Newell/Anthony Knight (2014), Gunnar Brekke (2015-16), Troy Andersen (2017), Logan Jones (2018-19)
BIG SKY HONORS: Troy Andersen – 2017 Big Sky Freshman of the Year
ALL-AMERICA: Shawn Johnson (as return specialist, 2013)
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY: Cody Kirk (2011).
LINEBACKERS COACHES: Kerry Dixon (2010-11), Demo Odems (2012-13), Michael Pitre (2015-17), DeNarius McGhee (2018-19)
RUNNING BACKS
It's a testament to the strength of the running back position in the Big Sky over the past 10 years that Montana State produced only one First Team All-Big Sky running back in that period. Cody Kirk had a season for the ages in 2010, gaining 1,351 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns as the Bobcats captured a Big Sky Championship.
Five individual rushing seasons eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark during the 2010s, but only Orenzo Davis (1,126 yards in 2010) and Kirk (who also gained 1,088 as a senior in 2013) did so as running backs. Shawn Johnson was an amazing utility player for the Bobcats from 2011-14, earning All-America honors as a return specialist while gaining 1,450 yards on the ground in his career and 683 through the air. Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke formed a strong tandem in the middle part of the decade, and Nick LaSane was brilliant in his one healthy season as a starter (2017). Logan Jones was similarly excellent when healthy, and Isaiah Ifanse is poised to carry the torch into the2020s.
An interesting note regarding MSU's running backs position in the 2010s relates to the men who coached it. Kerry Dixon is now the running backs coach at Toledo (previously coaching at Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Florida International), Demo Odems is running backs coach at Mary Hardin-Baylor, while Michael Pitre currently coaches Oregon State's running backs.
Here is a look at Montana State's running backs during the 2010s…
PRIMARY STARTERS (Those who started the most games at a position for each season from 2010-19)
RUNNING BACK: Orenzo Davis (2010), Cody Kirk (2011-13), Shawn Johnson (2014), Chad Newell (2015-16), Nick LaSane (2017), Isaiah Ifanse (2018-19)
FULLBACK or RB2: CJ Palmer (2010), Tray Robinson (2011-12), Orenzo Davis (2012), Shawn Johnson/Chad Newell (2013), Chad Newell/Anthony Knight (2014), Gunnar Brekke (2015-16), Troy Andersen (2017), Logan Jones (2018-19)
BIG SKY HONORS: Troy Andersen – 2017 Big Sky Freshman of the Year
ALL-AMERICA: Shawn Johnson (as return specialist, 2013)
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY: Cody Kirk (2011).
LINEBACKERS COACHES: Kerry Dixon (2010-11), Demo Odems (2012-13), Michael Pitre (2015-17), DeNarius McGhee (2018-19)
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
