BOBCAT FOOTBALL IN THE 2010s: The Defensive Backs

Michael Rider's game-ending interception against the Grizzlies in 2010

Photo by: Paul Bussi

12/31/2019 2:00:00 PM | Football

From Michael Rider and Arnold Briggs to Tyrel Thomas and Brayden Konkol, MSU DBs have provided great memories this decade

By: Bill Lamberty

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, and all that the 2010s brought Bobcat fans. It was quite a decade!

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The decade of the 2010s began with one cornerback whose teammates affectionately called Grandpa and another who had been elevated to a starting role the year before as a way to keep his attention in meetings. It featured a couple of players (Tre'Von Strong and DeMonte King) who eventually played in the Pac 12, another (Bryson Keeton) who spent some time in the NFL, and in between a large dose of excellent play.

That 2010 defensive backfield featured Briggs and Jones at the corner, with safeties Michael Rider and Jordan Craney, and may be one of the savviest that Bobcat fans have seen. It was Rider's interception at the goal line on the last play of the 2010 Cat-Griz game that closed the Bobcats' second win in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and started a string of four wins in five trips to that venerable venue.

Craney and Rider served as captains in 2010, which set up the safety position as a leadership hub throughout the decade. Khari Garcia (2016), Bryson McCabe (2016-17) and Brayden Konkol (2019) were each elected captains. Among the individual stat highlights, safety Jahque Alleyne led the Big Sky in interceptions (five) in 2018.

Rider's interception that boosted MSU into a share of the 2010 Big Sky title began a string of memorable plays by Bobcat DBs over the past 10 seasons. The list includes: Steven "Big Play" Bethley's tipped extra point to preserve MSU's playoff win against New Hampshire in 2011, Tyrel Thomas' pass breakup to close out MSU's 2017 home win against the Grizzlies, and Konkol's fourth-quarter pick that pounded a stake through UM's heart in the last Cat-Griz game of the decade.

Here is a look at Montana State's defensive backs during the 2010s…

PRIMARY STARTERS (Those who started the most games at a position for each season from 2010-19)
CORNERBACK: Arnold Briggs (2010), Sean Gords (2011), Deonte Flowers (2012-14), Tre'Von Strong (2015-16), Bryce Alley (2017), Munchie Filer (2018), Damien Washington (2019)
SAFETY: Michael Rider (2010), Steven Bethley (2011-13), Eryon Barnett (2014), Khari Garcia (2015-17), Jahque Alleyne (2018-19)
SAFETY: Jordan Craney (2010), Joel Fuller (2011-12), Rob Marshall (2013-14), Desmon Carter (2015), Bryson McCabe (2016-17), Brayden Konkol (2018-19)
CORNERBACK: Darius Jones (2010-12), Sean Gords (2013), Bryson Keeton (2014-15), John Walker (2016), Tyrel Thomas (2017-)

ALL-AMERICA: CB Deonte Flowers (2014), S Brayden Konkol (2019)
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY: S Joel Fuller (2012), CB Deonte Flowers (2014), S Brayden Konkol (2019).
SECONDARY COACHES: Noah Joseph (2010-11), Justin Gaines (2010), Brandon North (2011-14), Toby Neinas (2012), Jamie Marshall (2013-15), Michael Rider (2015), Gerald Alexander (2016), Kyle Risinger (2016-19), Mark Orphey (2017-18), Kane Ioane (2019)