BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 34 Days Until Kickoff!
7/28/2019 3:00:00 PM | Football
Brad Daly rang up 34 sacks during his brilliant Bobcat career
July 28: In addition to a quick look at players wearing the jersey number corresponding to the number of days remaining until Montana State's season opener at Texas Tech on August 31, Bobcats by the Numbers brings you another tidbit or two aligning with that number.
#34
Nolan Askelson, LB: Nolan Askelson "flashed," in coach-speak, at times last year, and enters this season in competition for playing time and likely a strong presence on kick teams. Askelson helped anchor the defense for Billings Senior's recent dynasty, earning Class AA Defensive MVP honors in 2017. He also played running back and quarterback for the Broncs, but is entrenched as one of MSU's inside linebackers of the future.
34 – Career sacks by Brad Daly
Brad Daly had an amazing Bobcat career. His 34 sacks is fifth-most in MSU history, he won the 2013 Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top defensive player, was First Team All-America and All-Big Sky in 2013. He showed promising signs as a true freshman in 2009, but left school the next year. After some time away to sort out his priorities Daly returned to register 12.5 sacks in 2011. His overall statistics took a step back in 2012, while Caleb Schreibeis and Zach Minter were gobbling up so many sacks and tackles-for-loss. As a senior, though, Daly logged 14 sacks and 6.5 other tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and for good measure picked off a pass, forced and recovered two fumbles, and blocked a pair of kicks.
Chronology: John Travis (1926), Joe Hazen (1930), Marvin Eggert (1931), Delno Gates (1937), Al Ralston (1940), Norman Hansen (1941), Earl Nadeau (1946-47), Ray Gallik (1948-49), Steve Henault (1950), Duane Delger (1953), Del Layman (1954-55), Francis Turley (1956), Jerry Johnson (1959), Jack Cameron (1960), Landy Harrell (1970), Pat Stephenson (1971), Wayne Edwards (1972-74), Tom Weninger (1975-76), Jeff Davis (1977-80), Dale Halgren (1982-83), Brian Williams (1984), Mark D'Agostino (1986-89), Billy Templeton (1990), Bill Thornton (1991), Jaman Brewster (1992-93), Joey McElmurry (1994-95), Rusty Kent (1996), Arie Grey (1997), Ryan Johnson (1999-2002), Nial Saraceni (2003), Morris Milton (2004), Jeff Price (2005-09), Preston Gale (2010-12), Blake Braun (2013-16), Nich Van Horrssen (2017), Nolan Askelson (2018-)
Other #34 Notes: Jersey number 34 produced a lot of rushing yards at Montana State – 7,302 since reliable statistics were recorded beginning in 1956, to be exact, and that's without a player wearing #34 carrying the ball even once since 2004. The all-time leading ball-carrier in #34, of course, is Ryan Johnson, who gained all of his school-record 3,646 yards in that number. Other notables include Wayne Edwards (2,155 from 1972-74), Jack Cameron (284 in 1960) and friend-of-the-show Jeff Davis (387, 1977-79)… Timing is everything in football, as in life, and Preston Gale experienced both good and bad timing during his days as a Bobcat. Gale was both blessed to play on some brilliant Bobcat defenses, a cause to which he contributed. But he was cursed by injuries. After an impressive 4.5 tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2010, Gale entered 2011 expected to contribute greatly to a really terrific Bobcat defense that included a couple of future Buck Buchanan Award winners, two Big Sky MVPs-to-be, and a smattering of All-Americas. But Gale went down with an injury in fall camp, and missed the entire season. Logging considerable time with Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly, two of the greatest Bobcats ever, he managed five tackles-for-loss, and was clearly an exceptional player. His senior season held enormous amounts of promise, but he was again injured in fall camp and missed five of the season's first six games. He still posted a productive season, getting 2.5 sacks with a caused and a recovered fumble. Gale's final numbers remain impressive – 13 tackles for loss and three fumbles caused and recovered in only 28 career games. Football can be a cruel game, and under different circumstances his career may have looked different. But flags fly forever, and no one will ever take away Preston Gale's three Big Sky Championship rings or the important role he played.
#34
Nolan Askelson, LB: Nolan Askelson "flashed," in coach-speak, at times last year, and enters this season in competition for playing time and likely a strong presence on kick teams. Askelson helped anchor the defense for Billings Senior's recent dynasty, earning Class AA Defensive MVP honors in 2017. He also played running back and quarterback for the Broncs, but is entrenched as one of MSU's inside linebackers of the future.
34 – Career sacks by Brad Daly
Brad Daly had an amazing Bobcat career. His 34 sacks is fifth-most in MSU history, he won the 2013 Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top defensive player, was First Team All-America and All-Big Sky in 2013. He showed promising signs as a true freshman in 2009, but left school the next year. After some time away to sort out his priorities Daly returned to register 12.5 sacks in 2011. His overall statistics took a step back in 2012, while Caleb Schreibeis and Zach Minter were gobbling up so many sacks and tackles-for-loss. As a senior, though, Daly logged 14 sacks and 6.5 other tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and for good measure picked off a pass, forced and recovered two fumbles, and blocked a pair of kicks.
Chronology: John Travis (1926), Joe Hazen (1930), Marvin Eggert (1931), Delno Gates (1937), Al Ralston (1940), Norman Hansen (1941), Earl Nadeau (1946-47), Ray Gallik (1948-49), Steve Henault (1950), Duane Delger (1953), Del Layman (1954-55), Francis Turley (1956), Jerry Johnson (1959), Jack Cameron (1960), Landy Harrell (1970), Pat Stephenson (1971), Wayne Edwards (1972-74), Tom Weninger (1975-76), Jeff Davis (1977-80), Dale Halgren (1982-83), Brian Williams (1984), Mark D'Agostino (1986-89), Billy Templeton (1990), Bill Thornton (1991), Jaman Brewster (1992-93), Joey McElmurry (1994-95), Rusty Kent (1996), Arie Grey (1997), Ryan Johnson (1999-2002), Nial Saraceni (2003), Morris Milton (2004), Jeff Price (2005-09), Preston Gale (2010-12), Blake Braun (2013-16), Nich Van Horrssen (2017), Nolan Askelson (2018-)
Other #34 Notes: Jersey number 34 produced a lot of rushing yards at Montana State – 7,302 since reliable statistics were recorded beginning in 1956, to be exact, and that's without a player wearing #34 carrying the ball even once since 2004. The all-time leading ball-carrier in #34, of course, is Ryan Johnson, who gained all of his school-record 3,646 yards in that number. Other notables include Wayne Edwards (2,155 from 1972-74), Jack Cameron (284 in 1960) and friend-of-the-show Jeff Davis (387, 1977-79)… Timing is everything in football, as in life, and Preston Gale experienced both good and bad timing during his days as a Bobcat. Gale was both blessed to play on some brilliant Bobcat defenses, a cause to which he contributed. But he was cursed by injuries. After an impressive 4.5 tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2010, Gale entered 2011 expected to contribute greatly to a really terrific Bobcat defense that included a couple of future Buck Buchanan Award winners, two Big Sky MVPs-to-be, and a smattering of All-Americas. But Gale went down with an injury in fall camp, and missed the entire season. Logging considerable time with Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly, two of the greatest Bobcats ever, he managed five tackles-for-loss, and was clearly an exceptional player. His senior season held enormous amounts of promise, but he was again injured in fall camp and missed five of the season's first six games. He still posted a productive season, getting 2.5 sacks with a caused and a recovered fumble. Gale's final numbers remain impressive – 13 tackles for loss and three fumbles caused and recovered in only 28 career games. Football can be a cruel game, and under different circumstances his career may have looked different. But flags fly forever, and no one will ever take away Preston Gale's three Big Sky Championship rings or the important role he played.
Players Mentioned
LB
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