BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 56 Days til Kickoff, Seer Deines is an Important Part of the 2019 MSU Defense
7/6/2019 3:00:00 PM | Football
A look back a an important 5.6 yards-per-carry season by Cody Kirk
July 6: 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.
#56
Seer Deines, DL: Seer Deines' on-field opportunity wasn't abundant in 2018, but it was important. In three games the former all-area and USA Today All-State nominee from the Tri Cities area in Washington logged one assisted tackle, but he held his own physically and manned the fort in the middle of the defensive line at a time when the Cats were rolling through players because of injuries. Importantly, the three games played allowed Deines to preserve his freshman status heading into 2019, when he should be a key figure in the middle of the Bobcat D-lin.
5(.)6 – Yards per carry – 5.6 – by Cody Kirk in his breakout sophomore season, 2011.
Cody Kirk arrived at Montana State with little fanfare and few expectations, but by the middle of 2009 he was one of three redshirts turning heads on the offensive scout team. Kirk waited his turn behind junior college transfer Orenzo Davis in 2010, but when Davis was sidelined with academic issues the next season Kirk was ready. He joined classmates DeNarius McGhee (quarterback) and Tanner Bleskin (receiver) to form the heart of a dynamic home-grown offense that perfectly reflected the program's rise under Rob Ash. McGhee was the brilliant out-of-state athlete whose success was inextricable from that of Bleskin and Kirk, under-recruited and overlooked Treasure State products who became all-time greats for the Cats. Kirk rushed for 1,351 yards as a sophomore, scoring 14 touchdowns, and finished his career with 3,422 yards, second-most in Bobcat history. Kirk was an amazing success story, and it all began when he gashed opposing defenses for 5.6 yards a carry as a sophomore in 2011.
Chronology: Ed Barefield (1970-71), Bill Hansen (1974), Ed Mutch (1975), Tony Woolery (1976-77), Derek Wunsch (1978-80), Don Torchia (1981-83), Tim Ellinghouse (1984-86), Scott McFarland (1987), Dan Wilson (1988), Josh Wanago (1989-92), Chris Sobonya (1993), Cedric Cooper (1994), Josh Rollins (1998-2000), Travis Busse (2002), Troy O'Connor (2003-04), Jesse Anderson (2005-07), Shaun Sampson (2008-12), Tyler Nesbitt (2013), Rocky Hogue (2014-17), Brandon Hayashi (2016-17), Seer Deines (2018-)
Bonus Notes for #56: If you're looking for a poster child for Montana State's system of locating, recruiting, and developing in-state walk-ons, Shaun Sampson would be a pretty strong candidate. An honorable mention All-Big Sky choice in 2011, Sampson anchored MSU's offensive line in every way. Known as an effective run blocker due to his quickness, he also excelled in the mental aspect demanded of his position. Sampson was an outstanding high school player at Helena Capital, but due to his size was only lightly-recruited into the college ranks. He has found a home in the middle of the Bobcat offensive line, and Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior.… By the sheer math of it, college football players generally dominate the landscape of a college athletic department, often accounting for one-quarter to one-third of a school's student-athletes. There is a standard hierarchy of players that become the most well-known – stars become the public face of college programs, along with skill position players and hometown or local products. Getting to know a player like Brandon Hayashi is generally somewhat different. Hayashi came to MSU as a junior college transfer in the summer of 2016 and played in 17 games during his two seasons. Hayashi never broke the starting lineup on a regular basis, never really got traction except as a run-stuffer, but became one of the most well-liked players in the program for his warm demeanor and ever-present smile. Called 'the den mother' by Jeff Choate for his genuine caring for his teammates, Hayashi will long be remembered by those around the program and will always be part of the Bobcat family.
#56
Seer Deines, DL: Seer Deines' on-field opportunity wasn't abundant in 2018, but it was important. In three games the former all-area and USA Today All-State nominee from the Tri Cities area in Washington logged one assisted tackle, but he held his own physically and manned the fort in the middle of the defensive line at a time when the Cats were rolling through players because of injuries. Importantly, the three games played allowed Deines to preserve his freshman status heading into 2019, when he should be a key figure in the middle of the Bobcat D-lin.
5(.)6 – Yards per carry – 5.6 – by Cody Kirk in his breakout sophomore season, 2011.
Cody Kirk arrived at Montana State with little fanfare and few expectations, but by the middle of 2009 he was one of three redshirts turning heads on the offensive scout team. Kirk waited his turn behind junior college transfer Orenzo Davis in 2010, but when Davis was sidelined with academic issues the next season Kirk was ready. He joined classmates DeNarius McGhee (quarterback) and Tanner Bleskin (receiver) to form the heart of a dynamic home-grown offense that perfectly reflected the program's rise under Rob Ash. McGhee was the brilliant out-of-state athlete whose success was inextricable from that of Bleskin and Kirk, under-recruited and overlooked Treasure State products who became all-time greats for the Cats. Kirk rushed for 1,351 yards as a sophomore, scoring 14 touchdowns, and finished his career with 3,422 yards, second-most in Bobcat history. Kirk was an amazing success story, and it all began when he gashed opposing defenses for 5.6 yards a carry as a sophomore in 2011.
Chronology: Ed Barefield (1970-71), Bill Hansen (1974), Ed Mutch (1975), Tony Woolery (1976-77), Derek Wunsch (1978-80), Don Torchia (1981-83), Tim Ellinghouse (1984-86), Scott McFarland (1987), Dan Wilson (1988), Josh Wanago (1989-92), Chris Sobonya (1993), Cedric Cooper (1994), Josh Rollins (1998-2000), Travis Busse (2002), Troy O'Connor (2003-04), Jesse Anderson (2005-07), Shaun Sampson (2008-12), Tyler Nesbitt (2013), Rocky Hogue (2014-17), Brandon Hayashi (2016-17), Seer Deines (2018-)
Bonus Notes for #56: If you're looking for a poster child for Montana State's system of locating, recruiting, and developing in-state walk-ons, Shaun Sampson would be a pretty strong candidate. An honorable mention All-Big Sky choice in 2011, Sampson anchored MSU's offensive line in every way. Known as an effective run blocker due to his quickness, he also excelled in the mental aspect demanded of his position. Sampson was an outstanding high school player at Helena Capital, but due to his size was only lightly-recruited into the college ranks. He has found a home in the middle of the Bobcat offensive line, and Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior.… By the sheer math of it, college football players generally dominate the landscape of a college athletic department, often accounting for one-quarter to one-third of a school's student-athletes. There is a standard hierarchy of players that become the most well-known – stars become the public face of college programs, along with skill position players and hometown or local products. Getting to know a player like Brandon Hayashi is generally somewhat different. Hayashi came to MSU as a junior college transfer in the summer of 2016 and played in 17 games during his two seasons. Hayashi never broke the starting lineup on a regular basis, never really got traction except as a run-stuffer, but became one of the most well-liked players in the program for his warm demeanor and ever-present smile. Called 'the den mother' by Jeff Choate for his genuine caring for his teammates, Hayashi will long be remembered by those around the program and will always be part of the Bobcat family.
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