Erik Frazier, right, and Travis Jonsen are now both employed in the NFL
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
Bobcat Receivers Coach Erik Frazier Headed to NFL Coaching Ranks
2/4/2021 3:26:00 PM | Football
Frazier and former Bobcat assistant Michael Pitre among seven with MSU ties in the NFL
BOZEMAN, Montana – The ranks of former Bobcats in the National Football League grew by one this week when Montana State receivers coach Erik Frazier joined the Tennessee Titans staff as an offensive quality control analyst.
Frazier coached Bobcat receivers and coordinated the team's pass game in 2019, and mentored All-Big Sky receivers Kevin Kassis (third team) and Travis Jonsen (first team all-purpose). He arrived at MSU after one season as receivers coach at Western Illinois, where three of his players recorded at least 600 receiving yards, and in 2017 was a graduate assistant at Northwestern. Previously, Frazier coached receivers at Dayton (2016) and Delaware Valley (2014-15). He has coached six players to some type of all-league honors.
At Tennessee, Frazier joins the staff of offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Downing was the Minnesota Vikings tight ends coach in 2018, when Frazier worked there in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship program.
Another recent MSU assistant coach, Michael Pitre (running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, 2014-17) has joined the Chicago Bears as running backs coach. Pitre coached some of the best running backs in Bobcat history during his time in Bozeman, including Chad Newell and Troy Andersen, and the Cats led the Big Sky in rushing and ranked seventh nationally in 2017 (249.5). Pitre, a former UCLA running back who worked in the Bill Walsh Minority Intern Program with the Kansas City Chiefs twice, coached at Oregon State from 2018-20. Current Bears head coach Matt Nagy was a Chiefs assistant coach during Pitre's stints there.
Frazier and Pitre join five others previously associated with Montana State football in the NFL ranks. Former MSU secondary coach Gerald Alexander coaches Miami Dolphins defensive backs; Bill Kollar, one of the greatest players in MSU and Big Sky football history, is defensive line coach for the Denver Broncos; former All-America quarterback DeNarius McGhee is an analyst on the Houston Texans staff; Jonsen is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver on the team's practice squad; and linebacker Alex Singleton led the Philadelphia Eagles in tackles this season.
For the second straight season a former Bobcat player enters Super Bowl weekend with more than a rooting interest. Super Bowl LIV a year ago marked the final game for MSU legend Mike Person, one of the program's best-ever offensive lineman, and Super Bowl LV on Sunday could feature Jonsen. He has been on Tampa Bay's practice squad for much of the season.
#GoCatsGo
Frazier coached Bobcat receivers and coordinated the team's pass game in 2019, and mentored All-Big Sky receivers Kevin Kassis (third team) and Travis Jonsen (first team all-purpose). He arrived at MSU after one season as receivers coach at Western Illinois, where three of his players recorded at least 600 receiving yards, and in 2017 was a graduate assistant at Northwestern. Previously, Frazier coached receivers at Dayton (2016) and Delaware Valley (2014-15). He has coached six players to some type of all-league honors.
At Tennessee, Frazier joins the staff of offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Downing was the Minnesota Vikings tight ends coach in 2018, when Frazier worked there in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship program.
Another recent MSU assistant coach, Michael Pitre (running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, 2014-17) has joined the Chicago Bears as running backs coach. Pitre coached some of the best running backs in Bobcat history during his time in Bozeman, including Chad Newell and Troy Andersen, and the Cats led the Big Sky in rushing and ranked seventh nationally in 2017 (249.5). Pitre, a former UCLA running back who worked in the Bill Walsh Minority Intern Program with the Kansas City Chiefs twice, coached at Oregon State from 2018-20. Current Bears head coach Matt Nagy was a Chiefs assistant coach during Pitre's stints there.
Frazier and Pitre join five others previously associated with Montana State football in the NFL ranks. Former MSU secondary coach Gerald Alexander coaches Miami Dolphins defensive backs; Bill Kollar, one of the greatest players in MSU and Big Sky football history, is defensive line coach for the Denver Broncos; former All-America quarterback DeNarius McGhee is an analyst on the Houston Texans staff; Jonsen is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver on the team's practice squad; and linebacker Alex Singleton led the Philadelphia Eagles in tackles this season.
For the second straight season a former Bobcat player enters Super Bowl weekend with more than a rooting interest. Super Bowl LIV a year ago marked the final game for MSU legend Mike Person, one of the program's best-ever offensive lineman, and Super Bowl LV on Sunday could feature Jonsen. He has been on Tampa Bay's practice squad for much of the season.
#GoCatsGo
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