BOBCATS 125: Chip Hobbs
5/20/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Long and lean receiver Chip Hobbs set Bobcat receiving records in the 1990s
Chip Hobbs, WR, 1995-99
ALL-TIME TEAM: 2000 Billings Gazette All-Time Team
HONORS: 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1998
A CLOSER LOOK: Montana State's football program in the 1990s drew notice for its defense, from the decade's early years that produced future NFL standouts Corey Widmer and Sean Hill to the end of the decade and defensive line stars Neal Smith and Ty O'Connor. In that galaxy dominated by defense, though, emerged some of the brightest stars ever to wear the Blue and Gold. And Chip Hobbs was the brightest. The 6-3 Oklahoma City product was one of Division I-AA's best receivers when healthy, and in 1998 became just the third Bobcat in history to record a 1,000-yard receiving season. His 71 catches that year remains second-most in a season in MSU history, and he was second in the Big Sky that year in catches and yards-per-catch. Hobbs caught four passes in 1995 as a true freshman playing with another star pass-catcher, Eric Hopkins, and broke out as a sophomore in 1996 with 336 yards. Hobbs missed most of 1997, but in 98 turned in one of the greatest seasons ever by a Bobcat. His 71 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games remains the gold standard. Gaining an injury hardship season in 1999 for the lost campaign two years earlier, he caught 43 passes for 602 yards. Hobbs' best years came with quarterback Rob Compson under center. In 1996 and 1998 the Great Falls signal caller threw for 4,406 yards, and Hobbs accounted for 31% of them (1,370). Hobbs earned First Team All-Big Sky honors in 1998, finishing his career with 2,070 career receiving yards ( a school record until 2011) on 144 catches with 18 touchdown receptions.
FROM TEAMMATE AND CORNERBACK JOSH PERKINS: "Chip was a beast. I hated going against him in one-on-ones in practice. He was one of those players that made everything look easy. He had a nice demeanor coming out of OKC until he hit the field and flipped a switch. Most definitely he was one of the best air ball trackers I've ever seen. Lance McCutcheon reminds me a lot of Chip."
Players Mentioned
WR
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