BOBCATS 125: Jon Montoya
5/23/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Jon Montoya's steady presence and relentless excellence led MSU from an 0-11 season to back-to-back championships
Leading to the 2022 season, the 125th anniversary of Montana State's first football team, we will look at 125 of the greatest Bobcats. You can find details here and a directory here.
Jon Montoya, DE, 2000-03
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America in 2000 and 2002, 1st Team All-Big Sky in 2001 and 2002 and 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2003
A CLOSER LOOK: Jon Montoya's impact on Bobcat football was immediate, and lasting, and as part of a freshman class that redshirted in Cliff Hysell's last season was what Mike Kramer, who followed Hysell as Montana State's head coach, called "a gift." The Bobcats finished the 2000 season without a win but like beautiful flora grow from the charred remains of a forest fire so too did Bobcat football blossom after that 0-11 season. Montoya was one of the future stars that showed himself during the 2000 campaign, registering 18 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks to earn Honorable Mention All-America honors. As MSU's defense matured an improved over the next three years Montoya's individual stats fluctuated. His significance did not, and neither did the performance of the team's defense. Montoya registered 14 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks in 2001, 18 TFL and 9.5 sacks in 2002, and six TFL with two sacks as a senior in 2003. The Bobcats allowed 369.8 yards and 30.0 points a game in 2000, 356.2 yards and 29.9 points per game in 2001, 306.8 yards and 21.7 points per game in 2002, and in 2003 an astonishingly low 298.4 yards and 16.4 points per game in 2003. Montoya earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2000 and 2002, 1st Team All-Big Sky honors in 2001 and 2002, and 2nd Team All-Big Sky honors in 2003. He is also one of only two two-time First Team CoSIDA Academic All-Americas in Bobcat history (with teammate and friend Ryan Johnson).
FORMER BOBCAT COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Jon was the most non-fearsome looking dude that ever played defensive end, who was absolutely fearsome. He was patently the amazement comment of, 'That guy????' That's All-Big Sky defensive end Jon Montoya? He was so non-typical. Not loud, no cursing, no overtness, just daily quiet greatness. He understood leverage, hand placement, pad level to an uncoachable degree. He had a sense of humble appropriateness that is uncommon in college athletics. He is a cookie cutter mold for why we coach, and another great on-site gift from Coach Hysell and his staff."
Jon Montoya, DE, 2000-03
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America in 2000 and 2002, 1st Team All-Big Sky in 2001 and 2002 and 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2003
A CLOSER LOOK: Jon Montoya's impact on Bobcat football was immediate, and lasting, and as part of a freshman class that redshirted in Cliff Hysell's last season was what Mike Kramer, who followed Hysell as Montana State's head coach, called "a gift." The Bobcats finished the 2000 season without a win but like beautiful flora grow from the charred remains of a forest fire so too did Bobcat football blossom after that 0-11 season. Montoya was one of the future stars that showed himself during the 2000 campaign, registering 18 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks to earn Honorable Mention All-America honors. As MSU's defense matured an improved over the next three years Montoya's individual stats fluctuated. His significance did not, and neither did the performance of the team's defense. Montoya registered 14 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks in 2001, 18 TFL and 9.5 sacks in 2002, and six TFL with two sacks as a senior in 2003. The Bobcats allowed 369.8 yards and 30.0 points a game in 2000, 356.2 yards and 29.9 points per game in 2001, 306.8 yards and 21.7 points per game in 2002, and in 2003 an astonishingly low 298.4 yards and 16.4 points per game in 2003. Montoya earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2000 and 2002, 1st Team All-Big Sky honors in 2001 and 2002, and 2nd Team All-Big Sky honors in 2003. He is also one of only two two-time First Team CoSIDA Academic All-Americas in Bobcat history (with teammate and friend Ryan Johnson).
FORMER BOBCAT COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Jon was the most non-fearsome looking dude that ever played defensive end, who was absolutely fearsome. He was patently the amazement comment of, 'That guy????' That's All-Big Sky defensive end Jon Montoya? He was so non-typical. Not loud, no cursing, no overtness, just daily quiet greatness. He understood leverage, hand placement, pad level to an uncoachable degree. He had a sense of humble appropriateness that is uncommon in college athletics. He is a cookie cutter mold for why we coach, and another great on-site gift from Coach Hysell and his staff."
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