BOBCATS 125: Matt Engelking
6/20/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Matt Engelking recorded a pair of 1,000-yard seasons for the Bobcats
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.
Matt Engelking, RB, 1993-96
ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1996, 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 1995
A CLOSER LOOK: Matt Engelking woke up on September 2, 1995, kowing it was a special day. He was making his first career start for Montana State, just miles away from where he grew up. Engelking may or may not have dreamt of having a day like he did that afternoon in Colorado State's Hughes Stadium, when he rushed for 108 yards, no one could have possibly foreseen the two seasons Engelking posted in 1995 and 1996.
Three seasons of working dilligently behind veteran backs such as Fred Moore and Clint Morton prepared Engelking for his moment, and he took full advantage. Carrying 258 times in 1995, Engelking gained 1,176 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also caught a dozen passes. The next season he carried 260 times for 1,256 yards, crossing the goal line 10 times.
As his career ended, Engelking was third in school history with 2,464 yards. That mark remains seventh-best all-time in Bobcat history. If asked to boil Cliff Hysell's time as MSU's head coach down to a single offensive player, you couldn't do much better than the unassuming Engelking. He was tough and productive, never had a lot to say but always gave the impression that he knew way more than he was letting on. He was the product of good coaching and a system that suited him perfectly, but mostly of his own hard work and unwavering patience and dedication.
FROM FORMER BOBCAT ASSISTANT COACH GREG SALO: "Matt Engelking was a very good running back. Not very big, but pretty fast and very elisuve. Tough."
FROM BOBCAT SAFETY AND TEAM CAPTAIN SCOTT MATTHEWS: "Matt Engelking, was and is my closest friend. We communicate weekly. He is quiet and tough. When Clint Morton and Fred Moore graduated I remember some people being concerned about our situation with running back. I told them don't worry, Matt Engelking is like a combination of the two. He wasn't as fast as Clint in the open field or as slippery as Fred, but he was better than both of them because he was the perfect combination. He was a blue collar running back who always made positive yardage and always got that extra yard at the end of the run. He was a pillar of our offense because we always knew he was smart, going to be consistent and get that extra yard on offense. If we had a more consistent passing game at that time, I cannot imagine how many yards he would have gotten. If he played on a championship team his statistical accomplishments he would be better appreciated for just how impressive they were given the opposing teams were putting eight in the box against him every game."
FROM VOICE OF THE CATS DEAN ALEXANDER: "Matt Engelking was durable, a pounder. He was a hard-nosed running back."
Matt Engelking, RB, 1993-96
ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1996, 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 1995
A CLOSER LOOK: Matt Engelking woke up on September 2, 1995, kowing it was a special day. He was making his first career start for Montana State, just miles away from where he grew up. Engelking may or may not have dreamt of having a day like he did that afternoon in Colorado State's Hughes Stadium, when he rushed for 108 yards, no one could have possibly foreseen the two seasons Engelking posted in 1995 and 1996.
Three seasons of working dilligently behind veteran backs such as Fred Moore and Clint Morton prepared Engelking for his moment, and he took full advantage. Carrying 258 times in 1995, Engelking gained 1,176 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also caught a dozen passes. The next season he carried 260 times for 1,256 yards, crossing the goal line 10 times.
As his career ended, Engelking was third in school history with 2,464 yards. That mark remains seventh-best all-time in Bobcat history. If asked to boil Cliff Hysell's time as MSU's head coach down to a single offensive player, you couldn't do much better than the unassuming Engelking. He was tough and productive, never had a lot to say but always gave the impression that he knew way more than he was letting on. He was the product of good coaching and a system that suited him perfectly, but mostly of his own hard work and unwavering patience and dedication.
FROM FORMER BOBCAT ASSISTANT COACH GREG SALO: "Matt Engelking was a very good running back. Not very big, but pretty fast and very elisuve. Tough."
FROM BOBCAT SAFETY AND TEAM CAPTAIN SCOTT MATTHEWS: "Matt Engelking, was and is my closest friend. We communicate weekly. He is quiet and tough. When Clint Morton and Fred Moore graduated I remember some people being concerned about our situation with running back. I told them don't worry, Matt Engelking is like a combination of the two. He wasn't as fast as Clint in the open field or as slippery as Fred, but he was better than both of them because he was the perfect combination. He was a blue collar running back who always made positive yardage and always got that extra yard at the end of the run. He was a pillar of our offense because we always knew he was smart, going to be consistent and get that extra yard on offense. If we had a more consistent passing game at that time, I cannot imagine how many yards he would have gotten. If he played on a championship team his statistical accomplishments he would be better appreciated for just how impressive they were given the opposing teams were putting eight in the box against him every game."
FROM VOICE OF THE CATS DEAN ALEXANDER: "Matt Engelking was durable, a pounder. He was a hard-nosed running back."
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