Montana State ranks No. 4 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Bobcats finished 8-4 last year, losing 35-34 in the FCS second round to North Dakota State.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Montana State football squad, which has 21 seniors on its current roster.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (7)
1st Team
OL Marcus Wehr
DE Brody Grebe
P Brendan Hall
2nd Team
QB Tommy Mellott
RB Julius Davis
Honorable Mention
OL Justus Perkins
S Rylan Ortt
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (1)
Rohan Jones (TE), Maine
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (4)
Dylan Rollins (OL), BYU
Ryan King (WR), ECU
Samora Ezekiel (OL), North Texas
Alec Eckert (DL), Washington State
Transfers Lost To The FCS (4)
Kendric Bailey (DB) to Lindenwood
Kade Cutler (DB) to Montana
Garrett Coon (RB) to South Dakota
Christian Anaya (WR) to Western Illinois
Transfers Lost To The FBS (4)
Omar Aigbedion (OL) to Baylor
Rush Reimer (OL) to Cal
Jacob Kettels (OL) to Kennesaw
Sebastian Valdez (DL) to Washington
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Offensive Outlook
After finishing No. 2 in FCS scoring offense (39.9 PPG) last year and No. 2 in FCS rushing (291.0 YPG), Montana State returns its starting quarterback, five offensive linemen with significant starting experience, its top wide receiver, and its top four running backs.
The Bobcats threw a dynamic two-QB system at defenses for the last two seasons. With Sean Chambers graduating, it’ll fully be Tommy Mellott’s show at quarterback. He’s been MSU’s starter since the 2021 playoffs, and a full season of health will be key without the QB1B option of Chambers.
Mellott has 2,474 career rushing yards and 3,241 passing yards, earning 2022 Sophomore All-American honors and 2023 All-Big Sky Second Team accolades. He graded out as PFF’s No. 4 overall FCS quarterback last year, tallying 1,064 yards passing (73-of-117), 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions in nine games, plus finishing second on the team with 689 yards rushing and five scores.
Mellott shouldn’t have to carry as much of a rushing load with MSU returning its top four running backs, guys all capable of 100-yard games.
Julius Davis led the Bobcats in rushing last fall after transferring from Wisconsin, recording 718 yards (6.9 yards per carry) and six touchdowns on the ground. Jared White rushed for 524 yards and four TDs as a freshman, averaging 8.1 YPC. Scottre Humphrey was another freshman standout last year, averaging 8.0 YPC and rushing for 441 yards with eight scores. Elijah Elliott is also a capable running back, tallying 272 rushing yards (8.0 YPC) and two touchdowns. Elliott, now a fifth-year senior, led MSU running backs in 2022 with 726 rushing yards.
The Bobcats return last year’s leading pass-catcher Ty McCullouch (473 yards, 5 TDs), a wide receiver transfer from Colorado State. They also bring back 6-foot-3 WR Lonyatta Alexander Jr., who may be their most talented pass-catcher. Alexander had to sit out last year due to transfer rules. He spent the 2021 season at Arizona State and 2022 at Washington.
The top two tight ends from 2023 have graduated. But the Bobcats landed a proven FCS transfer in Rohan Jones. At Maine last fall, Jones was an All-CAA Third Team selection as a sophomore after catching 22 passes for 240 yards and five TDs.
MSU lost three offensive linemen to the FBS (Omar Aigbedion to Baylor, Rush Reimer to Cal, and Jacob Kettels to Kennesaw State), two of which were All-Conference performers (Aigbedion and Reimer). Yet the MSU o-line shouldn’t miss a beat. Five guys are back with several starts under their belt.
Justus Perkins (6’0″ 282 lbs) is a three-year starter at center and a two-time All-Big Sky selection. JT Reed (6’3″ 277 lbs) was an All-Conference guard in 2022 before missing most of last season due to injury. Cole Sain (6’4″ 292 lbs) was another starting guard in 2022 who missed 2023 with an injury. Conner Moore (6’5″ 306 lbs) took over the starting left tackle spot last year as a freshman. Marcus Wehr (6’4″ 292 lbs) started seven games at tackle in 2022 before an injury, and then he put together an All-American season in 2023 as PFF’s highest-graded offensive tackle in the FCS and FBS.
Moore took over Reimer’s left tackle spot last year, sliding Reimer over to guard. Aigbedion took the reins as a full-time starting guard in 2023 partially due to the two injuries to the 2022 starting offensive guards. Reed and Sain will likely resume those starting roles this fall. Kettels saw starting experience in 2022 due to Wehr’s injury before being a backup for most of 2023.
Despite losing three linemen to the FBS, the 2024 starting OL will look similar to the 2022 unit that helped MSU rush for 311.9 yards per game en route to the semifinals. That No. 2 FCS rushing offense for a good chunk of the season saw the starting lineup of Reimer at left tackle, Reed at left guard, Perkins at center, Sain at right guard, and Wehr at right tackle. It could be the same this fall except subtracting Reimer and adding last year’s starting LT Moore.
Defensive Outlook
Montana State returns four of its top five tacklers and seven of its top 11. Twelve of its 16 defensive players who played at least 280 snaps last year are back. The defense allowed 21.8 points per game in 2023, ranking No. 26 in the FCS.
Up front, MSU loses standout interior DL Sebastian Valdez to Washington. But the d-line returns three starters, led by the strong DE duo of Brody Grebe and Kenneth Eiden IV. Grebe was an All-American last year, totaling 50 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and six quarterback hurries. Eiden added 20 tackles, five sacks, and three QB hurries. Blake Schmidt (6’2″ 288 lbs) is back as a starter on the interior. Last year, he had 18 tackles, four TFLs, and two sacks.
MSU plays two linebackers in its 4-2-5 defensive scheme. The Bobcats lose their top LB and leading tackler Nolan Askelson (84 tackles) to graduation. They return their next two LBs in multi-year starter Danny Uluilakepa (59 tackles) and McCade O’Reilly (70 tackles).
Rylan Ortt returns in MSU’s important starting safety/nickel position. He led MSU in defensive snaps last year and finished second with 74 tackles.
Ortt is a part of a veteran secondary this fall. The Bobcats rotated a lot last year, and seven of its eight defensive backs who played 300 or more snaps are back.
Safeties Dru Polidore (8 starts, 34 tackles, 3 pass breakups) and Blake Stillwell (3 starts, 39 tackles, 2 INT) return alongside Ortt.
Four of MSU’s top five cornerbacks are returning: Jon Johnson (565 snaps, 32 tackles, 2 INT, 9 pass breakups), Andrew Powdrell (385 snaps, 27 tackles, 2 pass breakups), Simeon Woodard (337 snaps, 12 tackles, 3 pass breakups), and Miles Jackson (315 snaps, 20 tackles).
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Montana State Football Schedule
8/24 at New Mexico
8/31 at Utah Tech
9/7 vs Maine
9/21 vs Mercyhurst
9/28 at Idaho State
10/5 vs Northern Colorado
10/12 vs No. 7 Idaho
10/19 at Portland State
11/2 at Eastern Washington
11/9 vs No. 8 Sacramento State
11/16 at No. 21 UC Davis
11/23 vs No. 3 Montana
Bold indicates Big Sky games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
