Cat-Griz Extra: Bobcats reloading, not rebuilding in 2014

If the Montana State football team was loaded the last four years, and still fell short of high expectations a season ago, then it would stand to reason that the Bobcats might slide back this fall.

But whether or not you're a fan of the Bobcats, or of any other team in the Big Sky Conference, it wouldn't be wise to assume MSU is headed for a down season. Yes, it's true the No. 19 Cats saw four-year starting quarterback DeNarius McGhee graduate, as well as one of the most prolific rushers in MSU history, Cody Kirk go, too. The Cats also lost star wide receiver Tanner Bleskin and Buck Buchanan Award winner Brad Daly on defense. In all, the Class of 2013, which captured two different Big Sky championships and made three Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, was said to be one of the best in MSU history, and now they're gone.

Yet, it's time for a new era of Bobcat football, and the future looks bright as MSU prepares to open its season at FBS Arkansas State Saturday night.

"Our goal every year is to win the conference, get in the playoffs and try to go as deep as possible in the playoffs," said veteran MSU head coach Rob Ash, who's already the Cats' career leader in wins. "Somebody's got to win the national championship, and we've got to hope that one of these years it's going to be us. That's what we aspire to be here."

But change is inevitable and the Cats are going through it now. Twice in the last four years, the Bobcats ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the country, and they have had success in the playoffs recently. But in spite of one of the most successful senior classes in school history, 2013 didn't end the way anyone envisioned. The Cats dropped three straight to finish the regular season, including back-to-back home losses to Southern Utah and rival Montana. The result was a 7-5 mark and no playoff appearance for the great senior class.

But the 2014 season dawns new hope for MSU. Yes, there were plenty of holes to fill, but Ash feels all the areas of concern have been addressed, including the starting quarterback job, which was won by red-shirt sophomore Dakota Prukop (6-2, 195). Prukop emerged from a fierce battle with McGhee's backup the last two seasons, Jake Bleskin, as well as red-shirt freshman Quinn McQueary. And while MSU has three tremendous QBs on its roster, and Bleskin filled in admirably for an injured McGhee last season, Ash is excited about what Prukop brings to the table, even with no game experience.

"He's in the right place, his eyes are in the right place, his reads are to the right place, he gets guys lined up," Ash said. "There were no issues with that in spite of his youth and lack of experience. Dakota has really made great gains in this area since the spring."

It turns out, Prukop was the perfect choice for offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey's wide-open, no-huddle, high-speed attack he's installed this season. Prukop is big and strong, but he's also a runner and that bodes well for what MSU now wants to be on offense.

And speed is the key. The Cats do return starting tailback Shawn Johnson for his senior year. Johnson (5-9, 170), has been one of the fastest players in the Big Sky the last three years, and one of the league's best kickoff and punt returners. Now he gets a chance to shoulder the bulk of the MSU running attack after backing up Kirk the last two seasons. Johnson is explosive and shifty, and he should be an instant playmaker for MSU, and help take some of the pressure off of Prukop early on. The Cats are also overloaded with talent in the backfield. Chad Newell and junior transfer Anthony Knight will back up Johnson, while sophomore Gunnar Brekke will also get a chance to showcase his talents on offense this season.

MSU also returns a powerful big and veteran offensive line, as well as one of the best tight ends in the Big Sky. Senior Quinn Catalano (6-4, 300) and talented sophomore JP Flynn (6-5, 304) are the guards, with junior Joel Horn (6-4, 320) at center. The tackles are juniors John Weidenaar (6-7, 280) and Alex Eekhoff (6-6, 286). The group is one of the best MSU has had in Ash's tenure, while Tia Salonoa (6-3, 257) could turn out to be an All-American at tight end by season's end. He's shown signs of it already in his time at MSU, but injuries have kept him from realizing his full potential. But his talent, combined with his size and speed, make him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons MSU has.

The Cats hope to be dangerous at wide receiver, too. Senior Brian Floetketter (6-2, 211) and junior Tanner Roderick (6-3, 185) will lead an otherwise inexperienced, but speedy group of MSU receivers. Floetketter has started the last two seasons, while Roderick came back to MSU from Nevada last season with the intention of competing for the starting QB job this season. But, he has made the decision to stay at receiver, and with little experience behind he and Floetketter, that's a good thing for the Bobcats.

With question marks on offense hopefully answered, so, too, have the ones on defense, at least so far in fall camp. The loss of Daly is huge, but MSU should be a more complete defense this fall. The Cats are loaded at linebacker, with the return of All-Conference standout Alex Singleton. Cole Moore is also back for his second season as a starter, while Michael Foster also returns. But the biggest boost to the linebacking group is the return of senior Na'a Moeakiola (5-11, 220). Picked to be an All-American in 2013, he wound up missing the entire year with a shoulder injury, and his presence in the MSU lineup is a huge lift to an MSU defense that was maligned at times a year ago.

Up front, MSU will be young, but talented. Odin Coe steps into Daly's role at bandit, while true freshman Garrett Marino (6-2, 255) will start on the other side. Taylor Sheridan and Taylor Dees have some experience at tackle, while Connor Thomas and Nate Bignell will also rotate into the interior.

But while the Cats might have some growing pains up front, the back end of the defense should be exceptional. Behind MSU's stout linebackers, Deonte Flowers returns at corner as an All-American candidate. The Cats also landed Nevada transfer Bryson Keeton to play opposite Flowers, while senior safeties Eryon Barnett and Rob Marshall should be an excellent, hard-hitting tandem.

On special teams, the Cats will have a rookie kicker in Billings' Luke Daly, with Bleskin possibly doing the punting. But MSU, with Johnson on the roster for one more season, will have one of the best return games in the Big Sky.

While no doubt, there have been holes to fill at MSU, and the Cats are coming off arguably the most successful four-year run in football history, Cat fans should rest easy. The Bobcats - even with the loss of McGhee, who won two Big Sky MVPs and shattered nearly ever MSU passing record in the books, and the rest of his senior class - will be fine going forward and will be a Big Sky contender right away.

The new-look offense will be key. If MSU executes it like Cramsey wants, the Cats will be tough to stop. And that bodes well considering the Cats' defense should be downright stingy this fall.

However, winning a Big Sky title, and getting back in the playoffs also hinges on negotiating a tough, but a manageable schedule. After opening with Arkansas State, the Cats will play four straight games inside Bobcat Stadium, but two of those are FCS nonconference games. Central Arkansas comes calling Sept. 13, one week after the Cats open at home with NCAA DII Black Hills State. Following the UCA game, MSU has a huge showdown with Big Sky rival Eastern Washington. The Cats and Eagles don't meet in conference play again until 2017, but they did schedule a home-and-home, nonconference series covering the next two seasons. That game, with North Dakota coming to open Big Sky play the following week, will be a huge litmus test for MSU.

The middle of conference play will be daunting for the Bobcats, however. The Cats make three trips to California in four weeks, starting Oct. 4 with a visit to Sacramento State. MSU returns to play UC Davis the next week, then goes back to Southern California for a visit to Cal Poly Nov. 1. Those three games in California could very well determine MSU's chances at a Big Sky title, and a playoff berth.

The Bobcats will also close their season on the road. After home games against Portland State and Idaho State, MSU travels north to Missoula for the annual Brawl of the Wild Nov. 22.

But, the tough schedule not withstanding, good things are expected from a new-look Bobcat football team this fall. With everything the Cats have achieved in the last four years, and everything they lost when their season ended last November, it would be easy to think the Cats need to rebuild. But Ash certainly doesn't agree.

"People have asked me whether we'll be young or rebuilding, and neither is the case," Ash said. "We're very experienced. We've got veteran guys at lots of positions on this team. We think we'll have a good group. We have a good solid program established and we do have a lot of veterans coming back, with 18 seniors."

2013: 7-5 overall, 5-3 in Big Sky (T5th)

2014: No. 19 in FCS Preseason Poll, Picked 3rd in the Big Sky

Head Coach: Rob Ash

2014 Schedule

Aug. 30 at Arkansas St., 5 p.m.

Sept. 6 vs Black Hills, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 vs C. Arkansas, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 vs E. Washington, 1 p.m.

Sept. 27 vs North Dakota, 2 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Sac. State, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 at UC Davis, 5 p.m.

Oct. 18 vs Weber State, 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 at Cal Poly, 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 vs Portland St., 2 p.m.

Nov. 15 vs Idaho St., 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 22 at Montana, 3 p.m.