2016 Frontier Football Preview: Receivers/Tight Ends

Quarterbacks get a lot of love. They get a lot of publicity and fame. But, they would be nowhere without the guys catching the ball on the other end. And, in the Frontier Conference, there’s plenty of guys doing the catching who are pretty darn good.

Year-after-year, the league has had some exciting wide receivers, and, in the last four seasons, guys like Rocky Mountain College’s Andre McCullouch, as well as a slew of stars at Southern Oregon, have been some of the best in the NAIA.

Heading into the 2016 season, plenty of those type of guys are left in the Frontier. And, at Montana State University-Northern, there’s reason for optimism on the wide receiver front. In 2015, Northern was decimated and thin at the WR position but, this fall, things are looking up for the Lights. With Sam Mix returning to Northern after taking a year off because of injuries he sustained in the horrific attack on he and two other MSU-N students in the spring of 2015, as well as a bevy of talented newcomers, and senior Mario Gobbatto ready to be used at wideout, the Lights and quarterback Jess Krahn are certain to have an improved passing attack this season.

Oh yeah, Northern also returns one of the most talented football players in the Frontier for his senior season in speedster Jake Messerly (6-1, 215). Messerly has a host of highlight reel catches and runs to his credit in his career, but now, as a senior, he looks to be a steady star to lead the Lights’ young receiver group. As a junior, Messerly caught 31 balls for 408 yards and three scores, though he really exploded his sophomore season, with over 700 yards and a league-best 19.7 yards per catch.

So, there’s no doubt Messerly gives Northern a dynamic playmaker at wide receiver, but he’s not alone in the Frontier either.

Southern Oregon continues to produce star after star at the WR position, and senior Matt Retzlaff is no exception. A 2015 NAIA All-American, Retzlaff (5-10, 190) returns after catching 51 passes for 708 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. And, with quarterback Tanner Trosin now much more comfortable, Retzlaff could have a huge 2016 campaign.

Just down the road from SOU, Eastern Oregon also has a star, and for the first time in four years, it’s not do-everything man Jace Billingsley. With Billingsley now graduated, the spotlight turns to junior Calvin Connors, who lit the Frontier on fire a year ago. The 5-9. 185-pound speedster is an NCAA talent, and he proved it by catching 51 passes for 641 yards and seven scores a year ago.

College of Idaho isn’t known for its passing game, but the Yotes have threats out wide. Tyler Higby (5-11, 190) was All-Conference as a junior after he grabbed 34 balls for 604 yards and six TDs as a junior. Head coach Mike Moroski also likes what he see’s in 5-11, 180-pound speedster Austin Diffey.

Meanwhile, Carroll College went into last season with perhaps the deepest group of wide receivers in the league. But injuries decimated the Carroll depth chart, so now, many of those stars return, and Carroll could be loaded there again. Watch for the talented Connor Fohn (6-1, 195) to have a big season, while Kyle Griffith (5-11, 185) returns from a redshirt year, and Troy Arnston should have a breakout season, as well.

Other wide receivers to watch this season include UM-Western’s Matt Lickfold (6-3, 230), who caught 27 passes for 371 yards last season, as well as RMC’s Tyrell McGee (5-9, 180), who has big shoes to fill with McCullouch now gone, but, he did catch 28 balls for 420 yards last fall.

Tight Ends

The tight end position might be a vanishing product in college football, but don't tell that to the best of the best in the Frontier.

And nobody does it much better than C of I's Marcus Lenhardt (6-4, 220). Already a two-time NAIA All-American, Lenhardt is the prototype tight end, and, he will certainly draw NFL interest as his career goes on. In his sophomore season, he caught 40 passes for 473 yards and five scores, while also being a great blocker in the Yotes' run-heavy offense.

Another young tight end in the league to watch out for is Carroll's Connor McGree (6-3, 245). McGree was pressed into action as a freshman, and the former Butte Central product was stellar. And, with a long list of great tight ends having played at Carroll, McGree might just be the next great one for head coach Mike Van Diest.

Of course, Northern already has a great one at tight end, and his junior season should be a big one. Kagen Khamaneh (6-3, 225) is now an experienced veteran, and while he's always been a great blocker, he should be an even bigger threat in Northern's passing game this fall. As one of the best tight ends last season, Khamaneh caught 20 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, and he'll look to really up that production this season.

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of stories previewing the top players in the Frontier Conference at each position. On Wednesday, the HDN will take a look at the top defensive linemen in the league.