2016 Frontier Football Preview: DB's, Special Teams

Defensive backs are just that, the last line of defense on the back end of a defense. And over the years, the Frontier Conference has produced some great ones.

Just last year, a bevy of talented defensive backs ruled the secondary and made life very difficult for opposing offenses, and especially wide receivers and quarterbacks.

The Montana State University-Northern Lights had a couple of those types of defensive backs, and one of them is back for another fall. While the Lights will certainly miss the services of graduated cornerback Malcolm Manuel, Northern is glad to have safety Logan Sprouse back to lead an otherwise new-look secondary.

Sprouse (5-11, 170) busted out last season, recording 76 tackles to go along with three interceptions and one he returned for a touchdown. Heading into the new season, Sprouse will be called upon not only to produce in the secondary again, but to be an anchor for it.

When it came to secondaries last fall, no two teams were more loaded than Southern Oregon and Carroll College.

The Raiders had three All-Conference performers, and while two of them are gone heading into the 2016 season, they may still have the best defensive back in the Frontier. NAIA All-American Julius Rucker (6-2, 200) returns for his senior season after he tallied a team-high 108 tackles to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss and one interception last season. And while Rucker is still going to wreak havoc on the league this season, he’ll need help around him if SOU is again going to have a dangerous secondary.

Carroll also lost an All-American in star safety James Dowgin. Dowgin was perhaps one of the best safeties to ever play in the Frontier, and he will be sorely missed. However, head coach Mike Van Diest still has All-Conference corner Ryan Gregory (6-0, 185) back after he totaled 23 stops and two INTs a year ago. Tucker Johnson (6-1, 200) is also back for the Saints after tallying 46 tackles and two INTs a year ago, while Carroll will also look to former Montana State Bobcat Vince DiGiallonardo (6-0, 195) to make an impact at safety this season.

Meanwhile, College of Idaho was also loaded in the secondary last season, but graduation didn’t seem to hurt the Yotes. They return All-Conference DB Nate Moore (5-9, 175), who was second in the Frontier a year ago with six picks.

Other players to watch for in the secondary this season in the Frontier include, Montana Tech safety Gunnar Kayser (6-4, 200), who is a hard hitter who totaled 57 tackles, six TFLs and one INT last season. Rocky Mountain College’s Jason Baker (5-11, 200) had 35 tackles a season ago, and Eastern Oregon’s John Payne (5-8, 170) totaled 34 tackles and a pick for the Mounties last fall.

Special Teams

You can’t win football games, or championships for that matter, without great special teams play. And the Frontier will have plenty of that this coming season.

In the kicking department, Southern Oregon’s Marcus Montano is the top returning producer with 12 field goals last season, while UM-Western’s Seth Mason kicked seven field goals a year ago and is also back. Top returning punters include Montana Tech’s Derrick Holt, Carroll College’s Dylan Torgerson and MSU-N’s Dillon Barnes.

In the return game, no one has anybody better than EOU’s Calvin Connors, who is also one of the most electrifying wide receivers returning this fall. A year ago, Connors was All-Conference on both punt return and kickoff return. He averaged 30 yards per kickoff and returned one for a score last season, while he also averaged 17.9 yards per punt return.

SOU’s Matt Retzlaff also had a big season a year ago returning punts, including two for TD’s, while Carroll’s Ryan Gregory is also a dangerous punt returner, as is Northern Jake Messerly. MSU-N’s Jett Robertson also came on strong as a kick returner last season, and should do so again for the Lights this fall.

Editor’s Note: This is the sixth story in the Havre Daily News’ series on the top returning players in the Frontier Conference. The series will conclude on Monday with the top returning running backs, while Friday’s HDN will feature bios for all of the league’s head coaches.