High expectations await Montana State Bobcats in 2019
by Danny Waldo
The Montana State Bobcats enter the 2019 season with dreams of winning the Big Sky Conference thanks to a strong finish to the 2018 campaign that saw them return to the FCS playoffs and earn a first round victory, in addition to running their winning streak over the rival Grizzlies to three games for the first time since the 1980s.
Apparently, those outside of the Bobcat program expect big things from head coach Jeff Choate’s crew as well, as MSU was tabbed to start the season in the Top 15 of two FCS national polls. Athlon Sports has Montana State listed in the No. 8 spot, as one of four Big Sky Conference teams in the Top 15, while Hero Sports has MSU slotted in the No. 14 spot.
Fellow Big Sky Conference members Eastern Washington (Athlon – No. 4, Hero – No. 7), UC Davis (Athlon – No. 5, Hero – No. 3), and Weber State (Athlon – No.9, Hero – No. 11) also join the Bobcats as Top 15 members. Montana earned the No. 23 spot in the Athlon Sports preseason poll, but was unranked in the Hero Sports poll.
Montana State also saw three players receive Preseason All-America status. Junior Troy Andersen was tabbed a Hero Sports Preseason First Team All-American as an athlete, while senior offensive lineman Mitch Brott was selected to the Second Team, and sophomore running back Isaiah Ifanse was named to the Third Team.
Andersen earned Third Team All-American and First Team All-Big Sky accolades in 2018 after leading the Bobcats to the FCS playoffs from the quarterback position. Andersen had the most rushing yards of any quarterback in Big Sky Conference history last season, but he will most likely split his time between running back and linebacker in 2019. He was tabbed a preseason All-American as an athlete, which designates that he as the ability to affect the games in a variety of ways.
Brott earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors last season, while Ifanse was a Hero Sports Freshman All-American and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky kudos after becoming the first MSU freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards.
MSU will open fall camp in early August, and begin the 2019 season on the road at Big 12 member Texas Tech on August 31st in Lubbock. •
