With Montana State beginning its second fall camp under Jeff Choate this week, Skyline Sports will break down MSU’s roster by highlighting prominent battles for playing time in each position group.
No. 9 of the countdown of most important Bobcat position battles: Punter
No. 8 — Tight end
Today’s position: Offensive guards
The players: Caleb Gillis (a 6-foot-6, 295-pound fifth-year senior from Glenn, Montana); Jake McFetridge (a 6-foot-6, 295-pound third-year sophomore from Huntington Beach, California); Wade Webster (a 6-foot-6, 305-pound fourth-year junior from Bettendorf, Iowa); and Lewis Kidd (a 6-foot-6, 287-pounder redshirt freshman from Minneapolis).
What’s at stake: Montana State struggled in 2016, losing its first six Big Sky Conference games. The losing streak to start the Choate era could be attribute to several factors but certainly no fault of the Bobcats’ inside run game.
Montana State first-year offensive line coach Josh Taufalele/ by Brooks Nuanez
All-American left guard J.P. Flynn, now of the San Francisco 49ers, and powerful junior right guard Monte Folsom were key elements of an offensive line that helped MSU rush for 212 yards per game. Flynn moved on to the NFL while an ailing back forced Folsom’s early retirement.
That opened up both guard spots, meaning renewed opportunities for the versatile, powerful yet unrefined Gillis, a former walk-on out of Beaverhead County High in Dillon. It means a chance to affirm his formidable potential for the athletic yet unpolished McFetridge. It means a chance to follow in the footsteps of the first Bettendorf-produced Bobcat star (Flynn) for Webster. And it means a first opportunity for Kidd to prove he fits on the offensive front after coming to MSU as a defensive tackle.
“It’s whoever makes the least mistakes and whoever is the most competitive,” MSU first-year offensive line coach Josh Taufalele said Sunday afternoon. “Right now, we are just trying to find who has the best chemistry of the five.”
How they fared in 2016: Gillis has been among the eight offensive linemen Montana State brings on the road each of the last two seasons. He played right guard and right tackle as a sophomore in 2015, appearing in every game. He played primarily guard last season, backing up fellow Dillon product Monte Folsom on the right side.
McFetridge also traveled as a redshirt freshman in 2016. He provided depth behind Flynn and center Alex Neale.
Webster, who hails from the same high school as Flynn, has struggled to crack MSU’s 63-man travel roster as he enters his fourth season. He spent much of his younger days playing offensive tackle before Choate and his staff moved Webster inside.
The case for Gillis: The towering, soft-spoken former walk-on knows full well the upcoming fall means now or never if he’s going to be a significant contributor.
“I feel like I’ve always had a sense of urgency but it’s a different feeling being your senior year,” Gillis said. “The reality is starting to set in.”
Gillis is athletic and tough. He has put in the work, gaining more than 60 pounds since first walking on. He has one year to prove he deserves to be a Division I starter. If he embraces the urgency he talks about, he will be the starter at right guard between Neale and sophomore right tackle Mitch Brott.
MSU offensive lineman Jake McFetridge (67) working at center/by Brooks Nuanez
The case for McFetridge: McFetridge came to Montana State as a former baseball player who’d only played two years of serious football. He was projected as a left tackle because of his height. His rapid development physically, particularly in his lower body, has given him the prototype build of an offensive guard.
Now he’s the leader in the competition early on to replace Flynn at left guard. For McFetridge, he says the competition is what motivates him.
“It’s always in the back of your mind whether you are in meetings, eating lunch or out here on the field,” McFetridge said following Sunday’s practice. “It definitely ups your game and hopefully ups their game too so we all get better.”
McFetridge is physical and mobile. If he can hone his consistency and cultivate chemistry with returning starters senior Dylan Mahoney, Neale and Brott, he will be the starter at left guard.
The case for Webster: Webster’s shear size has made him an intriguing player with potential during his time in Bozeman. He played his first two seasons as a tackle before moving inside.
As he enters his fourth year in the program, Webster has yet to earn a letter. He has not been able to crack the top eight linemen who typically travel nor has he appeared in enough games to move beyond his status as a squad member. With a strong fall camp performance, he could change all of that. But it will be a tall task for him to overtake McFetridge at left guard.
Montana State redshirt freshman offensive lineman Lewis Kidd/ by Brooks Nuanez
The case for Kidd: When senior to be Monte Folsom announced his retirement in the spring, it opened up MSU’s right guard spot. Gillis didn’t participate much in spring practices because of a class conflict, so MSU tried Kidd at both guards.
Ideally, Choate wants Kidd to be his left tackle of the future. He has taken the bulk of the backup reps with the second team behind Dylan Mahoney so far this camp. Still, he’s getting reps with the backup guards as well. If Gillis falters, Kidd could sneak into the starting lineup.
What they must accomplish during fall camp: Montana State averaged 212 rushing yards per game last season. With the return of explosive sophomore quarterback Chris Murray and a stable of talented running backs, the Bobcats are likely to try to move the ball most often on the ground.
The guard positions will be crucial if this is going to happen, but whoever wins the starting sports will have support on both sides and in between. Mahoney, Neale and Brott are three of Montana State’s steadiest and best players, something that will help as the starting guards progress.
“The biggest benefit is that we have veterans around each of those guys,” Choate said on Sunday.
Also on the roster: Redshirt freshman Taylor Tuiasosopo (6-4, 314) could also push himself into the mix for a spot on the two-deep.
Redshirt freshman Jake Sessions (6-5, 276), true freshman Connor Wood (6-5, 310), true freshman Brody McKnight (6-3, 310).
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
