Since taking over the starting job at one cornerback position for Montana State University in 2021, Simeon Woodard has become one of the top performers for the Bobcat defense in just two years.
His phenomenal postseason performance as a freshman in 2021 was overshadowed by an upstart quarterback by the name of Tommy Mellott. While Mellott floored followers by igniting the MSU offense, Woodard was nabbing interceptions in each of the first three playoff games. He added another playoff pick in 2022 and is the school’s career leader in playoff interceptions.
Woodard’s first playoff theft sealed a second-round win over UT-Martin. The second helped to stall a Sam Houston State comeback in the quarterfinals on the road, but the third was the most meaningful.
Clinging to a 24-17 lead in the fourth quarter of the FCS national semifinal game against South Dakota State, Woodard picked off a Chris Oladokun pass in the middle of the field and returned it 22 yards to the Jackrabbit’ 40-yard line. Four plays later the Bobcats were in the end zone and out front 31-17.
The following year, Woodard was put on an island and while he may have let a few receivers sneak by his coverage, that occurred way less than almost all FCS cornerbacks put in that position as often as Woodard.
“(Woodard) is a savvy player and just a good football player,” MSU cornerbacks coach Bryan Sheperd said. “He’s played important snaps for us and brings a lot experience.”
His skills aren’t just noticed by the coaches.
“People talk about how fearless he is,” fellow cornerback Devin Davis said. “His IQ. Knowing where to be and knowing how to play the game. That’s something that I’d really like to be able to mimic. It’s what allows him to play so fast, is he knows the defenses in and out. If I could take that IQ as well as some of that fearlessness, that’s what I want.”
Going into fall camp Woodard has one cornerback spot all but sewn up. The other side of the field has been a three player dogfight since last spring. Miles Jackson was a highly touted 3-star recruit out of high school. Oft-injured Davis at 6-foot-1 is the tallest of the trio to go along with smooth talent. And junior college transfer Jon Johnson are currently the front-runners for the position, although all three have seen reps with the top defense this month. The position is rotational so it’s conceivable that all three will see plenty of action in 2023.
Jackson was used sparingly in 2022 but did record a sack as part of his five tackles. He was a star in high school for Central Catholic in Portland. Davis was out all season due to an injury. Johnson put in two solid seasons for El Camino after a solid prep career at California powerhouse St. John Bosco.
“Overall, it’s a tight race,” Shepherd said. “(Jackson and Davis) have been around but not a lot of meaningful time. Johnson is athletic and does a lot of good things but needs to catch up scheme-wise. It’s between those three, but we won’t know until game week.”
MSU head coach Brent Vigen also noted that freshman Andrew Powdrell could find his way onto the field. And Jackson Harmon, a 6-foot-3 athlete from Alaska, has made strides.
Johnson is new to the Bobcats but there are currently two St. John Bosco players on the team in offensive guard Cole Sain and nickelback Level Price, Jr. Recently graduated Tyrel Thomas also played at St. John Bosco.
“The battle is pretty good right now,” Johnson said. “My mentality is just be myself and do my 1/11th. I would say keying my man and keeping my eye on my man is what I’m focused on.
“The scheme is different. I’ve never been in that defensive scheme but I’m learning it pretty quickly. My goal is to start and be a big-time playmaker and make plays. I’ve been getting more comfortable and acclimated with the plays. I try to be more aggressive, because that’s the way I play.”
Davis, who was projected as a starter in 2022, is relishing a chance to prove himself after injuries have sidelined him for most of the three years he’s been at MSU. He also thinks the cornerback unit has something to prove.
“It’s been good to see the guys compete hard knowing how we’ve been doubted this year,” Davis said. “That was one of the main points going in was to prove everyone wrong. It’s been good seeing Andrew Powdrell an incoming freshman come in and compete really well. Jon Johnson has been good coming in from a juco. These guys have been picking up the playbook really fast.”
Davis’ outlook is much rosier this year after missing all last season after an injury in 2022 fall camp.
“With injuries it’s tough to see how you bounce back but it’s been good to come back and be with the guys again,” he said. “It was tough because you really don’t know if you can get back to that level. Being where I was, about ready to start, grinding and coming from scout team and trying to be a starting on what is a great team and great program. To be out this time last year, it was hurtful.”
A year ago, the Bobcats were inconsistent at stopping big plays. In their season-opener against McNeese State the Cowboys gouged them for scoring plays of 71 and 66 yards and also had two 31-yard running plays. In their season-opening league game they saw Eastern Washington score on two long (56 and 28 yards) touchdown runs and then gave up an 80-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as they labored to the win. Things seemed to tidy up from there but then a trip to Flagstaff, Ariz. brought back those demons as Northern Arizona burnt the MSU secondary for 34, 48, and 36-yard touchdown passes as the Bobcats needed some late heroics to pull out the win.
“That’s definitely the emphasis since the season ended, eliminating explosive plays,” Shepherd said. “We just tell the guys ‘the play will come to you, don’t force it.’ We’ve been harping on that since day one.”
One way the Bobcat’ secondary is getting better at stopping big plays is by going up against a revamped receiving corps.
“Having all these guys push you every day is good, because you’re getting those battles and they’re making you better,” Davis said. “You can’t take a play off, because you’re going to get beat. You can’t fall asleep.”
The cornerbacks had their bright spots as well in 2022. Woodard was fifth on the team in total tackles with 49, including four tackles for loss. He also had one interception and a pass breakup despite not having the ball thrown his way much. Meanwhile, James Campbell, who has used up his eligibility, had two interceptions, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
For the Bobcats to be a complete team it’s obvious that the elimination of big plays needs to be at the forefront of their preseason regimen. The cornerbacks will benefit from having safety Rylan Ortt, who missed the first seven games, back in the secondary at the start of the season and a defensive front that returns its entire 8-man rotation.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Davis said of the season’s start. “I’ll be excited and not really for me. Just to be in those situations with the fellas and to win as a team is what I look forward to most. I would much rather celebrate a win with the guys than a pick six, because if everyone plays well that’s much more fun.”
