Mitch Griebel is older than Matt Miller.
The age gap is just a little more than two months, but it’s worth noting because Griebel is no longer the peerless leader of Montana State’s wide receivers while Miller is MSU’s new wide receivers coach.
For the past two seasons, Griebel has been the first wide receiver in line for every single drill at every single practice. He was MSU’s leader in receptions the last two seasons and his charisma in the locker room was essential in leading a group that saw three freshmen start games in 2014.
MSU wide receiver Mitch Herbert
“It is weird not having Mitch out there,” MSU junior wide receiver Mitch Herbert said earlier this spring. “He was our leader. We’ve had to have different guys step up and bring what he brought the last few years. I feel like as a group, we realize we all need to step up and fill it together.”
The adjustment without their unquestioned leader was accentuated in the off-season as Rob Ash and most of his staff, including wide receivers coach Cody Kempt, were let go after a disappointing 5-6 campaign. Miller, the 2009 Montana Gatorade Player of the Year at Helena Capital, was setting records as a Boise State pass catcher as recently as two seasons ago. But the former Bronco stud has transitioned into coaching seamlessly in his first spring with his own position group.
“Matt is a much more mature guy than his years would indicate,” said first-year MSU head coach Jeff Choate, a Boise State assistant when Miller first arrived in Idaho’s capital, said earlier this spring. “Even when he came to Boise and the guy was 18 years old, the guy seemed like a senior out there. The way he handles himself, he’s a really mature guy, an old soul who is extremely intelligent. He played the position at a high level and can help those guys take the next step.”
“If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Matt was in his 30s,” added first-year offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham.
Miller is just a few years older than several of Montana State’s seniors. Senior running back Chad Newell was Billings Senior’s starting running back as a sophomore when Miller was a Helena Capital senior. Former Gatorade Player of the Year Gunnar Brekke was a Capital freshman on the varsity Miller’s final prep season.
MSU wide receiver Jayshawn Gates
“I think there’s enough of a divide,” Miller said. “One weird thing is I played some of these guys in high school when they were freshmen or sophomores, guys like Chad Newell, Gunnar Brekke. It’s a little weird in that aspect but at the end of the day, it’s all about business, they understand I’m a coach and they respect that.”
Griebel is one of three Bobcat receivers — Bozeman High products Tanner Roderick and the late Manny Kalfell are the others — who exhausted their eligibility in 2015. Mitch Herbert, a third-team All-Big Sky selection as a sophomore, is now expected to be the veteran leader of a group that also includes seniors Brandon Brown and Will Krolick.
“Mitch Herbert is that guy that has to fill the leadership role but he would never say that about himself and that’s what I love about Mitch: He’s very unassuming and very humble,” Miller said.
Last season, Herbert was one of the top point producers for the top scoring offense in the Big Sky. Herbert caught 42 passes for 562 yards and eight touchdowns, just one less than NFL-bound tight end Beau Sandland as MSU scored 30 touchdowns through the air.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder from Eugene, Oregon burst onto the Big Sky Conference scene as a true freshman in 2014. His game-winning touchdown catch in an unforgettable 59-56 win over Sacramento State was one of four touchdown catches he caught as a rookie. Herbert’s touchdown total last season was one of the eight best in MSU history and his 12 career touchdowns are tied with Jon Ellis and Rob Tesch for ninth-most in MSU history.
“That guy is such a sleeper,” Choate said. “He doesn’t look like much. He has a good frame. But he’s quiet. But he produces. You throw him the ball, he’s going to catch it.
MSU wide receiver Will Krolick
“Mitch Herbert sets the tone on how to go to work. He’s a very blue collar, workman like guy who is really talented. He has automatic credibility with the way he handles himself.”
Although Miller possessed more pedigree and strength than Herbert, the duo are similar in stature and a knack for going up and getting the ball no matter where it’s thrown. Thus far this spring, Miller has showed Herbert a collection of highlights from his Boise State days in an effort to help Herbert hone his craft.
“Coach Choate is always saying he’s a mini me,” Miller said. “It’s easy to coach him because we are the same body types, we play the game the same way. I can probably teach him some of the old tricks I used use.”
Griebel’s sure hands and sneaky shiftiness helped Montana State stay ahead of the sticks in Tim Cramsey’s multi-faceted triple option spread offense. Messingham’s scheme isn’t likely to contain nearly as many bubble screens and jet sweeps, meaning the players outside of Herbert will have somewhat different roles.
Herbert, Krolick and sophomore Hunter Mahlum are playing MSU’s X receiver position. Cam Sutton, a 6-foot-6 redshirt freshmen, is trying to fend off junior Justin Paige, a burner who averaged 34.8 yards per catch and hauled in four touchdowns last fall, for time at the Z receiver position. Keon Stephens, a shifty 6-foot-1, 190-pound redshirt freshman, will push Sutton and Paige. Jayshawn Gates, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound junior who has scored six total touchdowns over the last two seasons, and Brown, a 6-foot, 180-pound former transfer from Baylor are battling it out for MSU’s H position, although Brown has missed most of the spring with a broken thumb. Sophomore John D’Agostino will also be in the mix with Brown and Gates.
MSU wide receiver John D’Agostino
“We have some depth, guys who have played some football here and we have a lot of good personalities, which is awesome for meeting time,” Miller said. “It keeps things light and we still get work done too.”
D’Agostino, a former walk-on out of Bozeman High who Miller calls “Mr. Consistent”, has picked up the Xs and Os of Messingham’s offense as well as anyone according to his coach. Sutton’s towering size makes him an intriguing mismatch at the FCS level. And Stephens has turned heads with his ability to find the football in the air and to run after the catch.
“Those three are really good football players with athleticism and the ability to catch the ball,” Miller said. “They just need to keep grinding on the terminology scheme-wise. Athletically, they can play the game of football at this level. I’m very pleased with how all of our guys have developed so far in spring ball.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
