Although the coaching staff at Montana State changed, the message to Marcus Simpson remained the same.
The Hutto, Texas stud offensive lineman felt the love whether he was talking to Jason Eck and Rob Ash or Brian Armstrong and Jeff Choate. Simpson loved the promise of a stellar atmosphere, a winning tradition and a top notch business school Even when Ash and his staff were let go at MSU in November, Simpson remained committed. With an offer still in place from Choate and his staff, Simpson cannot wait to become a Bobcat.
[restrict paid=”true”]“I started liking the coaches when they were coming to see me and they were one of the big reasons I committed,” Simpson said last week. “When I was talking to them, I just felt the energy and all the stuff I like. I like people like that. I think the program is going to be really good next year and I hope I can add to it.
“They told me the school is a really great school to go to and their business program is really good.. They told me about the football program, they told me they are going to be rolling next year and I’m going to be a part of it.”
Montana State has been rolling for the better part of the last two decades. The Bobcats captured six Big Sky Conference titles and qualified for the FCS playoffs seven times between 2002 and 2014. MSU did not have a losing season for 14 straight campaigns leading up to least fall’s 5-6 finish, the result leading to Ash’s firing.
Between the firing on November 23 and Choate’s hiring on December 5, many connected to MSU experienced uncertainty. The Bobcats had 10 verbal commitments from recruits when the coaching change occurred, including one from Simpson.
“I was wondering if I still had my scholarship or not,” Simpson said. “That was the firs thing that came into my head. I didn’t know if I would lose my scholarship or keep it. When they told me I could keep it and the new coaches started to come see me at the school, I liked them just as much. They were just the same as the other coaches. They were really high energy like the other guys and they were really into the program.”
Eck, MSU’s former offensive line coach, initially recruited Simpson. The recruitment continued with Armstrong, MSU’s new offensive line coach, and Choate.
“The coaches really care about the players and are really into us,” Simpson said. “They remember the littlest things that you tell them on the phone. They are not just calling to call. They really care.”
Simpson is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound mauler with an explosive punch and a mean streak that shows up on film. Simpson earned All-District 17-5A honors for his Austin-area high school as a left tackle as a senior but said he is comfortable playing on the inside or outside of the offensive line.
Simpson helped protect quarterback Tyler Herrick as he threw for 1,993yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 1,039 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning a scholarship to Penn in the process. The Hippos rushed for nearly 200 yards per game during a 6-5 campaign.
Simpson’s standout play helped him earn scholarship offers from Incarnate Word, Liberty and MSU’s Big Sky Conference rival, Northern Arizona. Simpson has official visits planned to Incarnate Word and NAU before signing day on February 3.
“Our high school coaches are very disciplined and everyone that is there is really on top of us and want us to go 100 percent in,” Simpson said. “If we don’t give 100 percent, they make us do a whole bunch of extra stuff. I think they’ve prepared us pretty well for college.”
Simpson is one of 18 players verbally committed to the Bobcats, including transfer quarterback Tyler Bruggman and transfer center Alex Neale, each who are already enrolledat MSU and with the team. The class also includes offensive line commits Taylor Tuisasosopo (Paraclete, California), Darrius Mosley (Killeen, Texas) and Jake Sessions (Colstrip, Montana). MSU is looking to replace four senior starters from last year’s offensive line.
“This chance means a lot to me,” Simpson said. “It’s been my dream since I was five years old in little league playing. I’m just really humbled and honored to have this opportunity.”
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