On one hand, Shayden King missed not playing a sport for the first time since he could remember. On the other hand, the Big Timber native enjoyed every second of spending this last fall hunting more than he could ever remember.
King was part of the standout senior class at Sweet Grass County High that also produced current Montana State tight end Ethan Bullock and champion sprinter Casey Gunlikson, who is now running track for the Bobcats.
After graduating in the spring of 2019, King had some options to play football, mostly in the Frontier Conference. But personal uncertainty lingered throughout the summer. When Montana State presented the option of grey shirting, King learned the process. Once he understood it, he knew he couldn’t pass up a chance to join the college football team he grew up rooting on.
So King did not go to school or play football last fall. Instead, he worked on the ranch his family manages, worked on his truck and tracked animals in the mountains. In other words, he lived his version of the good life.
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or contributed by King. All Rights Reserved.