Tyler Bruggman stood outside the Bill Ogle Hall of Fame room at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse with a direct view of Bobcat Stadium in the distance as snow blanketed the Gallatin Valley right before his eyes.
Inclement winter weather has not been a part of Bruggman’s reality for most of his life as evidence by the fresh tan he picked up while home for a week in Phoenix over Montana State’s spring break. But Bruggman’s cross-country journey has been filled with acclimating to new realities and he knows adjusting to Bozeman will be no different.
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“It’s been a wild ride, never would’ve expected this but I’m happy to be here, proud to be a Cat,” the former four-star quarterback said on Tuesday afternoon in his first meeting with the local media. “The snow, it’s different than Phoenix but we had a little snow in Pullman so I’m used to it.”
Bruggman comes to Montana State from Scottsdale Community College with an expectation to be the Bobcats’ starting quarterback in 2016, new head coach Jeff Choate’s first season at the helm at MSU. Five practices into spring drills, Bruggman has taken all the first-team repetitions as he tries to carve out the right to replace Dakota Prukop, a first-team All-American who transferred to Oregon during the off-season.
“Tyler is a really poised, positive, easy going guy,” said Choate following Monday’s practice, his fourth session during his first set of spring drills as a head coach. “He understands that service is part of leadership. He didn’t come in here and announce his presence. He’s came in here and has been really hungry and humble and endeared himself to his teammates and put himself in a position where he can help us win games. Other guys recognize that.”
It remains a mystery what sort of offense Choate’s Bobcats will employ, but the new head coach said he will use quite a few similar aspects to the attack former offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey employed to shatter school records the last two seasons and lead the Big Sky Conference in scoring last fall.
New offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, himself a well-traveled football mind who most recently coordinated at Iowa State before spending the last two seasons as a offensive quality control coach at Indiana, said his offense will emphasize maximizing MSU’s existing talent as its No. 1 priority. He likes what he’s seen from Bruggman early on in spring drills.
“In terms of leadership and how he goes about his business, kind of crazy to say it this way but Tyler is exactly what we expected,” Messingham said. “He’s already seen three offenses. Coming into this one, I think he’s picked it up very well from a leadership standpoint. He’s done a nice job of trying to take the bull by the horns and be the guy people look at as the guy leading them.
“They have accepted him very well and part of that is because he’s a workaholic. He’s not afraid to put the time in.”
Bruggman earned national acclaim as a star at Brophy Prep in Phoenix in 2012. The strong-armed 6-foot-2 signal caller was one of the top-rated prospects in the Grand Canyon State. He received offers from Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado State, Michigan State, Purdue and UCLA.
Bruggman verbally committed to Washington State seven months before National Signing Day, then waffled between moving to the Palouse and staying home to play for Arizona State. After hours of deliberation on signing day, Bruggman eventually signed with the Cougs. He called it “a 51-49 decision.” Choate was one of his primary recruiters to WSU but left to join Will Muschamp’s staff at Florida before Bruggman ever got to Pullman.
In 2013, Bruggman redshirted for Mike Leach’s Cougars, experiencing life in the Northwest and snow for the first time. He said it “was not a great fit from the beginning.” He elected to transfer in the off-season.
Bruggman chose Louisville, where he again had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. He does not divulge any details more than sitting out “threw his timing off” and made him long for home. He transferred to Scottsdale Community College after the 2014 season.
Last season, his first after two years of not playing in games, Bruggman struggled to find consistency. He completed just 48 percent of his passes for 1,692 yards and 19 touchdowns. In 2016, he will play for his fourth school in four years and is the likely starter unless redshirt freshmen Jordan Hoy or Ben Folsom can make an unexpected surge during spring drills and fall camp.
“It’s been a long ride, certainly not something I would’ve imagined three years ago but I’ve been able to learn a lot at each place I’ve been and take bits and pieces from every stop and hopefully bring it together to become the best player I can be,” Bruggman said. “I’m very happy to be here playing for Coach Choate. He’s been great. I’m looking forward to getting better and helping this team however I can.”
During his time at Washington State and Louisville, Bruggman learned Leach’s “Air Raid” offense and Petrino’s Pistol hybrid. On Tuesday, Bruggman said he is a “pocket passer” but added his is comfortable with zone-read option concepts and can extend the pocket with his feet.
“All his stops makes him more diverse,” Messingham said. “It makes it easier for him. He’s a guy that in his own mind, he is able to process things faster than a guy who hasn’t been through that transition.
“I think he throws the ball well. Not a great runner but runs well enough to extend plays and force defenses to have to defend him. I’m happy with the way the ball comes out of his hand and the way he is composed in the pocket.”
Bruggman said much of what Messingham is implementing in the early going is similar in terms of scheme and verbiage as things he learned at his past stops. Bruggman also has some familiarity to Messingham. MSU’s new OC recruited Bruggman to Iowa State back when he was a high school senior.
“It’s been great being back out on the field,” Bruggman said. “We are doing some things I’ve done in the past so I’m familiar with the concepts. I’m just trying to put it all together now.”
Montana State’s newest quarterback arrived on campus in January, something that helped him get acclimated to his new school and his new teammates. He said his classmates have been gracious helping him find his way around town.
Bruggman deflected questions about pressure, whether it be the pressure to win the job or the pressure to follow in the steps of Prukop, one of the most electric dual-threat quarterbacks in college football the last two years. He is just concentrating on learning the offense and becoming comfortable enough to forge a leadership role.
“Leadership starts with earning the respect of your teammates and being the hardest worker and putting in the time,” Bruggman said. “Going through winter workouts and being able to be here for spring ball is huge.”
Choate said the man who wins the starting job under center will be the “most productive.” Choate wants a player who does not turn the ball over, can create opportunities outside of the pocket with his elusiveness and leads the offense with confidence. On Monday, Choate praised Bruggman’s decision making ability, his accuracy and his natural leadership qualities.
Messingham said his key to becoming the starting quarterback is centered upon building trust.
“The biggest thing for us is getting to the point where the guy next to you understands and believes in you,” Messingham said. “You have to learn the offense and execute the offense to the guy next to you trusts you and believes in you. Getting that tight-knit trust will be a big key for us this spring.”
[/restrict]Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
