Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a series breaking down the Montana State Bobcats following the third spring under head coach Jeff Choate and his staff. Today’s installment addresses the quarterbacks.
BOZEMAN — Jeff Choate returns his starting quarterback for the third straight season in his third season at the helm for Montana State. Yet MSU’s head coach continues to search for someone to push Chris Murray.
The electric but sporadic dual-threat quarterback from Inglewood, California burst onto the scene by rushing for 180 yards and three touchdowns off the bench in MSU’s 41-38 loss at Sacramento State. Two weeks later, he took over the starting job against Weber State and has been Montana State’s sole starter under center ever since.
The 2016 Big Sky Freshman of the Year led the Bobcats to back-to-back wins to end his freshman season on a high note after MSU lost the first six Big Sky Conference contests of the Choate era. Murray’s 142-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance in a 24-17 win over rival Montana etched him into the lore of the rivalry in his first-ever face off with the hated Griz.
