Editor’s Note: Montana State announced the addition of 11 preferred walk-ons to its roster when fall camp opens in August. This is the third of a series of profiles about each of the late additions to the Bobcats.
Kamden Brown told himself he would wait as long as it took for him to become a Montana State Bobcat.
The highly productive yet under recruited quarterback from Charter Oak High in Covina, California first touch base with MSU in the spring following a junior year that saw him throw for nearly 3,500 yards and 33 touchdowns in one of the Golden State’s toughest leagues.
The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder began to research Montana State and loved what he saw. A fervent fan base, academic opportunities, and a high-powered spread offense made it seem like a perfect fit.
[restrict paid=”true”]Brown’s grandparents are in the market for a community to retire in and Bozeman was among the top choices. When they ventured north, they brought their grandson with them. While in Bozeman, Brown dropped by to see former MSU head coach Rob Ash and former offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey.
Last fall, while Brown was in the midst of a season that saw him throw 31 touchdowns and rush for four, Cramsey flew down to watch Brown play. Running backs coach Michael Pitre and linebackers coach Kane Ioane also stopped by Charter Oak to see Brown.
During his in-person meeting with the former MSU staff, the Bobcat coaches told Brown things to work on. They expressed their interest and said he was among their top quarterback prospects. But the Bobcats were unsure how many quarterbacks they would take with All-America gunslinger Dakota Prukop slated to return for his senior season and three redshirt freshmen waiting in the wings.
In November, Ash, Cramsey and most of the MSU coaching staff were not retained following the first losing season in 14 years for the Bobcats. A week later, Prukop transferred to Oregon where he is expected to be the Ducks’ 2016 starter.
Jeff Choate was hired in early December and immediately indicated he planned to take a transfer quarterback. In January, Montana State added former Scottsdale Community College quarterback Tyler Bruggman to the roster. A week later, Lawndale (California) High dual-threat Chris Murray verbally committed to the Bobcats.
Pitre still indicated to Brown that the Bobcats were interested. Brown told Pitre, one of two coaches retained from Ash’s staff by Choate, that he wanted nothing more than to be part of the MSU program. But an offer never came.
On February 4, the day before National Signing Day, Pitre called Brown. He told the quarterback that Montana State was willing to offer him a preferred walk-on spot on the 94-man roster when MSU opens fall camp in August.
“Pitre really stood on the table for me and told the new staff I was good,” Brown said. “My coaching staff did a great job of talking me up.
“That was my No. 1 school and I really wanted to go. When I got that call, I was so excited. And they let me sign. It worked out really nicely.”
During spring drills at MSU, Bruggman distanced himself from the rest of the group as the likely starter for 2016. Redshirt freshman Jordan Hoy, the only underclassmen on scholarship, left the program midway through spring drills. Redshirt freshmen Ben Folsom, a Dillon graduate from 2013 who spent two years on an LDS mission before returning to MSU before last season, seemed to secure the No. 2 spot behind Bruggman in the spring.
Brown said he wants to come to campus this summer ready to compete for a spot on the depth chart.
“Of course it was frustrating not getting that last scholarship because it would’ve been great to get that,” Brown said. “It’s just going to add fuel to the fire to prove myself. I’m confident in myself and I know I’m going to work harder than all the guys. I have no doubts. I know I can get there in the future and I’m willing to work for it.”
As a senior, Brown was the field general for a Charter Oak offensive attack that rolled up nearly 410 yards of total offense per game en route to a 12-2 record and a berth in the CIF Regional Playoffs. Brown threw for more than 2,700 yards and 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. His favorite target was Dareon Nash, a smooth 6-foot-2 wide receiver who is committed to Montana. He caught 63 balls for 786 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The offense was more than a pass-happy attack. The zone-read heavy scheme was actually carried by Zion Echols, one of the top running back recruits in the country. The slashing 5-foot-10, 175-pound burner rushed for 2,147 yards and 37 touchdowns on the way to earning a scholarship from Cal.
“Our team and our offense is so already next level,” Brown said. “We run the no-huddle, we run the spread. My OC (Dominic Farrar, son of longtime head coach Lou Farrar) he’s extremely intelligent and he knows football. He’s had great quarterbacks in the past. He gets coached up a lot by next level coaches too so his play book is really nice and sophisticated. We run a lot of zone-read, quick passes and our whole coaching staff is just legit. The teams we play are mainly run-heavy. We have a step above because of our balanced offense and we are all college ready.”
Charter Oak has long been ripe recruiting grounds for the Pac 12, the Mountain West and the Big Sky Conference. Ioane has had a consistent presence at the school for most of this decade.
“Big Lou does a great job,” Brown said. “When guys come into the office, he shows them our film. He shows them our transcripts and how we are doing in school. He does a great job of talking us up. He’s been doing it forever so he knows what he’s doing.”
Montana State junior Khari Garica, a returning starter at safety for the Bobcats, is a Charter Oak product. Highly touted defensive end Eric Prevost signed with MSU out of Charter Oak in 2014 but never made it to Bozeman. Brown will join Damien Washington, a lanky cornerback who signed with MSU in February. The two have been working out together all off-season. Now Brown will get the chance he’s wanted all along as a member of the Bobcats.
“It gives me confidence and reassurance that I have potential and all my hard work that I’ve put in is paying off,” Brown said. “It’s rewarding and really cool. I’ve always wanted to play college ball and I’m getting to fulfill that dream.”
[/restrict]Photos courtesy of Kamden Brown. All Rights Reserved.
