J.P. Flynn has the look of an All-America. He walks like one of the nation’s best. He carries himself with an intimidating edge that’s apparent but not abrasive. When the Montana State junior guard takes the field or walks into a room, it’s hard to think the alpha dog is anyone other than the monstrous man who wears No. 75.
And now Flynn has the titles to affirm his presence. This off-season, Flynn has had the spotlight firmly focused on him as he and the No. 11 Montana State Bobcats prepare for a season filled with high expectations. The Bettendorf, Iowa native has been named to various preseason All-America teams, including the STATS team widely recognized as the crown jewel for FCS players. He was a unanimous preseason All-Big Sky Conference pick at offensive guard after earning unanimous recognition a season ago.
But don’t tell Flynn he’s a star. He isn’t having any of that. He figures he’s just a cog in the well-oiled machine that is the Montana State offense.
“I don’t look at myself as a star,” Flynn said. “You got your name in the paper. I read my name every day, write my name every day. It’s not any different. It’s just some guy who thinks you’re a good player, which I certainly appreciate and I appreciate the nominations, the accolades. They are cool and it’s nice to be recognized. But at the same time, that doesn’t mean expletive. You can say that. I won’t say the word. It doesn’t mean expletive.
“That stuff doesn’t mean anything and it doesn’t mean anything after the season either. The only reason I’ve gotten any of that stuff is because of the guys around me working their tails off to make me a better player. I work my tail off to make them better players as well. That’s the only reason I’ve ever gotten anything. It’s cliché and I know that. But without having the talent and skill around me, I would be nothing so I give it out to those guys.”
The 6-foot-5, 317-pounder is arguably the most physically intimidating player in the entire conference. On game days, he paints his face with eye black that adds to the ferocity of his scary scowl. The tattoos that cover both his arms and his once long hair (he cut it in the spring) he wears under a bandana only help add to his persona.
“He brings the most focus and intensity to the field of anyone I’ve ever seen,” said sophomore offensive lineman Dylan Mahoney.
But Flynn’s fearsome look contradicts his friendly nature and ever-present sense of humor.
“He’s a guy with almost no ego,” MSU third-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey said. “He’s got all the skills and all the stuff you need. He’s a 317-pounder who looks like he’s 250. I use the word prance. When he runs, he prances around. There’s no lumbering with him. He’s got all the tools, all the weapons and the relentless mindset. The sky is the limit for what he can do this season.”
Flynn broke into MSU’s starting lineup four games into his redshirt freshman season in 2013. By the end of the year, he was a third-team All-Big Sky selection. By the midpoint of last season, he was one of the best players in the entire Big Sky.
“I think he could easily play for a lot of the FBS schools across the country,” said first-year offensive line coach Jason Eck, who’s spent time coaching offensive linemen at Wisconsin, Idaho, Colorado and Ball State. “A lot of what makes J.P. so special is I don’t think he’s a guy who walks into Ohio State or Wisconsin as their most talented guy but I think his intensity, how important it is to him, his football smarts and his intangibles are probably as good as any lineman in the country, any level.”
Despite Flynn’s apparent athletic talent and his formidable yet fit frame — he boasts less than 20 percent body fat — Flynn was lightly recruited out of Bettendorf High, an Iowa powerhouse. He got an offer from South Dakota and received a half scholarship offer from Northern Iowa after he’d already verbally committed to MSU.
He’d been dead set on going into mechanical engineering since eighth grade. His older brother, Stephen, played for Rob Ash at Drake and also served as a grad assistant for MSU. So when former Montana State offensive line coach Jason McEndoo called with an offer, Flynn did not hesitate.
“Those are the best ones, when you think she’s pretty and no one else does and you don’t have any chance to lose her,” Eck said with a laugh. “That was a damn good evaluation by Mac and Coach Ash.”
Flynn practiced with the varsity from the moment he stepped foot in Bozeman. If 2012 senior right tackle Steven Foster would’ve gone down with an injury, Flynn likely would’ve been the next man up.
Under the tutelage of McEndoo, Flynn’s development was rapid. He went from key backup to starter to all-conference player to dominant force in two seasons learning from the longest-tenured coach in MSU history.
Then, in February, McEndoo made a move most knew would come. After 12 seasons at MSU, he took a similar position on Mike Gundy’s staff at Oklahoma State. The move meant that Flynn and his fellow offensive linemen, a group that includes four proven senior starters, would have to adjust to a new mentor.
Enter Eck, who most recently was the offensive coordinator at Minnesota State, a Division II power in Mankato. Flynn and his line-mates were understandably apprehensive about acclimating to their new coach. After having a spring drills and now a week of fall camp under their belts, the group seems to have adjusted well to Eck’s style.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s making me a more well-rounded person,” Flynn said. “Learning how to be coached by different people, it’s something you can learn to take on the rest of your life. You are going to be out in the work world getting new jobs and guys are going to be coming and going. You have to learn how to adjust to things like that. I’m not going to lie, I struggled with it at first. But talks with some people, family members, it all helps.”
Eck said one of the main appeals for coming to Montana State was the experienced group he’d inherit. Preseason accolades and an increased spotlight can be a distraction for some, but Eck hasn’t seen that in Flynn. The next step is to help Flynn fully reach his potential.
“J.P. is a very competitive guy so it’s not hard to motivate him,” Eck said. “He’s a guy who wants to be coached. A lot of really good players are like that. He wants to be pushed and challenged. He wanted to see more video this summer. He wanted to understand it all. He wanted to see pros do it. I don’t think it’s a challenge. The motivation for him is to continue to get better to be as good as J.P. Flynn can be. When it’s all said and done, that could b pretty dang good.”
