With Montana beginning its third fall camp under head coach Bob Stitt Tuesday, Skyline Sports will break down UM’s roster by highlighting prominent battles for playing time in various position group.
No. 5 — Wide receiver rotation (non-H wide receivers)
Today’s position: Right tackle
The players: Mike Ralston (a 6-foot-5, 302-pound senior) and Thayne Jackson (6-5, 296-pound redshirt freshman from Gilbert, Arizona).
Former Montana right tackle Jackson Thiebes/ by Jason Bacaj
What’s at stake: Jackson Thiebes rose from Division III tight end at Lewis & Clark College in 2012 to walk-on at Montana to an All-Big Sky selection at right tackle as a senior. The Kalispell Glacier product was perhaps the most underrated offensive lineman in the Big Sky in 2016.
David Reese started at right tackle as a freshman and a sophomore. His move to the blindside last season opened the door for Thiebes. Now Montana must replace the bookend for Reese, a preseason All-Big Sky selection entering his fourth year as a starter.
The battle is between a physically impressive but unproven player who has played a different position every season at Montana in Ralston against a hotshot recruit who’s earned plenty of hype in Jackson. If Ralston can secure the spot, it could ensure Montana starts four seniors up front in 2017. If Jackson can win the spot, it could be the next step toward the future meshing with the present as Stitt’s recruits continue to climb the depth chart.
How they fared in 2016: Ralston has played tight end, defensive end, wide receiver and now offensive tackle during his time in Missoula. Last season, he was an H wide receiver, appearing in four games but not recording a statistic.
Jackson, a former 3-star recruit, spent his redshirt year putting on almost 30 pounds in hopes of competing for a starting spot this fall.
Mike Ralston
The case for Ralston: It’s taken four position changes and 40 extra pounds but for the first time, Ralston sees his name at the top of the depth chart. It remains to be seen if he can hold off the talented Jackson.
Ralston came to Montana as a versatile, powerful tight end from Sheldon High in Eugene, Oregon, the same school where former Griz quarterback Jordan Johnson and current UM linebackers Connor Strahm and James Banks prepped. Ralston lettered three times each in football, basketball and baseball, earning first-team All-State honors as a defensive tackle and a pitcher.
He appeared perfect for the tight end role in former UM head coach Mick Delaney’s pro-style, power run system when he first came to the Griz. After redshirting in 2013, Ralston played in 14 games and started four in 2014, catching four passes and two touchdowns.
In 2015, Stitt took over and eliminated Montana’s tight end position. Ralston moved back to the defensive line, playing defensive end sparingly in the seven games he appeared in.
Last season, he moved to H receiver but could hardly crack the rotation, playing in just four games.
Now he’s up to 302 pounds and looks physically impressive. If he can use his athleticism to quickly master his new position, he should be a starter in his final college season.
Thayne Jackson
The case for Jackson: Shortly after committing to Montana, Jackson shifted from talented prospect to enthusiastic recruiter. He set up a group chat on Twitter with a collection of Montana commits and other potential recruits. He reached out to offered prospects, encouraging them to join him in Missoula.
From the moment he signed in February of 2016 until the opening of fall camp earlier this week, the 6-foot-6 Jackson is up nearly 30 pounds to 296. The Montana coach staff considers him a natural leader with a sizeable amount of unproven potential.
What they must accomplish during fall camp: Consistency in pass protection combined with meshing with the rest of the offensive line, a group that includes seniors Reese, center Cooper Sprunk and guard Robert Luke along with sophomore guard Angel Villanueva, will be crucial for whoever wins this spot. Ralston has paid his dues, while Jackson will likely be a multi-season starter by the time his career is finished.
Also on the roster: Brandon Scott, a 6-foot-7, 295-pound redshirt freshman from Owasso, Oklahoma.
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