Jake Sessions wasn’t even back home yet before the Bobcats were in his ear.
Sessions, a standout two-sport athlete from Colstrip, came to Montana State’s individual football camp in June. As he drove back to fellow Colstrip native Tucker Yates’ house after the camp’s final day, he got a message on Facebook from MSU offensive line coach Jason Eck asking him to call Montana State head coach Rob Ash.
[restrict paid=”true”]When Sessions gave Ash a buzz, he got the offer he’d been waiting for. The Bobcats were offering the 6-foot-5, 270-pound offensive lineman a scholarship for the Class of 2016. By the end of the month, Sessions verbally committed to Montana State, choosing MSU over an offer from Montana and strong interest from Montana Tech, Rocky Mountain College and Minot State.
“I’ve always been a ‘Cats fan,” Sessions said in an interview in August. “My parents both went to Bozeman. I actually decided I wanted to look into engineering. I had some offers from other schools. Bozeman had engineering and it was a place I want to go so it was an easy choice. After meeting their coaches, I really enjoyed Coach Eck and everything. He seems like a pretty good guy. It was a pretty easy choice. I liked the staff and everybody.”
Sessions, who’s father works in the coal mine and who’s mother is a speech therapist at the high school, wants to majorin mechanical engineering. He’s unsure what offensive line position he’ll play at the college level.
Sessions joins Yates as the second Colstrip standout in three years to join the Bobcats. Yates is a redshirt freshman defensive tackle for Montana State.
“My buddy Tucker Yates is up there too,” Sessions said. “That made it an even easier quick decision. He said he really enjoys it, really likes all the guys up there and everything. I got to hang out with several lf them and though they were pretty cool. He said it was a good time, really hard work but he said it was worth it.”
Sessions has spent the last three seasons playing offensive tackle. He will play guard his senior season. Watching him at individual camp, one could see a player with a good, strong punch and an ability to create separation consistently because of his long arms. He also uses leverage well, something he honed like Yates as a standout wrestler. Sessions placed third in the Class B heavyweight division as a sophomore and second last year.
“Wrestling has made a world of difference,” Sessions said. “My wrestling coach Codey Currier is a great guy. I don’t know where I would be athletically without him and without wrestling. I started in seventh grade and I hit my freshman year and I didn’t do much of anything. Two years with Codey and by that point, I placed third and second at state. It helps for football, helps you stay and it makes a world of difference. I think every football player should wrestle.”
Sessions is the sixth player to commit for the Class of 2016. He joins Belgrade defensive end Derek Marks, Great Falls C.M. Russell athlete/wide receiver Karl Tucker II, Troy athlete Sean Opland, Killeen, Texas offensive lineman Darrius Mosley and Terrell, Texas running back Dawonya Tucker. Montana State graduates 16 seniors after the end of the 2015 seniors, including senior offensive linemen left tackle John Weidenaar, right tackle Alex Eekhoff, guard Kyle Godecke and center Joel Horn.
“I’m pretty nervous and I’m really excited,” Sessions said of transitioning from Class B to the Big Sky Conference. “I went and watched their Junior Day in March and I watched that spring scrimmage. That was pretty intimidating, all those guys. They are big dudes and they look even bigger in pads. That was pretty intimidating but I’m pretty excited to get up there and learn the game and try to get better and be able to compete with those guys. I’m just excited to get a chance.”
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