Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of a four-part series about Montana State’s transfers. The Bobcats signed nine transfers in February, including seven on defense. Today we look at the defensive line.
As Tyrone Fa’anono walked over to a television news reporter, Joe Naotala and Shiloh LaBoy flanking him, Montana State defensive line coach Bo Beck couldn’t help but crack a joke.
“You guys need to put your sandals on first? You’re used to walking on the beach. You have any pineapple juice over there for them?” Beck quipped following Wednesday morning’s practice.
LaBoy and Naotala have been practicing with Montana State since Sunday, but the two junior college defensive line transfers are already fitting in with the Bobcats just fine. Beck, an amiable and comical coach not afraid to tease, has welcomed the new guys into the fabric of his room.
During practices, players like captain defensive tackle Taylor Sheridan, senior Conner Thomas and Fa’anono can be found mentoring the two newest defensive linemen. Fa’anono, a sophomore defensive end, has been particularly welcoming to guys who share similar Polynesian roots.
Faanono with Naotala
“Tyrone and Joe act like they’ve been friends forever,” Beck said. “They are like brothers. They sit together in the meeting room and they hit it off really well. That’s nice to have.”
“They’ve all buddied up. Shiloh fits in with everyone. He’s got an interesting background because he’s done a lot of MMA fighting and he’s into it, man. The guys have gotten into it with him. They are both fitting in great.”
A season ago, Montana State’s defense struggled mightily. Head coach Rob Ash performed an off-season overhaul. He promoted Kane Ioane to defensive coordinator and the MSU coaching staff signed seven defensive transfers in February, including three from the junior college ranks to bolster the defensive line. Naotala and LaBoy were theoretically brought in to take the spots of the players already on the MSU roster.
“It goes against your grain because those guys are competing for playing time but the only way to win games is to get everyone ready,” Ash said.
“(Buck Buchanan winners) Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly brought Conner Thomas and Taylor Sheridan along. When you are treated that way as a young guy, when you get to be an older guy, that’s how you treat the new guys. That’s one of the cultures in this program and I’m happy to see it’s working.”
Each junior college transfer has been rotating in with Montana State’s second defense during the first week of camp. Both have shown flashes of their abilities and each should contribute this season.
LaBoy’s mixed martial arts background is apparent when he’s playing along the line. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder out of College of the Redwoods has quick hands, good fundamentals when using his long limbs and a good punch at the point of attack.
“I think I’m doing alright do to the fact that I didn’t play spring ball this year because I had to go home to finish my AA and they didn’t have ball there,” said LaBoy, a native of Hawaii who was likely the butt of Beck’s beach joke. “I’m feeling a little bit behind, but I’m starting to pick up on it more every day.
Laboy
LaBoy has been playing at MSU’s end spot and, in the last two days, at the Bandit spot as well. He’s not accustomed to playing standing up like the Bandit does but he seemed to adjust to the role with relative ease after the first few series giving it a try.
“As long as I’m willing to be coachable and learn everything,” LaBoy said. “I’ve not really played coverages before, so that’s new to me. I’m just trying to get everything down. There’s a lot of different schemes for that position. I just have to take notes and ask good questions in meetings.”
Naotala has been rotating in at tackle and nose tackle thus far. The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder is powerful and plays with great leverage. The former Palomar JC standout is quick, explosive and plays with a low pad level.
“I think I’m doing ok right now, it’s just breaking those habits from junior college,” Naotala said. “Being two years over there, it’s a long process and coming over here, you are starting over.”
Naotala said his most prevalent bad habit is “holding up a block and pushing it inside out.” In junior college, his only responsibility was to bull rush and collapse the pocket.
Naotala
“He plays low and he’s quick,” Beck said. “He can change directions. He’s got 3-tech-type skills to him. He’s not just a big body. He’s got that big athleticism to him. Now we just have to refine his technique.”
If LaBoy and Naotala can each prove they can contribute, MSU will all of a sudden have a collection of upperclassmen along the defensive front. Sheridan and Nate Bignell are seniors while Thomas is a junior like Naotala and LaBoy is just a sophomore after spending a redshirt year at Scottsdale Community College in 2013. Jessie Clark, the third JC transfer from Los Angeles Harbor, will find out his eligibility status within the week. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Clark took his final summer school exam on Tuesday.
“It’s nice to have some new guys because it seems like we’ve had a small group the past few years and now our group practically doubled in size,” Thomas said following Monday’s practice. “There’s a lot of new faces. We are coaching them all up and they are learning fast. Hopefully they can contribute.”
