After the first week of spring practice at Montana State, Jeff Choate went on the record saying his team would certainly hit the transfer market this off-season. The No. 1 wish atop the new head coach at Montana State’s list rested on the interior of the Bobcats’ defensive line.
Earlier this week, Choate and his staff filled two spots on the inside of the Bobcats’ front seven with junior college defensive tackle transfers. On Tuesday, MSU secured a commitment from College of San Mateo nose guard Fou Polataivao. On Saturday, Montana State received a commitment from Citrus College defensive tackle Brandon Hayashi.
In 10 games at San Mateo last season,Polataivao notched 31 tackles, including 13 solo tackles and five sacks two seasons ago. He notched 1.5 sacks in a win over Modesto JC and one each in San Mateo’s final two games of an 8-2 season. He initially signed with Division II New Mexico-Highlands out of Medord (Oregon) High. The 6-foot-2, 290-pounder will come to Montana State with two years of eligibility remaining.
Originally from Medford, Ore., the 6-1, 290 Polataivao registered 18 tackles with two sacks and one fumble recovery. MSU head coach Jeff Choate liked what he saw from Polataivao in familiar recruiting grounds. “I’ve recruited a number of players from the College of San Mateo and have developed a good relationship with the defensive coordinator (Tim Tulloch),” Choate said in an MSU press release. “Fou was a productive player at a really good school and we’re excited to sign not only a player of his caliaber but also a player of his character. He gives us positional versatility in the defensive line, and he’s a productive, well-coached player from a good school that plays a good brand of football. I’m excited that a member of the CSM family is coming to join the Bobcat family.”
In 10 games at Citrus last season, Hayashi had at least five tackles in seven different games. He notched a season-high 12 tackles in a loss to perennial power Palomar. The 6-foot, 310-pounder finished the season with 24 solo tackles and three sacks among his 63 total stops.
The pair of JC defensive tackles join a current Bobcat defensive line that includes Tucker Yates, a 6-foot, 310-pounder from Colstrip who started as a redshirt freshman. MSU’s defensive tackles also include sophomore Zach Wright (6-3, 250), junior Matt Brownlow (5-9, 310), senior Joe Naotala (6-2, 275) and converted defensive end Robert Wilcox (6-1, 260). Redshirt freshman Riley Griffiths (6-3, 260) suffered a broken right hand during spring drills.
This story will be updated as interviews become available.
