Analysis

MONTANA STATE POSITION BATTLES: Tight end

on

With Montana State beginning its second fall camp under Jeff Choate this week, Skyline Sports will break down MSU’s roster by highlighting prominent battles for playing time in each position group.

No. 9 of the countdown of most important Bobcat position battles: Punter

Today’s position: Tight end

The players: Curtis Amos, Jr. (a 6-foot, 220-pound fourth-year junior from Burleson, Texas) and Connor Sullivan (a 6-foot-4, 250-pound fourth-year junior from Ennis).

Former Montana State captain Tia Salanoa/ by Brooks Nuanez

Former Montana State captain Tiai Salanoa

What’s at stake: Montana State’s streak of All-Big Sky tight ends stopped in 2016. From Joe Schreibeis to Kyle Begger to Steven Foster to Tiai Salanoa to Beau Sandland, Montana State’s starting tight end landed on the postseason all-conference list six times in eight years between 2008 and 2015. Salanoa was a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2013 and 2014 before Sandland was a first-team choice and an NFL Draft pick in 2015.

Last season, Austin Barth served more as a blocker and inspirational leader than a playmaker. When given the chance, Sullivan produced, averaging 25.4 yards per catch on seven receptions, including a 53-yard touchdown in MSU’s 41-17 loss to No. 3 Eastern Washington.

With the influence of quarterbacks coach DeNarius McGhee and the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong, the tight ends are sure to be more involved, which could help sophomore quarterback Chris Murray become more comfortable as a pocket passer.

How they fared in 2016: Sullivan, a former Class C standout, is among the most physically impressive athletes on Montana State’s entire roster. He toiled on the depth chart during his first two seasons as a wide receiver at Montana State. Before last season, head coach Jeff Choate moved him to tight end and he put on about 20 pounds.

Sullivan caught seven passes for 178 yards and one touchdown last season.

MSU tight end Curtis Amos/ by Brooks Nuanez

MSU tight end Curtis Amos

Amos, a former three-star recruit from the Dallas area, is a prototypical H-back, a wing-style tight end that is best blocking when put in pulling situations and could be best used as a pass catcher in play-action and quarterback waggle type of plays. Last season, he played in eight games, catching one pass for eight yards.

The case for Amos: Amos is a natural-born H-back, a fluid athlete who makes up for his lack of size with his consistent physicality at the point of attack. He has waited his turn behind some talented, productive and tough tight ends leading up to his fourth year in the MSU program.

With the style of offense Montana State is expected to play in Choate’s second season under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong, the tight end/wing will be put in motion prevalently. Play-action, waggle and getting the quarterbacks, particularly Murray, out on the edge of the pocket will also be a priority.

This should cater to Amos, who excels at blocking when put into motion and is good at being patient running routes over the middle of defenses.

The case for Sullivan: In terms of pure size and speed, Sullivan is the superior option. But he has been an athletic freak since his junior year of high school. While he dominated 8-man football, he’s been searching to hone his talents ever since.

Sullivan had standout fall camps his first two years while playing wide receiver. But it translated to just five catches, all in 2015.

MSU tight end Connor Sullivan (87)

MSU tight end Connor Sullivan (87)

Upon Choate’s arrival, the new head coach saw Sullivan’s physical potential to put on a substantial amount to his already 230-pound frame. He moved Sullivan to tight end in the spring of 2016 and Sullivan seemed to welcome the transition. But Barth’s steadiness and leadership abilities made him a hard player to displace in the lineup. Sullivan has flashed but never shown consistency to earn the trust of the staff to earn significant playing time.

What Amos brings to the offense in consistency can be contrasted in what Sullivan can provide in explosiveness. If he can show his big-play potential, Sullivan could earn the upper hand.

What they must accomplish during fall camp: The nature of the tight end position caters to rotating, so it’s very likely that the “winner” of this position battle will still rotate with the other player.

That said, Montana State has had as consistent a run of stud tight ends of any school in the Big Sky. A return to that sort of production could go a long way to helping MSU improve on its 4-7 record from a season ago. The two combatants will be put in different situations because of their skill sets, so whoever is able to do what they do best will win this battle. In reality, both will be integral parts of MSU’s offense if the Bobcats are to improve on last season’s mediocre offensive production.

Also on the roster: Wilson Brott, a 6-foot-5, 282-pound fourth-year junior walk-on from Billings West is back to tight end after spending last season at left tackle. He is wearing No. 97, so it’s assumed he will be used as MSU’s “power” tight end or third tackle in heavy-set run packages. On short-yardage run downs, Brott likely has the upper hand over his more athletic position group members.

Clark Judisch is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound redshirt freshman who walked on from Class B Conrad. He has a handful of catches in spring scrimmages while progressing physically.

Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved. 

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

Recommended for you