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: Backup wide receiver spots
The players: Outside receivers – Jabarri Johnson (a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior transfer from American River CC); Keon Stephens (a 6-2, 190-pound third-year sophomore from Rancho Cucamunga, California); Lance McCutcheon (a 6-3, 190-pound true freshman from Bozeman).
Slot receivers — Karl Tucker II (a 6-1 205-pound true sophomore from Great Falls); Willie Patterson (5-9, 175-pound true freshman from Tacoma).
Montana State true freshman wide receiver Willie Patterson/ by Brooks Nuanez
What’s at stake: Montana State’s passing game struggled mightily last season for more reasons than having a true freshman playing quarterback. The Bobcats threw for just 156 yards a game in 2016, less than 30 yards more per game than Cal Poly, a triple option team. Montana State completed less passes (127) than any team in the league other than the Mustangs.
Part of MSU’s inability to throw the ball stemmed from the Bobcats’ ability to hold on to the ball. Turnovers plagued MSU throughout Choate’s first season at the helm. But the lack of receivers making crucial catches also had a huge influence on the struggles. A season after earning All-Big Sky honors, Mitch Herbert dropped a collection of balls that used to be automatic as his numbers dipped; he caught just 26 passes and three touchdowns a year after catching eight scores.
Justin Paige, a receiver who averaged nearly 35 yards per catch and caught nine touchdowns his first two years in Bozeman, saw his numbers and yards per catch dip as well. He managed just 15 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.
Junior John D’Agostino played just six games before suffering a torn ACL. Still, he was second on the team with 19 catches. He’ll miss most if not all of the 2017 season recovering from the injury. In his place, Kevin Kassis caught nine passes for 152 yards as a true freshman.
Herbert, Paige and Kassis are sure things in terms of their secured spots in MSU’s wide receiver rotation. But the Bobcats will likely play six and maybe as many as eight receivers next season. That means Johnson, Stephens, McCutcheon, Tucker and Patterson could all break into the rotation. But to produce, each will need to climb the ladder to get enough looks to make an impact.
How they fared in 2016: Stephens, a talented yet unproven player from the Los Angeles, is one of MSU’s most athletically gifted players. He showed flashes of fulfilling that potential in six games last season. He caught a 45-yard bomb in MSU’s loss at Weber State, the longest of his five receptions, netting about half of his 91 yards.
Montana State junior wide receiver Jabarri Johnson/ by Colter Nuanez
At American River Junior College, Johnson caught 19 passes for 298 and two touchdowns last season. He spent 2014 and 2015 at Sacramento State.
McCutcheon earned Class AA first-team all-state honors as a senior at Bozeman High last season. He led the state with 10 interceptions while hauling in 12 touchdowns offensively.
Tucker caught one pass for one yard in nine games as a true freshman. The Great Falls CMR product contributed heavily on special teams. He suffered a foot injury that required surgery during spring ball but he is back to full strength and practicing.
Patterson is a 2-star recruit who threw for 2,723 yards and 35 touchdowns and rushed for 1,659 yards and 21 more touchdowns at Franklin Pierce in Tacoma. He threw for 3,115 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for 720 more during his junior season.
The case for Johnson: With Cam Sutton, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, leaving the program in the off-season, Montana State had a definitive need for a big receiver. Enter Johnson.
Many times, junior college transfers come to the FCS level with a less than stellar work ethic and a subpar conditioning level. That’s not the case with Johnson. A week into fall camp, the physically formidable outside receiver has show good conditioning and a penchant for working hard. The Elk Grove, California native is running with Montana State’s No. 2 offense currently.
The case for Stephens: Stephens, who wore No. 86 last season and is in No. 7 this season, still needs to hone his consistency if he wants to fulfill his potential. During Monday’s practice at Bobcat Stadium, he ran a sweet route with a nice double move to stack his defender before gaining separation. The ball was perfectly thrown but Stephens dropped it. If he can consistently make that catch, he could develop into the deep threat Montana State needs to complement its two seniors.
Montana State true freshman wide receiver Lance McCutcheon/ by Brooks Nuanez
The case for McCutcheon: From Choate to fellow teammates, McCutcheon has been mentioned to the media without solicitation as much as any of MSU’s nearly 40 newcomers.
His rapid physical development has catered to him rising to become the only true freshman on MSU’s initial 2017 depth chart. If he can master the playbook, he could break into the rotation as a rookie.
The case for Tucker: Tucker plays with the most physical style of any of Montana State’s receivers already. He is good at creating separation in small spaces out of the slot because of his strength. He is not as explosive as Kassis or Patterson so he’ll need to continue honing his route running to earn more balls his way this season.
The case for Patterson: Patterson is as advertised, a quick, shifty, twitchy athlete who can create space in a hurry. Once he’s in space, he is elusive. During the first week of camp, he has also show the ability to come up with big catches, much like the diving catch he made on Sunday.
What they must accomplish during fall camp: MSU’s No. 1 receivers are unlikely to change in the next few weeks but all of the above mentioned, particularly Johnson, Stephens and Tucker, will get their chances to catch passes from starting quarterback Chris Murray. Whoever makes the most of their limited opportunities will earn more opportunities, therefore giving themselves more chances to earn playing time.
Also on the roster: James Campbell (a 6-1, 180-pound freshman from Palatka, Florida); Coy Steel (a 5-9, 175-pound true freshman walk-on from Sheridan, Wyoming); Peyton Hanser (a 6-4, 205-pound true freshman from Billings Central).
