With Montana State beginning its first 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.
Today’s position: Will linebacker
[restrict paid=”true”]The players: Blake Braun (a 6-foot-2, 227-pound junior), Lukas McCarthy (a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior college transfer), and Jakob McCarthy (a 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior college transfer).
What’s at stake: The “run fits” in former MSU defensive coordinator Jamie Marshall’s defense filtered ball carriers back to the Will linebacker more often than not. The position of production helped Jody Owens earn consecutive All-America nods and the Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP. After Owens’ graduation in 2012, Alex Singleton took over, leading the league in tackles for loss two straight years and earning first-team All-Big Sky honors as a senior in 2014.
Last fall, the position took a huge step back, a big factor in Montana State’s defensive demise. MSU went from a flush tackler who briskly took tacklers off their feet in Singleton to a group of players who looked out of sorts for the duration of last season’s 5-6 campaign.
Montana State is operating a new defense that employs a collection of odd-man fronts under new head coach Jeff Choate and new defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak. The necessity for playmaking by the Will linebacker might not be as dire but players who can tackle in space and win at the point of attack will be crucial for all the positions on the front seven.
How they fared in 2015: Fletcher Collins and Grant Collins battled for the starting Mike linebacker spot for spring drills and fall camp with Grant emerging as the starter in the middle as a redshirt freshman. Fletcher Collins’ smarts and ability to learn the Will spot helped him earn the Will starting position. He piled up 21 tackles in three starts before a broken hand cost him the rest of his junior season.
Braun stepped in to the starting lineup and finished fourth on the team with 47 tackles, including 29 solos and one tackle for loss. But Montana State’s interior defenders, from the defensive tackles to the inside linebackers to the safeties, were exploited throughout the 2015 season. Montana State gave up nearly 250 rushing yards per game.
In the off-season, Choate added the McCarthy twins from Fullerton College to ratchet up the competition and push Collins and Braun. All-Big Sky junior outside linebacker Mac Bignell seems like a lock to start at MSU’s Sam linebacker spot.
Lukas McCarthy, who stood out during Saturday’s fall camp opening practice, notched 54 tackles, 30 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks last fall at Fullerton.
Jakob, who sat out of practice each of the first three days as he tries to secure his academic eligibility, totaled 65 tackles, 32 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks while forcing three fumbles last fall.
The case for Braun: Braun has had a career filled with potential. The former prep safety at California powerhouse Redlands East Valley is still searching for his full break through as a Bobcat. Braun broke into the rotation as a true freshman in 2013, playing mostly on special teams and serving as Cole Moore’s backup at MSU’s former Sam linebacker spot. Braun missed the 2014 season after having off-season shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Braun returned for last season and started in seven games. But Montana State’s defense looked out of synch for the majority of the season as teams beat the Bobcats on the ground and through the air. Aside from Bignell, it’s hard to say any Bobcat had a standout defensive campaign last season as MSU finished with its first losing record in 14 seasons. Still, Braun’s game experience and his knowledge of Big Sky competition should give him an edge over the incoming junior college transfers, at least for now.
The case for Lukas McCarthy: McCarthy has played the Mike spot exclusively the first three days of fall at least partly due to his brother’s pending eligibility. He drew praise from Choate after the first day in which he made several plays on the ball.
Both twins have chiseled physiques and look explosive in individual drills. His brother’s pending eligibility will determine if he continues to play Mike or moves to Will where he is listed on the depth chart. Position versatility is a priority of Choate’s so learning both spots can only benefit McCarthy and the Bobcats.
The case for Jakob McCarthy: Jakob was the more productive twin a year ago and has more size than his brother. Each day he does not practice, he falls behind both Collins and Braun from the schematic portion of the position battle. Lukas may move to Will exclusively upon Jakob’s return. Or either McCarthy twin might push Braun at the Will spot if it looks likes Collins is the entrenched starter at the middle. Jakob earning his eligibility will be the first step to granting clarity to the situation.
What they must accomplish during fall camp: Braun has a distinct advantage over either JC linebacker simply because of all the Division I snaps he’s played during his three-plus years in Bozeman. Now he must prove he can be a competitive, productive Big Sky starter in order to secure a starting spot. The McCarthys are aggressive, explosive players who Choate brought in to “bring competition and especially to bring an edge” so the competition is sure to be heated.
Also on the roster: Josh Hill (5-11, 210), the Class AA Defensive MVP as a senior on Kalispell Glacier’s 2014 state title team, has the same distinction in front of Lukas McCarthy at Will as classmate Walker Cozzie holds over Jakob McCarthy at Mike on the depth chart, a nod to each freshman’s performance in their first set of spring drills. Koni Dole, a sophomore walk-on from Huntley Project who continues to blaze a trail while playing on a Cheetah Blade prosthetic leg, is the fourth player at the Will. Montana State also signed Balue Chapman, the Montana Gatorade Player of the Year out of Bozeman High. Chapman’s position is yet to be determined.
[/restrict]Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
