When Montana State football said goodbye to its senior class prior to its final home game against the University of Idaho there were eight players that walked onto the field with family members that still have at least one year of eligibility remaining. Such are things when seasons and careers are put on hold during a pandemic.
While players weren’t burning up their eligibility, they were acquiring credits toward graduation when the 2020 season was put aside at MSU. Several players already had a jump on their academics by red-shirting and with the NCAA granting players an extra year of eligibility due COVID many had long since completed the work required to earn a bachelor’s degree before the 2021 season began.
“This class is a unique one because of all the things we’ve gone through, where we’ve came from,” MSU senior defensive end Daniel Hardy, a first-team All-Big Sky selection. “Every guy, no matter how much they play, has had a big role in us building this program.”
The following is a list of those Bobcats, who will be forgoing additional years of eligibility, and a summary of their time at Montana State University:
Tadan Gilman, linebacker (exercise science), Kalispell, Mont.
Gilman came to MSU from Kalispell Glacier where he led the Wolfpack to a state AA title when he switched from linebacker to quarterback. With the Bobcats he moved back to his natural position for his first three years and has contributed on special teams. He came up with his first interception of his career this season when he impressively took the ball right out of the hands of a Cal Poly receiver on fourth down and returned it 30 yards.
That’s been a part of Gilman’s transition to one of MSU’s “big nickel backs”. He slides into the position from time to time and on that play, was ready to make a play. His father, Mark, notably was a standout linebacker at Nebraska in the late 1980s.
Peyton Hanser, wide receiver (exercise science), Billings, Mont.
Hanser is a Billings Central product and was a first team all selection his senior year when he served as a team captain. As a junior he was all-conference in football and led the hoop team to the state title game. The son of former Wyoming standout Scott Hanser played in eight games for MSU in 2019 and all 11 games in 2021 primarily on special teams.
Jarrett Kessler, tight end (family financial planning), Kalispell, Mont.
Kessler prepped at Kalispell Glacier and started his college career at Diablo Valley Junior College, where logged 17 tackles as a linebacker, before coming to MSU in 2018. After a red-shirt season he played in four games in 2019. He has played sparingly this season.
Dylan Porter, offensive lineman (mechanical engineering), Elmira, Ore.
Porter transferred to MSU from the University of Nevada in 2019. After a prep career that was highlighted by first team all-league selections as an offensive and defensive lineman, he spent his first year redshirting for the Wolfpack and then played in one game in 2018. He played in three games in 2019.
He has been a part of Montana State’s offensive line rotation this season, playing guard.
Byron Rollins, defensive lineman (kinesiology), Missoula, Mont.
Rollins was a star at Missoula Sentinel and was selected to the Badlands Bowl and Shrine Game. After serving a LDS mission, he came to MSU in 2019. He played in five games in 2019 and collected four tackles. This season he has been in the regular rotation on the defensive line, making a handful of starts and totaling 14 tackles.
Rollins is undecided if he will return for another year.
Coy Steel, wide receiver/punt returner (exercise science), Sheridan, Wyo.
Steel made one of the best plays of MSU’s breakout 2019 season to help spark a comeback from a 21-0 deficit against Northern Arizona. He hauled in a pass around the NAU 20-yard line and was hit hard but maintained his balance and sprinted to the end zone where he collapsed and was out of action for a week.
Steel was also stellar in MSU’s opening playoff game against Albany. He had three long punt returns and totaled 105 yards, including one of 41 yards. He finished the season with 23 catches for 334 yards and four touchdowns. He was the Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year during his time at Sheridan High. He suffered a season-ending injury the first month of the season this season.
Steel, like Rollins, is undecided if he will return next season or not.
Tucker Rovig, quarterback/2021 captain (family financial planning), Meridian, Ida.
Rovig started at quarterback for the Bobcats from the third game of the 2019 season through MSU’s semi-final FCS playoff loss, starting a total of 12 games. He finished the 2019 campaign throwing for 1,969 yards on 172-for-279, 15 touchdowns with just five interceptions.
Rovig was stellar in MSU’s first playoff game against the Albany Danes where he threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 24 of 30 passes that day. He starred in high school for Mountain View and led the team to the state championship his senior season with a combined 22-3 record as a starter over two seasons.
Kyle Rygg, defensive lineman (chemical engineering), Eugene, Ore.
Rygg came into the 2021 season as the starting defensive tackle, but had his season cut short in heartbreaking fashion when he suffered a leg injury in the first game at Wyoming. He collected two tackles in that game. At Sheldon High School, he played football with current San Diego Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert. He was a first team all-league selection his senior season.
