Don’t look now but Connor Sullivan is starting look like the dominant player who ran roughshod over Class C two seasons ago.
The former Ennis Mustang, who grew up an hour south of Montana State, found himself swimming in confusion and wondering if he belonged at all during his first fall playing 11-man football. At the outset of spring drills, the redshirt freshman had a break through, learning he could contribute to the Bobcats at the very least as a solid blocker on the perimeter.
As spring progressed, Sullivan continued to improve and gain confidence. Montana State is winding down its fall camp — the Bobcats wrap camp with a scrimmage at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday — and Sullivan is all of a sudden among MSU’s powerful arsenal of weapons.
Sullivan
“From last year, it was crazy, I didn’t know what the heck was going on and the competition was unreal,” Sullivan said. “But since spring, summer, I finally am more comfortable now and I fit in a little bit.”
Sullivan has consistently performed at a winning level in 1-on-1s, 7-on-7 and during team drills, particularly in the red-zone. He scored a six-yard touchdown by snaring a back-shoulder ball from senior Jake Bleskin with a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone during Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Down here in the end-zone, that back shoulder ball, making that play in a live situation under pressure, that’s great to see,” MSU second-year wide receivers coach Cody Kempt said. “He’s shown great flashes of helping us out tremendously on offense and special teams as well.”
The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder went out of the way to tell this reporter he’s down 14 pounds from his weight listed in the spring. He reported to camp looking lean and athletic. Since camp opened, Sullivan has showed his athleticism and fluidity consistently. He’s made a habit of employing his signature skill frequently this month.
Sullivan is a master of the back-shoulder fade. And he doesn’t just do it down by the goal line. He uses his size and explosiveness to get defensive backs on their heels. When the ball is in the air, he has an uncanny ability to stop on a dime and make leaping catches with his back turned up-field toward the defender. Often times, he lands on the ground.
Sullivan
“Connor Sullivan, he can definitely make a play on the ball,” said sophomore Mitch Herbert, MSU’s other highlight-level catch maker. “He’s a HUGE target. He’s definitely way more confident this year. I know last year, he didn’t know the plays at all. He had to think through everything. Now he knows. I live with him right now and I see him going over plays the night before, writing them down, taking notes. He’s preparing himself every day.”
When Sullivan first arrived in Bozeman, fresh off a Class C state title and an utterly dominant senior season, he didn’t believe he could play with the same assertiveness as he did in high school. Now that he’s comfortable, he’s showing off his elite skill, something that’s gotten him repetitions with the first team offense all through camp.
“Naturally, I feel like I’ve always been able to (make catches in the air), in high school especially. But in college, it’s harder,” Sullivan said. “But I’ve worked a lot with the quarterbacks in the off-season. I didn’t have the confidence to do that last season.”
Sullivan moved in with Herbert after they completed their first year in the dorms. Herbert was one of Montana State’s go-to receivers as a true freshman while Sullivan sat out his first year of college football. Herbert caught 28 passes and four touchdowns last season. Since moving in with Sullivan, Herbert’s experience is paying dividends.
“It’s pushes me a lot,” Sullivan said. “He’s the same position as me so whatever he does, you feel bad if you don’t go when he goes to do something. Whenever he goes to do something, I go do it. Whenever he writes something down, I write it down. I’m trying to do what he does.”
Sullivan blocking Bryce Alley for Mitch Griebel
Confidence led to Sullivan letting his skill set show. But he brought an intangible to the scout team and to the receiver rotation during spring drills: his blocking. The stout, strong Sullivan is MSU’s best blocker on the perimeter already. It’s because he’s used to it.
“Red-zone and blocking still on the perimeter are my strengths,” Sullivan said. “In 8-man, we ran almost all I-formation and I was a tight end in that. Always. I was blocking 70 percent of the time and passing 30 percent of the time. I’ve been blocking my whole career.”
Montana State’s receiver rotation could go 10-deep. Senior slot Mitch Griebel, a team captain, has a starting spot sewed up. Herbert likely does too at MSU’s X spot. A mix of sophomore Justin Paige and junior Brandon Brown will be the primary options at Z. But Sullivan has climbed himself to second on the depth chart behind Herbert.
“He’s had a solid, strong camp and he continues to improve everyday because he wants to get better,” Kempt said. “He loves the game of football. You can see it out here on the field that his work ethic is paying off for him.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
