One topic, more than any other, has dominated conversation around the 2024 Montana State Bobcats.
Brent Vigen acknowledged it at the Big Sky Kickoff in July, weeks before the ‘Cats kicked off in Week 0 at New Mexico.
“I know we need to be a more balanced outfit on the offensive side,” Vigen said. “Ask Tommy to do more ordinary, and less extraordinary.”
The evolution of Tommy Mellott has been a multi-year process, a natural reaction to the workload that piled up on the one-time freshman phenom over his first three seasons in Bozeman – 113 carries in that legendary freshman season, 167 more as a sophomore and 85 in just nine games in 2023.
Unfortunately, Mellott’s physical, wild-mustang brand of running also led to a litany of injuries and missed games – five combined over the last two seasons. For years, the Bobcats said that Mellott was continuing to make strides as a pocket passer, that he was going to run less and throw more, take what the defense gave him. In 2024, without former Wyoming QB and experienced backup Sean Chambers around to step in whenever Mellott missed time (and instead coaching from the sideline), that growth became non-negotiable.
“He was bound and determined to continue to develop as a quarterback, as a passer,” Vigen said at the Kickoff. “That’s been a key focus. … Schematically, we need to continue to find ways to allow him to do the ordinary, to do things that appear to be easy. He can throw the ball and he can execute at a high level. And that’s ultimately what I know he’s geared up to do.”
Through 11 games in his senior season, Mellott has succeeded to a degree that’s probably surpassed even Vigen’s wildest expectations.
Both the eye test and the stats back it up – this is a completely different and much more well-rounded quarterback.
Mellott is completing 69.8 percent of his passes, a career-high by nearly seven percentage points. He’s also set new career highs in passing yardage (1,886) and touchdown passes (21 – his previous career-high was 10) while throwing just one interception.
He’s carried the ball just 62 times, by far a career-low, but has been more effective than ever with 9.5 yards per carry, yet another career-high.
On the road against UC Davis last week, he ran just three times for four yards but completed 18 of 24 passes for 174 yards and two scores to help lead the Bobcats to a 30-28 win in their closest game of the season.That win helped secure at least a share of the Big Sky Conference championship for the ‘Cats.
The tape from that game revealed a more dangerous, in-control Mellott. He made throws to all parts of the field. He kept Montana State’s offense on track – for most of the game – without exposing himself to hits. At his very best, he made plays with his arm and his legs, combining his natural athletic gifts and instincts with the last four years of coaching, hard work and development.
Heading into the final week of the regular season, Mellott is almost guaranteed to be named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. The Butte, Montana product is assumed to be in a heads-up two-man race with North Dakota State QB Cam Miller to take the trophy home.
What’s best from the Bobcats’ perspective is that he hasn’t missed time with an injury all season long.
“Tommy’s had a good year, very productive,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said. “Sometimes your best ability is availability, and he’s been able to stay healthy and play throughout the season, which is good for their football team when he can do that.”
Hauck and his defense will be the next to take on the challenge of stopping Mellott when the 123rd edition of the Brawl of the Wild kicks off Saturday in Bozeman.
In past years’ rivalry games, matchup talk has centered around Montana State’s rushing attack against Montana’s front seven.
That will be a crucial battle again this year – but to counter new, improved Mellott, the Griz will also rely on a secondary that’s had some ups and downs but appears to be putting its midseason struggles to bed at exactly the right time.
First-team all-conference cornerback Corbin Walker, who graduated, proved to be a big loss for the Griz, who have rotated Ronald Jackson Jr. and freshman Kyon Loud at corner across from senior Trevin Gradney, a captain and 2023 All-Big Sky selection.
At times, all three have struggled in man coverage, which is a crucial part of Montana’s aggressive, blitzing defensive scheme.
“They’ll play zone, but mostly when they pressure they play man,” Mellott said. “I think they
believe in their guys. They are physical at the point of attack, wherever that might be out on the
perimeter.”
Rock bottom for the Montana DBs came six weeks ago against Weber State, when Wildcats quarterback Richie Munoz threw for 364 yards and six scores in a 55-48 win in Missoula.
The week before, Eastern Washington quarterback Kekoa Visperas had thrown for 264 and four touchdowns in a narrow Griz win in Cheney.
Since that embarrassment, Montana has slowly turned things around. The Griz have held opponents under 250 yards passing in four out of five games since, and the one that went over, UC Davis, was just barely over at 256, almost 70 yards below the UCD single-game average.. Last week, UM held Portland State’s explosive quarterback Dante Chachere to just 188 yards passing.
“They’ve defended better and better as the season’s gone along,” Vigen said. “They’ve gotten more dialed-in. I know they got beat by Davis and gave up some points, but it wasn’t for lack of their defense really doing some things in that game. I think we have to anticipate that they’re playing the best they’ve played all year.”
Even more encouragingly for Montana fans, the Griz secondary is starting to create turnovers as well, picking off multiple passes in three of the last four weeks.
Last week, they rolled up three interceptions against Portland State, with Jace Klucewich grabbing two and Tyson Rostad one.
Klucewich, from Frenchtown, and Rostad, from Hamilton, are part of a Montana-made safety group that also includes Ryder Meyer (Fairfield), TJ Rausch (Missoula) and Jaxon Lee (Missoula).
Klucewich has broken out as a star with four interceptions, but Lee, Rostad, Meyer and Fresno State transfer Chrishawn Gordon all each have one pick for Montana’s opportunistic safeties.
“They always play with a bunch of energy, a bunch of passion on defense, they run to the ball,” Mellott said. “They’re physical, and they continue to be more and more expansive with what they do on defense.”
Saturday, then, will be a final exam of sorts for both Mellott and the Griz secondary, a chance to show off how much they’ve grown, evolved and improved over the season.
And it will come on the biggest stage for both teams.
“I think we haven’t quite put it all together yet, but I think we can,” said Gradney, Montana’s all-conference corner from Billings. “I’m looking forward to this team just taking this week by storm, and doing what we can to try and get this win. … I’m very appreciative, very blessed to be in this position. Having been able to play this game for as long as I have has been tremendous. I couldn’t have asked for anything else. But yeah, winning them is even better.”
