Big Sky Conference

THE STUDENT: Herbert exemplifies college athletics

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BOZEMAN — Mark Herbert remembers the days of his oldest son coming home from school, even at a young age, and burying his nose in his studies. Mitch Herbert has been a good student for as long as his father Mark and mother, Holly, can remember.

That discipline and dedication Mitch showed in his youth has permeated almost every aspect of his college days at Montana State. The curiosity for learning early made him a free thinker, eventually leading to his choosing of Montana State over Mark’s alma mater, Montana, a program that has been a welcome home for several former Sheldon (Eugene, Oregon) High products in recent years.

The MSU senior wide receiver has seen the Bobcat program transform before his eyes, changing from Tim Cramsey’s wide open spread system filled with big play opportunities into an offense filled with triple option elements that has posted two wins in its last seven games when completing just two passes.

Herbert broke into the lineup as a true freshman, negating the chance to get ahead academically as a redshirt. Still, he is closing in on a degree in cellular biology and neuroscience with designs on going to medical school.

Mitch Herbert catch with face in sunsetWithin the Herbert family unit, the eldest son has set the pace for an athletically accomplished family that has watched middle son Justin rise to the starting quarterback job for the Oregon Ducks. Patrick Herbert, the youngest of the Herbert brothers, is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior tight end at Sheldon who currently holds offers from local Oregon as well as in-state rival Oregon State.

“I’ve run out of descriptors for this young man,” MSU second-year head coach Jeff Choate said on Tuesday. “I just think he’s exactly what all of us would want to coach. If you could clone a kid like Mitch Herbert, you will have someone who is really special, not just what he brings to the table in terms of athleticism but the type of person he is, the type of student he is.

“I think he deeply cares about our program. Whether that means he has to block for 65 plays or catch 10 balls, that doesn’t matter. He wants to see his teammates, this program have success. That’s really what’s important to him and that’s the legacy he wants to leave.”

On the football field, the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has had an atypical career for a four-year starter. During the 2014 season, Brian Flotkoetter suffered a season-ending injury, making way for Herbert to enter the starting lineup. This Saturday, Montana State will gun for a key victory over No. 10 Eastern Washington, an afternoon in Cheney that will see Herbert make his 36th consecutive start.

Herbert caught  a game-winning touchdown to seal MSU’s 59-56 win at Sacramento State in the second start of his career. By the end of his sophomore season, he already had 12 touchdown catches, one of the top 10 career totals in MSU history.

Mitch Herbert 1st TDBut following his sophomore year — a campaign that saw the Bobcats start with a preseason No. 9 ranking and stumble to a 5-6 finish — Ash, Cramsey and most of the staff that recruited Herbert were fired.

Enter Choate and a renewed priority on defensive football, a tough-minded attitude and a dedication to running the ball. Halfway through last season’s trying 4-7 campaign, the Bobcats went with true freshman Chris Murray at quarterback. The passing game struggled but the run game thrived as Murray glided his way to 860 yards on the ground and 12 rushing touchdowns.

The stark change from an up-tempo offense that averaged 42 points, 520 yards, and 77 yards per game to one that managed to post a 24-17 win in Missoula despite completing two passes has been vivid. Those Bobcats averaged 6.8 yards per play. Herbert earned third-team All-Big Sky honors by catching 42 passes for 562 yards and eight touchdowns.

Last season, Herbert again led the Bobcats in receptions, yards and touchdowns. But because of Murray’s struggles throwing the ball and overall poor execution in the passing meant those numbers suffered: 26 catches for 476 yards and three touchdowns.

“I never would’ve expected this,” Herbert said. “But that’s what happens. We will take on whatever role we need. Chris is such a talented runner. If we are going to run the ball for 300, 400 yards per game like we have against North Dakota and Portland State, selfishly as receivers we want to catch passes but if they ask us to stock block all game, I’m happy to do it as long as it gives us a chance.

“Everyone runs into adversity and early on in my career, I didn’t expect us to evolve into the offense we have but it fits Chris’s style well. I don’t blame the coaching staff for doing what we are doing because we are still having success and we will do whatever it takes to win games.”

Mitch Herbert catches pass over middle with Ben Folsom defenseMitch Herbert grew up the son of a Grizzly. Mark played football and ran track at Montana. Montana State first came into the picture recruiting the 4.0 student for his academics rather than his athletic prowess. Mark remembers making an off-hand comment suggesting if MSU wanted Mitch, they should offer him a football scholarship. About a month later,  Ash called with a scholarship offer.

Montana showed interest but never came through with a solid offer. Meanwhile, Mark helped Mitch weigh his options by taking him to check out campuses. The father and son visited Harvard and the local Ducks. Portland State seemed like a close to home option if nothing else come through. And the Air Force Academy could provide the proper academic challenge. Because of Mark’s ties plus the burgeoning pipeline from Sheldon to Montana — former Griz quarterback Jordan Johnson along with UM senior linebackers Connor Strahm and James Banks plus senior right tackle Mike Ralston — the family thought Herbert might hold out for UM.

When Herbert took his official visit to Montana State, he did not hesitate. Mark never instilled the fierce emotions involved with the rivalry between MSU and UM into his sons — “When you don’t grow up in Montana, you don’t have quite the ingrained rivalry,” he said last week — so when Mitch chose MSU, his parents offered no opposition.

“After he made his recruiting visit, he said, ‘Dad, this is where I want to go to school,” Herbert said. “We had visited Harvard. We had checked out Oregon. He wanted to go to Montana State. I wanted him to talk to his mom. He said, ‘We can go talk to her’ but there’s nothing to discuss.”

Mitch set the pace in terms of constant competition amongst his brothers from the beginning. All three Herbert brothers thrived in football and baseball. Mitch also starred in basketball. Mark remembers the competitions between his sons, particularly Mitch and Justin, “driving me crazy”. But when the two older brothers reached high school, the competition transformed to camaraderie.

Mitch Herbert too high SDSUWhen Mitch was carving out a reputation as a freshman in Bozeman, Justin earned the starting job under center at Sheldon. By 2015, Justin affirmed himself as a legitimate quarterback prospect. He thought about Montana State but when an offer from the hometown Ducks came, Justin jumped.

Meanwhile in Bozeman, MSU’s losing 2015 season resulted in Ash’s firing. Within the month, MSU All-American quarterback Dakota Prukop, one of Herbert’s best friends and the only quarterback he’d ever played with, declared he would graduate and transfer for his fifth year to an FBS school.

After visiting Texas, Alabama and Oregon, Prukop chose the Ducks. Two months later in February of 2016, Justin signed with the Ducks.

“I remember the spring after Dakota transferred to Oregon and him coming over to my family’s house,” Herbert said. “I introduced him to Justin when he was still playing high school baseball.”

That success came with sharing. Prukop threw for 1,214 yards and eight touchdowns in six starts before giving way to Herbert, who started played in nine games and started the last six. He threw for 1,936 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“It was interesting to follow that position battle through fall camp and into the season. It was kind of cool to see both of them have success,” Herbert said.

“I knew my brother had and has the talent to really succeed at that level and I always knew he had the talent growing up but to break out on the scene like he did was unexpected. But it’s sure been a lot of fun to watch.”

Back in Bozeman, Herbert has seen MSU’s team dynamic evolve for the better while the offense has not prioritize its sneakily athletic, leaping wide receiver nearly as often.  Yet Herbert has not complained for one second, instead ascending to become a team captain while being ready when his number is called.

MSU wide receiver Mitch Herbert spilts UND defenders for a long gain

Herbert caught nine passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in MSU’s narrow 31-27 loss to No. 4 South Dakota State. He caught five passes for 59 yards and provided steady blocking on the perimeter as MSU rushed for 341 yards in a 49-21 win over North Dakota. He has caught just one pass each of the last two weeks but the Bobcats have totaled 621 yards on the ground during the home stand.

MSU rushed for 407 yards last week alone in a 30-22 win over Portland State.

“Mitch Herbert didn’t come here to be an offensive tackle but sometimes, you have to block,” Choate said. “He’s always been good about that. I know Mitch wants to win and I love that about him. I don’t think he was ever happier than when he caught one ball against Montana. You couldn’t wipe that smile off his face for a year. He’s the ultimate team player.”

Herbert has bought in and continued to thrive in the classroom. He remains a perfect student who is surely getting into med school. He says he will go wherever he thinks is the best fit once accepted.

 “No one gives him credit but he’s staying up until 1, 2 in the morning doing his lab reports, all his classes to become a doctor,” MSU senior captain safety Bryson McCabe said. “Then he gets on the field, doesn’t complain, doesn’t say a word. Over the last two to three years, I’ve become really close with him. I’m going to miss seeing him every day.”

“He’s the total package,” added senior cornerback Bryce Alley, the man who has probably battled against Herbert the most over the last four years. “He takes care of things on the field. He takes care of things off the field. He’s a great person to look up to.

“I’ve looked up to him since I’ve been here. He’s got hands like glue. I believe he can tie his hands behind his back and he’s still find a way to get the ball. He’s always a reliable target for us in the passing game. He works well on the outside blocking. He does literally everything.”

Mitch Herbert points of LOSHerbert has been able to close in on medical school by sacrificing sleep. He is the biggest fan amongst his teammates of Choate’s morning practices, a new addition this season because it gives him more time to study.

Because of the AP credits he earned in high school, Herbert will just need to take two classes in the spring. When he graduates, he will find a job and take a year off in hopes of “saving some money” while studying for the MCAT and preparing for medical school.

“If you want to go to medical school or study a degree of that caliber and still play athletics, look at him,” Alley said. “He is doing it the best way I’ve seen out here. He stands out. He’s definitely a role model.”

Herbert has had some highlights against Eastern Washington, namely a SportsCenter worthy one-handed catch on the Inferno in Cheney in his last trip to EWU in 2015. On Saturday, he will try to lead the Bobcats to their first win over the Eagles in Herbert’s career.

The Bobcat captain has gone from a pivotal role on a playoff team to trying to lead a rebuilding program with a roster flush with young player. Yet he would not replace his experience for anything.

Mitch Herbert TD catch copy 3“The thing I’ll remember the most is the relationships I’ve been able to make with my teammates, coaches, professors, people in the community,” Herbert said. “It’s been such an awesome experience that has changed my life. Bozeman is so great and my time at Montana State is something I’ll never forget.”

Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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