Following Montana State’s first scrimmage of fall camp, head coach Rob Ash said the Bobcats would have to keep an eye with Nick LaSane and Tavon Dodd’s work load.
The heavy demands for each young running back caught up quickly. After rushing for more than 100 yards an scoring a 63-yard touchdown in the first Saturday scrimmage, LaSane sat out all last week with a slight knee sprain. He’s awaiting a special brace before he returns to action.
Tavon Dodd
Dodd rushed 12 times for 45 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown in the first scrimmage. Dodd sprained his right ankle on the third series in last Saturday’s scrimmage. He returned later on but finished the morning with just five carries.
Ash categorized each injury as minor and said both running backs will be ready for MSU’s opener against Fort Lewis in Bozeman on Sept. 3. Ash added he’s been impressed with what the upstarts have been able to do during spring drills and fall camp as they battle for carries in MSU’s backfield rotation.
“We have had a lot of carries, a lot of reps this camp so we know what they can do,” Ash said. “I’m getting a good sense that Nick and Tavon are just about ready to play.”
Montana State offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey’s spread option attack is predicated on a variety of offensive weapons. On Saturday, he said he’d like to play as many as five running backs, meaning LaSane and Dodd will keep fighting redshirt freshman Noah James for places in the pecking order behind the one-two punch of juniors Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke.
Brekke, Newell, Prukop
“For this offense to be successful, we need eight receivers to play, maybe a third tight end, five running backs and seven offensive linemen who can play for us,” Cramsey said on Saturday. “That’s what we are building in these types of situations.”
With Newell and Brekke slowed by minor injuries the first week of camp, Dodd and LaSane have taken full advantage of their elevated opportunities. Dodd, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound redshirt freshman from Houston, has shown the balance, quickness and explosive speed most expected out him. But he’s also shown a noticeable toughness that belies his slight demeanor.
“Compete, compete, compete, compete,” Dodd said of his mindset. “I have to continue to show the coaches that I can run with the ball in my hands. I can pass block, I can catch the ball out of the backfield. I’m trying to show I’m a versatile back and that I can do it all.”
LaSane
LaSane, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound freight train from Dallas, has long been a player with potential. He spent almost two full seasons rehabbing from tearing and re-tearing the ACL in his right knee. When he’s fully healthy, he’s a combination of size and speed that can be dangerous to opposing defenses. His improved patience has helped his vision and he’s finding seams on a more consistent basis as he enters his third season of college football.
“Learning patience has been challenging but it’s definitely something I’ve been trying to work on through the spring and the summer,” LaSane said. “I think I’m finding my tempo that I have to play at now and I’ve adjusted to the college speed.
“Tavon and I are embracing this chance to the fullest. Every rep we get, we are going 100 percent, giving it all that we’ve got. We want to show them in this evaluation.”
MSU loses short-yardage back Anthony Knight and big-play scatback Shawn Johnson (LaSane was the 5th guy in the rotation) from last year’s squad. The Bobcats were second in the Big Sky by rushing for nearly 250 yards per game. It appears LaSane will be able to help out in short-yardage situations that Newell doesn’t dominate and Dodd can add another big-play threat alongside Brekke.
“Those two kids are running hard,” MSU senior captain Mitch Griebel said. “We know Nick is a bigger guy but he can run. And Tavon is so shifty. They will help us.”
Last season, Brekke caught 21 passes, Johnson caught 18 and Newell caught 15. The trio combined for six of MSU’s 21 receiving touchdowns, including four by Johnson. During spring drills, Dodd struggled at times catching the ball. The problem seems to be all but cured thus far in fall camp.
Jake Bleksin check down to Dodd
“I worked on everything in the off-season but catching was one of my main priorities being that my size, they want to get me out in space to make people miss,” Dodd said. “That passing game can get me in space even more with the ball in my hands. Being able to catch gives you more touches.”
“We throw to backs a lot here and I don’t think he did that much in high school but he’s very skilled,” Ash said. “He has really improved his catching.”
LaSane and Dodd are competing for playing time and carries. But the Texas natives have become friends off the field, helping one another transition to life far away from home. During the off-season, Dodd lost one of his best friends in a shooting at a party. LaSane has been impressed by his teammate’s perseverance as the battle to stay healthy and the battle to earn touches continues.
“In the running backs room, we are a family and as a team, we are a family,” LaSane said. “We are here for each other, emotional support. We talk. And I think Tavon has used his off-season to drive him. I know he’s using that as motivation for this season. He’s doing a hell of a job.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
