Connor Wood still remembers the massive man his teammate drove into his leg, the twist and the snap that followed, an audible sound that put his football career in jeopardy at least for a moment.
Wood, a native of Meridian, Idaho, and his Rocky Mountain High teammate Zach Redd attended Boise State’s football camp in the summer leading up to the 2015 season. On a passing play, Redd, one of the Gem State’s best centers, drove a man Wood estimated to be 6-foot-5 and over 350 pounds into Wood’s lower leg. Wood’s foot twisted and bent into oblivion.
“My whole leg went numb and I couldn’t feel anything,” Wood said. “My whole leg was dangling like Jello. It was crazy and horrible. It was not pretty.”
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The stout offensive lineman’s college recruitment was put on pause. The bottom half of Wood’s ankle and foot twisted all the way around twice, he said, breaking his fibula in half and tearing all the ligaments and tendons in his ankle. The gruesome injury required surgery. Wood still has 15 screws in his ankle and lower leg.
While Rocky Mountain rolled to an 11-1 record against Idaho 5A competition in 2015, Wood watched from the sideline. He was able to return for the Grizzlies’ victory in the state championship game to earn the school’s first state title but he played sparingly.
Fast forward to the spring leading up to Wood’s senior year. Redd, a 6-foot-1, 270-pounder ranked as one of the top centers in the Northwest, fielded a scholarship offer from Montana State and other area schools. Wood also sat on Montana State’s radar but Jeff Choate and the Bobcats’ new coaching staff wanted to see the towering offensive lineman move before offering him.
“They wanted to see how mobile I was, how athletic I was with my ankle coming back,” Wood said. “I feel better than I’ve ever been.”
Following Montana State’s individual camp, Redd and Wood became two of MSU’s top offensive line prospects. The 6-foot-5, 309-pound also fielded offers from Idaho State and Weber State. Wood and Redd came to Montana State’s homecoming game in September and the Bobcats shot to the lead for both prospects.
“I was shocked how many people came and how loud it was,” Wood said. “It was like a Boise State game, honestly.”
Each waited until Rocky Mountain’s season ended in the 5A semifinals before making their decision. Within a week of his senior season ending, Wood joined Redd in giving his verbal commitment to Montana State. The Rocky Mountain duo are among 18 known prospects, including four along the offensive line, to verbally commit to MSU. Prospects will sign with the Bobcats in February.
“The last couple of months, I had to sit down with my family and I wrote tons of pages of the pros and cons of each school, what I liked, what I didn’t like, what fits me, what I like in a city and a school,” Wood said earlier this month. “What drew me to Montana State was mostly the coaching staff. They have one of the most elite coaching staffs in the Big Sky and that was a huge part of my decision.
“Also, Bozeman is a beautiful place. I want to say it’s like Boise, but it’s smaller and more beautiful. It’s like Boise because it feels like home. When I went up there for the game day visit, the crowd, the view, everything just felt right.”
Wood and Redd played offensive line for Art Roper, a Montana Western graduate who played collegiately with Choate and MSU offensive line coach Brian Armstrong. Roper told both of the Bobcat coaches’ straight-forward nature.
“Coach Roper told me they are great guys,” Wood said. “He said they play together, those coaches are always very positive, they are truthful guys who will tell you what you are doing wrong on the spot. They won’t wait and tell you later. I really like Choate and Coach Armstrong too.”
Wood, who started at right tackle for the Grizzlies, helped Rocky Mountain pile up 3,119 rushing yards this season. The team averaged 283.5 yards per game on the ground.
“Any time in any offense, regardless of what you do, it’s about the physicality of the offensive line to set the tone,” Rocky Mountain coach Scott Criner told Rachel Roberts of the Idaho Statesman in November of 2015. “We have to be able to set the tone and move forward. Our offensive line the last couple years has been outstanding in setting the tone.”
Wood said at Rocky Mountain, he learned the “mindset it takes to win” because that’s what the coaches prioritized. He felt the same thing with Choate and Armstrong, he said. Wood would prefer to play offensive guard in college, but will wait to let the coaches evaluate him and place him in the position they feel is best.
“I always wanted to play guard because as a tackle, you have to work with space and you usually get faster guys,” Wood said. “I like wrestling down the big boys and playing inside.”
Matt Miller, Montana State’s wide receivers coach and primary Boise-area recruiter, was the first MSU coach to contact Wood. Miller played at Boise State, as did two other MSU coaches. Choate coached at Boise State from 2006 until 2011.
Choate came to visit Wood’s home following the final game of a 4-7 first season at Montana State. Wood was impressed with his future head coach after the in-home visit.
“The energy he brings around, he always has a smile on his face,” Wood said. “He’s very straight forward. He will tell you what is what. That’s what I’m looking for in a coach. I need a straightforward guy to tell me what I’m doing wrong, what I’m doing right, what I need to do to improve.”
Wood is planning on studying business management, an increasingly popular major among MSU players since Choate took over and the Jake Jabs Business School opened its doors. Wood said he considers Redd one of his best friends and getting a chance to continue their playing career “couldn’t be better”.
By the time Wood arrives on campus next summer, he will be two years removed from his gruesome injury. Now he gets a chance to carry on his football career in Bozeman.
“I’m very excited for my future at Montana State and I’m ready to look forward to the season,” Wood said. “I can’t wait.”
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