BOZEMAN – Travis Jonsen, a Montana State quarterback and one of the biggest pieces the Montana State football team acquired in the offseason, is not participating in spring football because of an accident that happens to people everyday. Jonsen slipped on ice last week and broke his foot.
The injury will keep the Oregon Ducks transfer off the field when spring practices begin at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. But it’s nothing serious moving forward.
“It’s not anything that’s going to be a long term detriment,” said head coach Jeff Choate. it’s just going to probably keep him out of spring ball. He should be full ready to go by June 1st.”
And the coaches were excited to get a good look at a top-college talent this weekend.
“I feel bad for Travis,” said Choate. “He gets here and thinks, ‘Okay this is my fresh start and get things rolling’ and then this thing happens. I’m frustrated that he’s not out there in the spring because I’d like to see what he could do.”
Jonsen’s addition to the team will automatically bring competition to for the position with returning starter Chris Murray. But the injury could mean some players lurking lower on the depth chart will have a shot to throw their hat in the ring.
“I think a guy like Tucker Rovig is probably going, ‘Okay, I’ve been waiting for my turn anyway,” said Choate. “When I played team sports, I loved my teammates, but if a guy that was in front of me on the depth chart went down, I didn’t lose any sleep over it. That was my opportunity, I was going to step forward and make the most of it.”
And that kind of pressure has elevated the level of commitment quarterback room.
“I think it’s been really good for Chris Murray. I can see a level of leadership that I haven’t seen up to this point with Chris,” Choate said. “Being around the office and being around the coaches a little bit more, so I think there’s been a little bit of a sense of urgency in terms of his preparation. And I think that was an area where he could take a step.”
The battle will not truly unfold until camp kicks off in the summer. But the Bobcats will get their first look at their 2018 squad Saturday Mar. 3 in their first spring practice.
