BOZEMAN – The Montana State Bobcats are nearly a week into camp and one thing stands out on the offense, the linemen.
“That’s where it starts. I mean, you can have a great quarterback, but if you don’t have guys up front that can protect him, then I wouldn’t want to play quarterback if that’s the case,” laughed Kevin Kassis, a wide receiver for Montana State. “We have a good O-Line, it helps out a lot.”
There are so many unknowns in this MSU offense from the wideout depth chart to the running back committee all the way to the starting quarterback. But one thing remains constant, the men up front. And they need to remain solid for the rest of the team, even if they don’t know who they will be blocking for yet.
“I do my own thing and the O-Line keeps doing what they’re doing and protecting them. I mean, we care who’s quarterback, but when it comes down to it we just want to win. So whoever is the best is going to play. We haven’t been thinking about it too much,” said junior Mitch Brott.
This offensive line is a veteran group, returning nearly the entire front, except for Dylan Mahoney.
“Me, Alex (Neale), (Taylor) Tuiasosopo are the three set on the O-Line. We are still trying to figure out that fourth person,” said Brott. “But coach is going to make the right decision when it comes to it.”
Lewis Kidd is also locked in at the right tackle position after playing in 11 games last season. Now with Mahoney gone, one spot on the line remains open. But the vacancy of the former captain opens up possibly the most critical position on the line, one Mitch Brott is filling, the blind side at left tackle.
“I feel like I can fill his shoes and I feel comfortable taking that. It’s always been a dream of mine to play left tackle ever since I got here, so I’m excited for the role,” Brott said.
But even if the offensive line is one of Montana State’s biggest strengths for lighting up the scoreboard, they can’t get complacent.
“Our biggest opponent is ourselves, so just trying to make sure we don’t ruin our own chances of things. Make sure we just give ourselves our best chances to be successful,” said sophomore guard Taylor Tuiasosopo.
The Bobcats know that their success on the offensive side of the ball can lead to some huge results this year.
