BUTTE — In one year, Jed Fike has gone from an unknown to a star on the Montana Tech campus.
His numbers in his first season are staggering. He finished third in the nation in rushing yards per game with 139.1, while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Even more impressive is that he did it as a sophomore in his first year with the Orediggers. He feels much more comfortable as he preps for his junior season.
“My comfort level has increased a lot,” he said. “I feel blessed to be an Oredigger (and) I feel blessed to be under (Chuck) Morrell.”
An increase in comfort also means an increase in responsibility, as both a runner and a leader, but he has been making a statement since the former Dickinson State Blue Hawk stepped on campus.
“Jed leads by his style of play,” Morrell said. “He’s relentless on the field. He’s always at 100 percent in terms of his motor, so I think that’s his style of leadership and I think the guys feed off of that.”
This season will be much different than the Harrison native’s first in Butte, as a number of linemen, receivers, and quarterback Quinn McQueary have all graduated. The Diggers are searching for their next quarterback, making the run game will be the offensive backbone in 2018.
“Our run game is definitely going to be one of the more strong suits we have this year,” Fike said. “I think it’s time to look at other opportunities for this team to win, and I think the run game will be a huge part of the offense this year.”
Fike said he noticed the shift in leadership at the end of last season. He’s going to be asked to step up, but if last year gives any indication, he will be more than ready in the fall.
