Montana State ranks No. 2 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Bobcats finished 15-1 last year, losing 35-32 to North Dakota State in the FCS national championship game.
Here’s a look at the 2025 MSU football squad.
Returning 2024 All-Conference Players (5)
1st Team
PR Taco Dowler
2nd Team
OL Titan Fleischmann
DT Paul Brott
Honorable Mention
RB Adam Jones
DE Kenneth Eiden IV
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (0)
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (4)
Justin Lamson (QB), Stanford
Bryson Parker (CB), Nevada
Cale Breslin (RB), BYU
Chris Long (WR), Rutgers
Transfers Lost To The FCS (5)
Elijah Elliott (RB) to Bryant
Lonyatta Alexander Jr. (WR) to Idaho
Cole Bullock (LB) to New Hampshire
Zachary Dodson-Greene (WR) to Portland State
Blake Stillwell (DB) to Southern Utah
Transfers Lost To The FBS (6)
Rohan Jones (TE) to Arkansas
Dru Polidore (DB) to Cal
Conner Moore (OL) to Michigan State
Scottre Humphrey (RB) to New Mexico
Jon Johnson (DB) to New Mexico
Andrew Powdrell (DB) to UNLV
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Offensive Outlook
Montana State’s offense loses its Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback, top running back, and its two best offensive linemen. The Bobcats return two running backs with All-Big Sky accolades, their top wide receiver, and three starting offensive linemen.
For the first time in the Brent Vigen era, QB Tommy Mellott is not on the roster. Mellott heard his name called in the NFL Draft after a legendary college career, leading MSU to four playoff appearances, three semifinal games, and two national title appearances.
The quarterback competition looks to be between sophomores Chance Wilson and Patrick Duchien, true freshman River Warren, and Stanford transfer Justin Lamson, who will be a junior. Wilson was last year’s backup, and Warren is a highly-coveted 3-star recruit. Grant Vigen, Brent’s son, is another 3-star true freshman.
Lamson comes in with the most college playing experience. He was a 3-star high school recruit in the class of 2021, beginning his career at Syracuse before transferring to Stanford in 2023. Lamson played in 24 games with four starts at Stanford. He threw for 804 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing for 428 yards and 13 TDs from 2023-24. Lamson’s running abilities fit what MSU has done in recent years with the QB run game, whether he grabs the starting job or has a Sean Chambers-like role.
Wide receiver Taco Dowler is back after leading MSU with 597 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 38 catches. Dowler is also an All-Big Sky punt returner. More weapons will have to step up as MSU’s next two leading receivers and top tight end need to be replaced.
The Cats will lean on the run game again after ranking No. 2 in FCS rushing offense, averaging 294.9 yards per game.
Adam Jones is back after being a freshman All-American last year and finishing No. 2 in the Jerry Rice Award voting. The Big Sky Freshman of the Year had 184 carries for 1,172 yards and 14 TDs, slightly behind Scottre Humphrey’s 1,386 rushing yards. Humphrey transferred to New Mexico this offseason. However, RB depth won’t be an issue for MSU. Julius Davis also returns after being limited to four games last year due to injury. In 2023, Davis led the Cats in rushing after transferring in from Wisconsin, going for 718 yards and eight touchdowns to earn All-Big Sky Second Team honors. Jared White is another capable home-run hitter in the backfield. He flashed as a redshirt freshman in 2023, rushing for 524 yards and four touchdowns on only 65 attempts. White had limited carries last year behind Humphrey, Jones, and Mellott.
MSU will own one of the top offensive lines in the FCS. It returns plenty of starting experience and has shown the ability to reload no matter who graduates or transfers.
Titan Fleischmann (6’4″ 300 lbs) is back at tackle after being named to the All-Big Sky Second Team. He also earned All-American honors and was PFF’s No. 6-graded FCS offensive tackle. Burke Mastel (6’4″ 315 lbs) and JT Reed (6’3″ 290 lbs) return after splitting starts/snaps at guard. Reed is a multi-year starter who earned 2022 Third Team All-Big Sky accolades before missing most of 2023 due to injury. Cedric Jefferson (6’4″ 300 lbs), while not a full-time starter, logged nearly 300 snaps last season as a redshirt freshman.
Defensive Outlook
Montana State’s defense loses its top two tacklers and a majority of its starting secondary. The Cats bring back three starters on the d-line and two linebackers who finished in the top five in team tackles.
MSU should have a strong front 6 in its 4-2-5 base after finishing No. 24 in rushing yards allowed per game (121.2).
Three starters return up front, led by two All-Big Sky players. DT Paul Brott (6’3″ 290 lbs) was an All-Conference Second Team selection after totaling 49 tackles, six TFLs, and three sacks. DE Kenneth Eiden IV (6’1″ 245 lbs) earned Honorable Mention, recording 32 tackles, including team highs in TFLs (10.5) and sacks (9). Alec Eckert (6’2″ 280 lbs) is another returning starter on the interior. Last year, he totaled 28 tackles.
Three key rotational players also return on the d-line. DE Zac Crews (6’4″ 235 lbs) played about 400 snaps and recorded 25 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and three QB hurries. DE Hunter Parsons (6’4″ 245 lbs) added another 400 snaps, totaling 19 tackles, three TFLs, one sack, and two QB hurries. DT Zack Black (6’4″ 275 lbs) logged more than 250 snaps and tallied 10 tackles.
The Cats bring back two linebackers who finished in the top five in team tackles. Neil Daily totaled 51 stops, 6.5 TFLs, two sacks, one pass breakup, and two QB hurries. Bryce Grebe had 43 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one sack, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
MSU’s secondary has plenty of unknowns, losing its top six defensive backs in snaps.
Safety Caden Dowler does return after starting the first six games last year before a season-ending injury. Tayden Gray played more than 300 snaps at cornerback, tallying 19 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Takhari Carr added more than 200 snaps at corner, totaling seven tackles and four pass breakups. Safety Taki Uluilakepa also played more than 200 snaps and registered 18 stops.
The Cats added some DB reinforcements via the transfer portal, bringing in Bryson Parker from Nevada, Bryant Meredith from Fullerton College, and Ife Ohalete from Blinn College.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
Montana State Football Schedule
8/30 at Oregon
9/6 vs No. 3 South Dakota State
9/13 vs San Diego
9/20 vs Mercyhurst
9/27 vs Eastern Washington
10/4 at No. 19 Northern Arizona
10/11 vs Idaho State
10/25 at Cal Poly
11/1 at Northern Colorado
11/8 vs Weber State
11/15 vs No. 11 UC Davis
11/22 at No. 7 Montana
Bold indicates Big Sky games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
