MSU to look for transfers on 'D'

The rehabilitation of a Montana State Bobcat team that lost its way the last three weeks of the season is already underway.

Coaches are out recruiting, players are recovering from injuries and the bitter taste left over from defeats to Sacramento State, Eastern Washington and Montana to close the season is providing plenty of motivation.

"We've lost our persona a little bit defensively because of injuries, ineffective play, and a deviation from what our base is," MSU coach Mike Kramer said. "We'll regain it by the next time we practice because our top two corners will return to us."

Eddie Smith and Kahiam Hunter will help stabilize what was clearly the Bobcats weak spot as the season wore on, cornerback. Redshirt freshmen Kory Hunter and Andre Fuller were thrust into action as injuries took their toll.

But with Smith and Hunter healthy next year, suddenly the secondary will have depth and experience.

Up front is another story, as three-fourths of the defensive line graduates, as does two-thirds of the linebacking corp.

Two-time all-conference first team selection and former Flathead star Mac Mollohan will be back to lead the linebackers, and Nick Marudas should be fully recovered from a broken leg, but after that a lot will hinge on recruiting.

"We are really looking for transfers on defense," Kramer said. "We're really behind defensively. We're probably going to add three transfer guys before spring practice.

"We have 19 scholarships available and 15 of them are on defense. We're allowed to put 11 guys on the road each week (recruiting) and we'll fill up the maximum.

"Hopefully our efforts will yield some in-state talent. In the state of Montana there are a lot of talented guys, and you need to get your share of them."

Kramer said that rather than chasing after the best athletes, the Bobcats prefer to pursue the best compliment to their schemes.

"Usually the transfer guys we get are pretty good athletes, but they're really good fits." he said.

And while MSU is perhaps looking for a couple of transfers to step into the mix right away, it has had better success redshirting guys their first year in order to learn the system.

"A lot of coaches think that signing a transfer is an instant answer," Kramer said. "It's really tough to get the guys to buy into it."

Conventional wisdom may hold that integrating new players is more difficult on offense than defense, that's not really the case at Montana State.

"We're a little more performance driven on defense than offense, a lot of integral things that require a sense of timing," Kramer said. "It's probably equal."

Offensively, things are much rosier for the Bobcats. Only three starters graduate - right guard Lawrence Figueroa, receiver Eddie Sullivan and tight end Blake Wolf - and wideout Brandon Roosevelt will return from injury to fill out the receiving group.

Most importantly, though, is the return of Travis Lulay, a first team pick at quarterback. The senior-to-be really blossomed into one of the finest passers in all of I-AA this year, and with another session of spring and fall practice for the offense to work together, the Bobcats should avoid the slow start to the season that has plagued them in years past.

- HONORS: In addition to Mollohan and Lulay (who also received honorable mention as a punter), six other Bobcats were named to the all-conference first team.

Linebacker Roger Cooper was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year and defensive end Rey Sebestyen were honored on defense.

Receiver Rick Gatewood, tackle Jeff Bolton, Figueroa and Wolf were tabbed on offense.

In addition, nine other Bobcats were either named to the second team or received honorable mention.