The 2010 college football season doesn’t begin for a few days, but a handful of Bobcats entered game week riding good news.
Seniors Jordan Craney, a safety from Pocatello, Idaho, and linebacker Tanner Ripley from Highwood were voted captains by their teammates. They join fellow seniors Mike Person (offensive tackle, Glendive) and Michael Rider (safety, Billings), who team members voted as captains last spring.
“I thought the team made choices in Michael Rider and Mike Person last spring,” said MSU coach Rob Ash, “and Jordan and Tanner are also excellent choices. They each possess all the positive attributes on and off the field that you look for in leaders.”
Craney started for the Bobcats at strong safety in 2009, finishing fifth on the team with 57 tackles. Ripley has played a key role on Bobcat special teams throughout his career, and has been one of the most-honored students on the MSU campus not only for his academic work in the School of Agriculture but also for his community service.
Five in-state walk-ons also received word from Ash that they would receive scholarship money during the upcoming season. Sophomore defensive end Caleb Schreibeis and redshirt freshman linebacker Aleksei Grosulak, both from Billings and both projected to start this weekend’s game, lead the group of players elevated to scholarship status. Also receiving aid are sophomore cornerback Heath Howard (Plentywood), sophomore receiver Kruiz Siewing (Saco) and sophomore tackle Andrew Verlanic (Drummond).
“One of my favorite days each year is when we get to inform players that came here as walk-ons and showed great diligence and work ethic and ability that they are going to receive scholarship money,” Ash said. “We don’t differentiate in the way we coach between scholarship student-athletes and walk-ons, but it’s a tremendously proud moment for the player and it is fun to reward kids for their hard work. Each of these five guys has the opportunity to play an important role for our football team this year, and this is a good way for their season to begin.”
Howard, Siewing and Verlanic each enter 2010 second on MSU’s current depth chart (attached).