The FCS title game features no Idaho teams. But the state will still be well represented
Few college football programs have recruited Idaho as hard as Montana State in recent years. And the Bobcats’ persistence has paid off with a trip to the FCS national championship game Saturday.
Montana State (12-2) will face North Dakota State (13-1) at 10 a.m. Mountain time on ESPN2 in its first trip to the national finals since 1984.
The Bobcats’ roster features six Idahoans. And a pair of key assistant coaches also call Idaho home, leaving the Bobcats with a decidedly Gem State feel even after Jeff Choate left the program to become the co-defensive coordinator at Texas.
Here are four key Idahoans who helped paved the way for Montana State’s historic season.
ZACH REDD
The Rocky Mountain High grad has started every game at right guard this season and is a key part of the No. 7 rushing offense in FCS (225.5 yards per game). The 6-1, 295-pound junior first broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman and never left, posting 33 career starts for the Bobcats.
TUCKER ROVIG
The Mountain View High grad has served as the primary backup quarterback since starting 12 games in 2019. The junior emerged as a key leader and team captain this year as one of the most experienced players on the roster. He’s also one of 11 players who’s already earned his degree and is taking post-graduate courses.
JUSTIN UDY
A Genesee High grad and the 2006 1A All-Idaho Player of the Year, Udy was hired last February as the Bobcats’ offensive coordinator. But after Choate left for Texas, new coach Brent Vigen hired his own offensive coordinator and moved Udy to wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. The 33-year-old previously worked at Texas Tech, Utah State, South Dakota School of Mines and Eastern Oregon.
NATE POTTER
Montana State’s second-year tight ends coach was a consensus All-American offensive lineman at Boise State and played two seasons in the NFL. The 33-year-old Timberline High grad first broke into coaching as a quality control and grad assistant at Boise State, before venturing out on his own at The College of Idaho and now Montana State.
Other Idaho ties at Montana State are:
Sean Austin, fr., QB, Kuna High, 0 games played
Tyson Pottenger, fr., DB, Coeur d’Alene High, 2 games played
Zack Black, fr., DL, Rocky Mountain High, 1 game played
Titan Fleischmann, fr., OL, Century High, 0 games played
This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 3:08 PM with the headline "The FCS title game features no Idaho teams. But the state will still be well represented."
