This is the final edition of the Montana State football 2024 positional preview from 406 MT Sports and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Previously published were breakdowns of the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends/fullbacks, wide receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs.
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BOZEMAN — Montana State’s special teams produced some soaring highs and crushing lows in 2023.
Brendan Hall blasted punts and kickoffs deep into the Montana sky, but he and Casey Kautzman struggled as placekickers, and the season ended on a blocked point-after attempt. The Bobcats returned punts effectively while rarely approaching the kickoff return peak they summited a year earlier, and return coverage was a mixed bag.
MSU players and coaches have seen improvement this offseason, but only games can fully determine if the special teams have reached new heights or remain mired in last year’s depths.
“We were disappointed. Everybody was disappointed that (placekicking) didn’t go the way they wanted it to because it certainly could have,” Hall said July 25. “We certainly have the people who can do it. It just didn’t happen for us. But I’ve seen a lot of work between me, Casey and the other guys this summer.”
Montana State kicker/punter Brendan Hall talks to reporters about the Bobcats’ upcoming fall camp, his strong 2023 season and more on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
For starters
Hall began last season as the first-string placekicker, punter and kickoff specialist. The SMU transfer led the FCS in net punting (43.65 yards per punt) and kickoff touchbacks (72 on 86 attempts), and MSU didn’t allo…
The Cats were 43rd in punt return defense (6.14 yards per return) and 119th in kickoff return defense (24.62) among 122 FCS programs, but few teams allowed fewer punt returns than MSU (seven), and only Northern Colorado (two) allowed few…
MSU head coach Brent Vigen called Hall “the best in the country” at kicking off and punting.
“I put a lot of work in this summer, especially with a lot of operations stuff on punt,” Hall said July 25. “I’m prepared to do even better than we did last year.”
