This is the sixth 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 and offensive linemen. Next up: linebackers on Monday.
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BOZEMAN — The Montana State defensive line prided itself on creating consistent pressure throughout last season, finishing first in the FCS in sacks per game (3.42) and second in total sacks (41).
Alongside All-American Brody Grebe (team-high 9 1/2 sacks) and nose tackle Blake Schmidt, defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez wreaked havoc up the middle and Ben Seymour attacked off the edge. The duo of Valdez and Seymour combined for 10 sacks and five quarterback hurries last season.
The next challenge for MSU will be matching that production in 2024 without Seymour, who exhausted his eligibility at the end of 2023, and Valdez, who transferred to the University of Washington.
“Those guys were really good (players). And they were really good guys, too,” said Schmidt, who was also Valdez’s teammate at Monte Vista High (California). “They brought a lot to the culture as well as production.”
Montana State defensive lineman Blake Schmidt talks to reporters about the Bobcats’ upcoming fall camp, his position group and more on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
The Bobcats as a team have relied on a next man up mentality, whether that be with injuries or personnel changes. The defensive line has built depth in recent years to prepare for this moment.
“It’s never easy to lose the kind of talent we lost,” MSU D-line coach Shawn Howe said. “But I think we’re doing a pretty good job of answering it with some of these young guys stepping it up into bigger roles.”
Montana State defensive tackle Paul Brott sacks Eastern Washington quarterback Kekoa Visperas on Nov. 11, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
For starters
Three starters up front are solidified heading into the 2024 season.
