Lights march into 2006 with spring drills today
George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor
gferguson@havredailynews.com
Basketball season is over in Havre. Baseball really hasn't begun yet, and no one
is quite sure if winter is over, no matter what the calender says. And with
summer still on the horizon it is certainly too early to think about football.
Too early unless you are a collegiate football player, and in Havre, the
Montana State University-Northern football team begins its annual spring drills
today.
Never has the enthusiasm been higher heading into a spring practice than it is
right now for the Lights' program.
Northern finished the 2005 regular season with
a 5-5 overall record and a third-place finish in the Frontier Conference. The
Lights came dangerously close to winning several games last season that would
have likely vaulted them into the NAIA playoffs for the first time ever.
With 10 returning defensive starters, three standout running backs and arguably
the conference's top quarterback returning for the 2006 season, hopes are high
that this will be the season the Lights indeed reach the next level in NAIA
football.
“We're very excited about this spring for a number of reasons,” MSU-N
third-year head coach Mark Samson said. “First, I think we have the most depth
that we have had since I have been here, so we don't have as many concerns or
holes to fill as we have in the past.
“And I think with the talent we have coming back, we can really use this spring
to get our younger kids a lot of reps,” he added. “So we can even establish
more depth heading into the fall.”
Samson recently wrapped up a very solid recruiting class that is mixed with key
transfers and outstanding high school talent. Most of the transfers are already
on campus and will participate in spring drills.
Two of those transfers will be immediately expected to fill key wide receiver
positions. Northern was hit hard at the wideout position where the Lights lost
three senior starters. But
“I really think with the guys we brought in and the young kids we already have
here that we are very talented at wide receiver,” Samson said. “That is one
position we are really anxious to get out there this spring and see what we
have.”
The offensive backfield is an area where the Lights are set. With Samson back
for his senior year and all-conference running back Don Saisbury, as well as
tailbacks Saxton Shearer and Zach Wermers returning, the Lights should be very
formidable in 2006. That is, if they can rebuild the offensive line, which is
this spring's biggest concern.
“We lost three starters on the offensive line, so putting together a new line
is certainly one of our biggest priorities this spring,” Samson said. “We have
some young guys we're looking at and this spring will be about finding which
ones can step in and do the job.”
The quarterback position is also one of interest this spring. Kyle Samson
suffered a knee injury in the first half of the Lights' season-finale against
Montana Tech last November in Havre. He has since recovered from that injury
and is a 100 percent go into spring drills. But Mark Samson said that his
starting quarterback's snaps in practice will be down this spring so the
coaching staff can work on establishing a solid No. 2 quarterback.
Three freshmen will vie for the backup role this spring and fall. Kelly McBryan
(6-0, 190) from
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lights are set, and this spring will be
about depth and strengthening an already stingy defense. With returning
all-conference players like defensive backs Marc Samson and Jake Eldridge, as
well as linebackers Dilan Saisbury and Kennedy Anderson, along with
all-conference defensive lineman Andrew Leichtnam, the Lights appear primed for
a big year on the defensive side of the ball. Northern also returns standout
starters like linebacker Josh Glahn and defensive end Joe Coleman.
“I think we're pretty much set on defense with 10 starters coming back,” Samson
said. “So we can really use this spring to take a long look at some of the
younger guys and see what winter conditioning did for them and if they are
going to step up and even add more depth for us.”
The young players who could impact the Lights' defense even further include
defensive back Khalin Anderson, who saw extensive playing time as a freshman in
2005, and defensive linemen Garrett Glasrud (6-1, 260) and Jay Fulk (6-0, 240).
“We're really excited about taking a long hard look at a lot of these young
kids on both sides of the ball,” Samson said. “The real positive about this
spring is, because of our numbers and our depth, we can get all these guys a
lot of reps and that will really help us find out just where we are heading
into the fall.”
Even the kicking game which, wasn't always MSU-N's strong suit in 2005, should
be more improved in 2006 as redshirt Luke McKinley steps into the role as place
kicker.
“Luke McKinley is an excellent kicker,” Samson said. “I think he will really
help us next season and having a strong kicker will only make our offense that
much better in the long run.”
Northern also enters spring drills at almost full strength with only transfer
Mason Ophus sitting out because of a knee surgery he had earlier this year.
“We are very healthy right now and I think the kids came out of winter
conditioning pretty well,” Samson said. “Kyle's knee is fine and he's ready to
go.
“I think that this spring is going to be a lot of fun,” he added. “And I know
the kids are anxious to get outside and get things started.”
The Lights will hold 13 full practices between today and April 15. Regular
practice times will begin at