5 Best Montana State NFL Players
Montana State has produced a Pro Football Hall of Famer, a modern do everything star, and a steady run of pro linemen. These five Bobcats are ranked on their college careers in Bozeman, not on what they did later on Sundays.
1. Jan Stenerud
Kicker · 1964 to 1966
Stenerud came to Bozeman from Norway on a ski jumping scholarship and ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was discovered kicking field goals in an empty stadium and immediately started drilling kicks from distances nobody was attempting in the mid sixties. He remains the only pure kicker ever enshrined in Canton.
2. Troy Andersen
Linebacker · 2018 to 2021
Andersen played quarterback, running back, and linebacker for the Bobcats, and was excellent at all three. He ran for 21 touchdowns one year, then won the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defender in FCS with 147 tackles. Atlanta took him in the second round in 2022.
3. Bill Kollar
Defensive Tackle · 1971 to 1973
Kollar was a disruptive interior lineman and an All American who dominated the Big Sky in the early seventies. He collapsed pockets from the inside before that was a scouting buzzword. Cincinnati drafted him in the first round in 1974, still one of the highest picks in program history.
4. Dane Fletcher
Linebacker · 2006 to 2009
Fletcher was an All American who racked up tackles for loss and played every snap at full speed. He was the leader of a Bobcat defense that carried the team in tight Big Sky games. He went undrafted, made the Patriots roster, and played six NFL seasons.
5. Mike Person
Offensive Lineman · 2007 to 2010
Person was a versatile, technically sound blocker who played multiple spots along the Montana State line. He was a two time All Big Sky pick and rarely lost a rep cleanly. San Francisco drafted him in 2011 and he started on a Super Bowl offense years later.
Who Just Missed the Cut
Corey Widmer, Jon Borchardt, Brad Daly, and Tommy Mellott all deserve a look, and Widmer was a longtime starting linebacker for the Giants. The five above earned the spots with national awards and draft position out of Bozeman.
The Bobcat Identity
Montana State wins with a physical run game and a defense that plays downhill, which produces linemen and linebackers who translate. The Cat Griz rivalry and deep playoff runs give scouts high leverage tape every November and December. Bozeman is no longer a place NFL teams overlook.
Test Yourself on Montana State Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.