Jared White
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
CATS IN CAMP DAY #6: MSU Backs Bring 'Juice' in Full-Contact Debut
8/5/2026 2:15:00 PM | Football
MSU shows positive signs during first full-pad practice of preseason camp
After a year unlike any other in Montana State football history, the Bobcats prepare for the 2026 season beginning with the first preseason practice on July 30 and culminating with the season opener at Utah Tech on August 29.
THE STRAIGHT SKINNY: Montana State's sixth practice saw the team work in full pads for the first time.
PADS POPPIN': Montana State reached another preseason camp benchmark on Wednesday, when the Cats practiced in full pads for the first time.
Sixth-year head coach Brent Vigen liked what he saw. "I think this is a very competitive team, and the plays are made both ways," he said. "That's what you want. There wasn't a lot of taking guys to the ground today, but what we did, there was definitely a back-and-forth."
Senior running back Jared White always feels the electricity during the team's live segments of practice. "We don't tackle very much as a team," he said, so trying to implement game reps is very vital to us because we're the position that, other than linemen, probably gets hit the most. Learning to break tackles, just being used to getting hit, the thought of breaking that first tackle and keep moving forward, that's probably the most important thing."
Vigen said that, like every other facet of the team's preparation, tackling and breaking tackles is a skill developed over time. "We're just at the beginning as far as our level of execution," he said. "There's a lot to continue to put together, but I think we continued to build as far as our intention and effort.
ONE QUICK QUOTE: "We've got to bring the juice. We're called the Juice Squad for a reason."
-Senior Jared White on the main task for MSU's running backs
COMING UP: Montana State returns to Bobcat Stadium for Thursday's practice in spiders. The Cats cap the first full week of camp with full-pad practices on the grass on Friday and Saturday. All practices officially begin at 9:25 am.
#GoCatsGo
THE STRAIGHT SKINNY: Montana State's sixth practice saw the team work in full pads for the first time.
PADS POPPIN': Montana State reached another preseason camp benchmark on Wednesday, when the Cats practiced in full pads for the first time.
Sixth-year head coach Brent Vigen liked what he saw. "I think this is a very competitive team, and the plays are made both ways," he said. "That's what you want. There wasn't a lot of taking guys to the ground today, but what we did, there was definitely a back-and-forth."
Senior running back Jared White always feels the electricity during the team's live segments of practice. "We don't tackle very much as a team," he said, so trying to implement game reps is very vital to us because we're the position that, other than linemen, probably gets hit the most. Learning to break tackles, just being used to getting hit, the thought of breaking that first tackle and keep moving forward, that's probably the most important thing."
Vigen said that, like every other facet of the team's preparation, tackling and breaking tackles is a skill developed over time. "We're just at the beginning as far as our level of execution," he said. "There's a lot to continue to put together, but I think we continued to build as far as our intention and effort.
ONE QUICK QUOTE: "We've got to bring the juice. We're called the Juice Squad for a reason."
-Senior Jared White on the main task for MSU's running backs
COMING UP: Montana State returns to Bobcat Stadium for Thursday's practice in spiders. The Cats cap the first full week of camp with full-pad practices on the grass on Friday and Saturday. All practices officially begin at 9:25 am.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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