Montana State Bobcats Bryce Sterk and Travis Jonsen will get NFL shots.
Jonsen, who transferred to MSU after starting his college career at Oregon, will sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Sterk, a transfer from Washington, will sign with the Miami Dolphins.
Jonsen, 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds, was one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country when he signed with Oregon in 2015. He played a variety of roles with the Bobcats but ultimately settled in at receiver. He was a first-team all-Big Sky Conference selection as a senior last fall as he finished with 580 receiving yards on 55 catches. He added another 526 yards and eight touchdowns on 82 rushing attempts.
Sterk, 6-5 and 261 pounds, had two stat-filled seasons rushing the passer at MSU. As a junior in 2018, he collected 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss. He was even better as a senior, recording 15 sacks and 19 tackles-for-loss. He was selected second-team all-conference and second-team all-America. Sterk, though, will be transitioning to tight end for the Dolphins.
“Several teams called in the last few months about the possibility of Bryce moving to tight end. He has the athleticism and the intelligence to make this move, and I have complete confidence the he’ll be successful," Montana State coach Choate said in a media release. "Travis’ versatility and competitiveness was on display for two seasons. Whatever role Tampa Bay finds for him, he’ll be more than ready. I’m proud of both of these guys.”
The Dolphins have another Montana State tie. Gerald Alexander, who spent one season coaching defensive backs in Bozeman, joined the Dolphins' coaching staff this offseason. Alexander was previously the defensive backs coach at California, and he now holds the same position with Miami.
The 2020 NFL Draft started on Thursday and concluded on Saturday. Neither Montana nor Montana State had any players selected in the Draft, but Grizzly linebacker Dante Olson is also set to sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
