2025 Breakout and Expected Improved Players

[kwcat]

“personally like what I see in physical development of Cole Taylor at linebacker to start.“

Safe to say Cole is working out.
Haven’t got to see much from Sharbono or Coon yet, but I believe that’ll be coming.
Got some good flashes from Steele
Sharbono actually got some penetration at the Oregon game and I thought should’ve been credited with two solo tackles. I’ll have to rewatch and see if I have that right. He is stronger than some but needs some more technique.

[kwcat]

Would like to bump up this thread and renew the discussion.
Who has been some of the most pleasant or biggest surprises that haven’t been mentioned yet?


#16 Brendan Ross to start has been outstanding on special teams and playing back up at nickel has been pretty darn impressive.
Our secondary has been a very pleasant surprise as well

Seth Brock at defensive end

[VimSince03]

2025 Breakouts:

Offense

TE - Rocky Lencioni
OL - Braden Zimmer
WR - Dane Steel

Defense

LB - Cole Taylor
DB - All Four of Them!
S - JJ Dolan/Bryant Meredith
DT - Talon Marsh
DE - Dom Salano

[MrGoodKat]

2025 Breakouts:

Offense

TE - Rocky Lencioni
OL - Braden Zimmer
WR - Dane Steel

Defense

LB - Cole Taylor
DB - All Four of Them!
S - JJ Dolan/Bryant Meredith
DT - Talon Marsh
DE - Dom Salano

These are all 100% accurate and I would add a couple deeper cuts:

DB- Colter Petre
DE- Seth Brock

[VimSince03]

2025 Breakouts:

Offense

TE - Rocky Lencioni
OL - Braden Zimmer
WR - Dane Steel

Defense

LB - Cole Taylor
DB - All Four of Them!
S - JJ Dolan/Bryant Meredith
DT - Talon Marsh
DE - Dom Salano

These are all 100% accurate and I would add a couple deeper cuts:

DB- Colter Petre
DE- Seth Brock

Colter has improved when he's been pressed into duty with Dowler out at times a few games mid-season. He's also been great on special teams.

I wouldn't put Brock up there yet as he's played zero starter/rotational defensive end snaps (correct me if I'm wrong). But he has been a standout on special teams and if we want more breakouts, Mason Dethman should be added.

Also, Xavier Ahrens probably should be added to defense as he's made the starter rotation as a true freshman at LB.

[MrGoodKat]

2025 Breakouts:

Offense

TE - Rocky Lencioni
OL - Braden Zimmer
WR - Dane Steel

Defense

LB - Cole Taylor
DB - All Four of Them!
S - JJ Dolan/Bryant Meredith
DT - Talon Marsh
DE - Dom Salano

These are all 100% accurate and I would add a couple deeper cuts:

DB- Colter Petre
DE- Seth Brock

Colter has improved when he's been pressed into duty with Dowler out at times a few games mid-season. He's also been great on special teams.

I wouldn't put Brock up there yet as he's played zero starter/rotational defensive end snaps (correct me if I'm wrong). But he has been a standout on special teams and if we want more breakouts, Mason Dethman should be added.

Also, Xavier Ahrens probably should be added to defense as he's made the starter rotation as a true freshman at LB.

Yeah, it's a little too early, but I see Brock being really, really good very soon.

[RobertCats]

2025 Breakouts:

Offense

TE - Rocky Lencioni
OL - Braden Zimmer
WR - Dane Steel

Defense

LB - Cole Taylor
DB - All Four of Them!
S - JJ Dolan/Bryant Meredith
DT - Talon Marsh
DE - Dom Salano

I'm with you on the DB's. Was really high on McMillan coming into the season and his success has not been a surprise but Seth Johnson has really stood out. Blows my mind teams still throw the quick screen to his side of the field!

[kwcat]

Would like to bump up this thread and renew the discussion.
Who has been some of the most pleasant or biggest surprises that haven’t been mentioned yet?


#16 Brendan Ross to start has been outstanding on special teams and playing back up at nickel has been pretty darn impressive.
Our secondary has been a very pleasant surprise as well

Seth Brock at defensive end

I just read the stats. Did not realize that Ross lead the team on tackles Saturday.

[CelticCat]

What's kind of crazy about the secondary is that Bryson Parker, the transfer from Nevada, was dismissed in August. Would have had another experienced body back there.

[TomCat88]

My guess on oline at Oregon, assuming all are healthy.

LT: Zimmer
LG: Reed
C: Mastel
RG: Carr
RT: Fleischmann

This guess is getting warmer...

Sounds like Zimmer is coming along well

Zimmerman would’ve been a great pick for breakout player but it’s too late now. lol

Comeback BPOY: Davis
Rookie (transfer) BPOY: Long
Rookie (freshman) OBPOY: Zimmer
DBPOY: Marsh
Rookie DBPOY: McMillan
BUOY: linebackers

I’ll go with:
Dowler, Caden
Zimmer
Marsh
Johnson
Cornerbacks

This is a fun thread to read back through.

[BelligerentBobcat]

If you go look at the fall camp thread, Justin Lamson is going to be the greatest player in the history of the program at QB and this year's offense is going to be better than last years. So I'd have to say Lamson will be the breakout guy, if any of that nonsense is even 75% true.

One poster in particular is doing an incredible job of hyping up Lamson and driving debate and discussion on that thread.

We need something to talk about! A hot take every now and then is good for ya!

I hate to toot my own horn, but so far we’re averaging about 20 more yards per game offensively than last year in conference play. Obviously two difficult games to go that can change that.

[91catAlum]

My guess on oline at Oregon, assuming all are healthy.

LT: Zimmer
LG: Reed
C: Mastel
RG: Carr
RT: Fleischmann

This guess is getting warmer...

Sounds like Zimmer is coming along well

Zimmerman would’ve been a great pick for breakout player but it’s too late now. lol

Comeback BPOY: Davis
Rookie (transfer) BPOY: Long
Rookie (freshman) OBPOY: Zimmer
DBPOY: Marsh
Rookie DBPOY: McMillan
BUOY: linebackers

I’ll go with:
Dowler, Caden
Zimmer
Marsh
Johnson
Cornerbacks

This is a fun thread to read back through.

Wow Tom, some great calls there!

[SparkCat]

Let’s not forget Jabez!

[VimSince03]

Let’s not forget Jabez!

Shoot forgot Jabez. Yes add him on offense!

[TomCat88]

If you go look at the fall camp thread, Justin Lamson is going to be the greatest player in the history of the program at QB and this year's offense is going to be better than last years. So I'd have to say Lamson will be the breakout guy, if any of that nonsense is even 75% true.

One poster in particular is doing an incredible job of hyping up Lamson and driving debate and discussion on that thread.

We need something to talk about! A hot take every now and then is good for ya!

I hate to toot my own horn, but so far we’re averaging about 20 more yards per game offensively than last year in conference play. Obviously two difficult games to go that can change that.

Yeah, you were on Lamson all the way. I was concerned about his low completion percentage, of all things! I was way off! He has nearly doubled his completion percentage from Stanford.

[grizzh8r]

If you go look at the fall camp thread, Justin Lamson is going to be the greatest player in the history of the program at QB and this year's offense is going to be better than last years. So I'd have to say Lamson will be the breakout guy, if any of that nonsense is even 75% true.

One poster in particular is doing an incredible job of hyping up Lamson and driving debate and discussion on that thread.

We need something to talk about! A hot take every now and then is good for ya!

I hate to toot my own horn, but so far we’re averaging about 20 more yards per game offensively than last year in conference play. Obviously two difficult games to go that can change that.

Yeah, you were on Lamson all the way. I was concerned about his low completion percentage, of all things! I was way off! He has nearly doubled his completion percentage from Stanford.

[083190]

Kind of surprised that Caden Dowler hasn't gotten more notice here. His name popped up once or twice. Two ACL tears in two years, limited time on the field and the mental toll that would take on a young man. Now, here he is leading the defense and earning the most recent Defensive Player of the Week honor. Some of the talking heads on social media are mentioning him as Defensive Player of the Year in The Big Sky. That seems like a pretty big "Breakout"! Pretty remarkable.

[BobcatBuiltTexan]

Would like to bump up this thread and renew the discussion.
Who has been some of the most pleasant or biggest surprises that haven’t been mentioned yet?


#16 Brendan Ross to start has been outstanding on special teams and playing back up at nickel has been pretty darn impressive.
Our secondary has been a very pleasant surprise as well

Seth Brock at defensive end

I honestly don't know why the secondary is a pleasant surprise, I told everyone at the beginning of the year that they would be a standout group, regardless of their age. They are literally shutting down opposing offenses pass game. They don't even try to throw the ball past 5yds on either cb, maybe once every two games someone will try and it always ends up badly for them, lol. The secondary is exactly as they were advertised as freshmen. Johnson gets thrown at more so you can see him making plays...mcmillan you have to have an eye for what he is doing. teams literally are just not throwing at him, so he doesn't get much of a chance to make plays, but there have been several coverage sacks that he has created. You can even look at Howe is calling the game, he knows where the ball is going on pass plays...not at mcmillan, lol.

I knew seth was gonna be a dawg, any time you see a de running down on special teams, that means that kid has ability, and a lot of it. I'm excited to see him get more reps the bigger he gets.

Lamson is what I though the would be. A game changer like tommy but a completely different style of player and brings a new dimension to the offense. we are really balanced on offense....our pass game is deadly early, then when we need to lean on our run game we can.

cole train taylor has been the biggest breakout player in my opinion. From the first game he has been "on one". His ability to diagnose and get to the ball is allowing the dl to pin their ears and the secondary to just worry about the pass, definitely a key player for us.

C.Dowler isn't a break out player to me, he's been on the team and he has shown that when healthy is a heck of player. He is more like a bounce back player. Him being healthy has really been a shot in the arm to the defense. His availability has allowed the defense so much flexibility, he is easily our defensive MVP.

[BobcatBuiltTexan]

Kind of surprised that Caden Dowler hasn't gotten more notice here. His name popped up once or twice. Two ACL tears in two years, limited time on the field and the mental toll that would take on a young man. Now, here he is leading the defense and earning the most recent Defensive Player of the Week honor. Some of the talking heads on social media are mentioning him as Defensive Player of the Year in The Big Sky. That seems like a pretty big "Breakout"! Pretty remarkable.

I don't think he is a breakout player, he's been on the team and he has already shown that he is a great player, he just stayed hurt. I don't even see him as an improved player, again he's shown his ability level. He is more of a "come back" player of the year as opposed to break out. Now you are correct having two acl surgeries and having to stay "in the pocket" to come back is definitely something to take note of. And yes he is my defensive MVP for us, he allows us so much flexibility. I think this thread is about players that haven't shown to be stand out players or guys that haven't contributed and people think they will be key players. Caden was a key player and we know he can play, he just needed to stay healthy.

[TomCat88]

Would like to bump up this thread and renew the discussion.
Who has been some of the most pleasant or biggest surprises that haven’t been mentioned yet?


#16 Brendan Ross to start has been outstanding on special teams and playing back up at nickel has been pretty darn impressive.
Our secondary has been a very pleasant surprise as well

Seth Brock at defensive end

I honestly don't know why the secondary is a pleasant surprise, I told everyone at the beginning of the year that they would be a standout group, regardless of their age. They are literally shutting down opposing offenses pass game. They don't even try to throw the ball past 5yds on either cb, maybe once every two games someone will try and it always ends up badly for them, lol. The secondary is exactly as they were advertised as freshmen. Johnson gets thrown at more so you can see him making plays...mcmillan you have to have an eye for what he is doing. teams literally are just not throwing at him, so he doesn't get much of a chance to make plays, but there have been several coverage sacks that he has created. You can even look at Howe is calling the game, he knows where the ball is going on pass plays...not at mcmillan, lol.

I knew seth was gonna be a dawg, any time you see a de running down on special teams, that means that kid has ability, and a lot of it. I'm excited to see him get more reps the bigger he gets.

Lamson is what I though the would be. A game changer like tommy but a completely different style of player and brings a new dimension to the offense. we are really balanced on offense....our pass game is deadly early, then when we need to lean on our run game we can.

cole train taylor has been the biggest breakout player in my opinion. From the first game he has been "on one". His ability to diagnose and get to the ball is allowing the dl to pin their ears and the secondary to just worry about the pass, definitely a key player for us.

C.Dowler isn't a break out player to me, he's been on the team and he has shown that when healthy is a heck of player. He is more like a bounce back player. Him being healthy has really been a shot in the arm to the defense. His availability has allowed the defense so much flexibility, he is easily our defensive MVP.

Now, now...you weren't the only one. I, and a few others, recognized they would be good about the time Polidore and Powdrell transferred out. I actually was letting people know that McMillan, Boyd and Ross had a good chance of being solid players here right when they signed. My logic being that if you're an All-District player in Texas and run 10.3-10.6 100m, there's a good chance you'll excel in the BSC. McMillan is starting. Boyd has been a special teams ace and Ross really stood out against Weber State as he ended up leading the team in tackles and had a great stop on a special teams play.

I agree that Taylor has been the biggest breakout/surprise.

Dowler is/was so unsung and that last game put him on everyone's radar. I bet he runs a sub-11 100m now. McMillan is probably now at 10.2, Boyd 10.4, Ross 10.5, Grebe 11.1, Daily 11.1, Gray 11.0. Just a ton of speed in that back 7. Ahrens has great sideline to sideline mobility. I know that a lot of the players that come to MSU get significantly faster once they get in the training program.