MSU linebacker Troy Andersen drafted 58th
Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen became the second-highest Bobcat ever drafted on Friday, April 29, when the Atlanta Falcons picked him 58th overall, 26th in the second round. (Garrett Becker/Montana State University)
BOZEMAN — Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen became the second-highest Bobcat ever drafted on Friday when the Atlanta Falcons picked him 58th overall, 26th in the second round.
Current Denver Broncos assistant coach Bill Kollar was selected 23rd overall by Cincinnati in 1974. The last Big Sky Conference player chosen higher was Eastern Washington's Michael Roos in 2005 (41st overall). Andersen is the ninth-highest Big Sky Conference player drafted in the common draft era. The last Big Sky defensive player selected higher was Boise State defensive tackle Markus Koch in 1986 (30th).
"I'm very excited for Troy to realize this dream of his," said Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen. "We couldn't be more thrilled to see him picked in the second round. The Falcons just got better and gained a whole new fan base here in Montana."
As a Bobcat senior in 2021 Anderson earned FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year honors and earned unanimous First Team All-America, Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Big Sky honors. He also earned First Team All-America honors in 2019 as an outside linebacker and Third Team All-America honors in 2018 as a quarterback. He was a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (known as the Academic Heisman) in 2021, as well.
Andersen finished second in Bobcat history with 33 rushing touchdowns, sixth with 11 100-yard rushing games and 190 points, and ninth with 2,260 rushing yards. These stats were compiled in two seasons as an offensive player. He holds MSU single season records with 21 rushing touchdowns, 6.85 yards per rush, nine 100-yard rushing games and six consecutive 100-yard games, all in 2018.
According to Tom Stuber of Skyline Sports, Andersen's selection at 58th overall is the highest for a player from Montana to play college football at an in-state school in the common draft era. UM's Milt Popovich of Butte was chosen 15th by the Chicago Cardinals in 1938.