Montana State had lost a couple coaches, and head coach Jeff Choate worried he might lose a few recruits as well.
DeNarius McGhee, MSU’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, left for a job with the Houston Texans in January. He had built a few key relationships with potential future players, including running back Minaya Olivo from Modesto, California.
When McGhee left, Choate thought maybe Olivo’s chances of becoming a Bobcat did too. Olivo rushed for 1,136 yards, 9.1 yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns as a senior. Choate believed he is worthy of Mountain West or Pac-12 offers.