BREAKING NEWS: McKay enters NCAA Transfer Portal

MSU junior quarterback Matt McKay announced via Twitter on Thursday, Dec. 2, that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. In his post to Twitter, McKay said, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and the Lord led me to Montana State 2 years ago. I’m thankful for the opportunity Montana State provided me to play this game I love. For that, I want to thank Coach Vigen and his staff. I am thankful for the connections I made with coaches, teammates, and the community of Bozeman. With that being said, I’ve decided to enter my name into the Transfer Portal. I’m looking forward to wherever God leads me and am excited for the opportunities that await me!”

In December of 2019, McKay transferred to MSU from North Carolina State. His arrival in Bozeman was more than a year before former Bobcat football coach Jeff Choate left the program to become the co-defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach at Texas. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McKay did not see any playing time in the 2020 season. MSU football also pulled out of the fall 2021 season, limiting McKay’s appearances in a Bobcat uniform to the 2021 season.

McKay started off the 2021 season playing exceptional football, but in the second half, his completion rate dropped to 55%. McKay in the second half of the season was averaging 112.8 yards per game, threw four touchdowns, had two interceptions and two fumbles. When asked about McKay’s recent performance against the University of Montana, Vigen said, “I think that game in Missoula more than any, he played on his heels, and we’ve got to be able to work that out of him. He owned that performance. He knew that wasn’t what we needed that day. With an extra week in the mix, you’d like to think we could work him through some of that.”

McKay will not be with the team in Saturday’s matchup against UT Martin and is no longer on the team’s online roster. That will leave the quarterbacking duties to Tucker Rovig and Tommy Mellott. Rovig was the Cat’s starting quarterback in the final 12 games of the 2019 season. However, Mellott has been featured under center alongside McKay more often in the 2021 season.

Bill Lamberty, sports information director for football, said athletics will comment on McKay’s decision after the UT Martin game.

Mellott has completed two of four passes for 12 yards this season, and he’s rushed 36 times for 294 yards and four touchdowns.

Rovig is two of five for 30 yards and a touchdown this fall. In 2019, Rovig completed 61.6% of his passes for 1,969 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Bill Lamberty is the Exponent’s professional adviser.