Mellott leads three Big Sky players chosen in NFL Draft

First Tommy Mellott was picked by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Then the Raiders took the man he beat out for the Walter Payton Award, Cam Miller, two picks later. 

That was in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, which concluded on Saturday; in the seventh round the San Francisco 49ers selected Montana receiver and return man Junior Bergen with the 252nd overall pick. 

Mellott and Bergen were two of three Big Sky Conference players selected; in the fifth round (167th overall) the Tennessee Titans picked Jackson Slater, a guard out of Sacramento State. 

Mellott, who dazzled at his pro day with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and a 41-inch vertical leap, is apparently going to be put at receiver with the Raiders. He played some of that for MSU and was also on special teams before suddenly taking over at quarterback for the Bobcats as a freshman in the 2021 playoffs. 

Four seasons later the Butte High product was voted the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Right behind in the voting was North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller.  

Mellott, who threw for 5,810 yards and rushed for 3,523 at MSU, is the 213rd overall pick. Miller, who led the Bison to a 45-11 record — including a 35-32 win over Mellott’s Bobcats in the FCS title game in January — is the 215th pick. He’ll stay at QB.  

Bergen’s selection came as the draft wound down. The Billings Senior product ended his career with eight punt return touchdowns, two coming on Nov. 30 in a playoff win over Tennessee State. Like Mellott he went through a position change; as a true freshman he was pressed into action as a running back. 

Now he and Mellott are headed to the NFL.  

It was thought more Big Sky players might get drafted, including Montana State’s Marcus Wehr, who was rated among the top guards available. Wehr and other top players — UC Davis running back Lan Larison and Cal Poly defensive end Elijah Ponder, for example — will likely get free agent looks. 

Three more players with Big Sky roots were drafted. Running back Cam Skattebo, who began his career at Sacramento State and then starred at Arizona State, went in the fourth round to the New York Giants on Friday. He was the 105th overall pick and the eighth running back chosen. 

Cornerback Marcus Harris, who transferred from Idaho to California to finish his standout career, went in the sixth round to the Titans.  

North Dakota State had three players drafted, starting with Grey Zabel, the 18th overall pick and the second offensive guard taken, by Seattle on Thursday.  

Safety Marques Sigle, who transferred from NDSU to Kansas State, went in the fifth round to the 49ers.