While Tommy Mellott was the starting quarterback at Montana State, he compiled a 33-8 record, boasting the second-most wins in school history along with two FCS National Championship game appearances.
Of those eight losses, Mellott and his Bobcats suffered three to a North Dakota State Bison team led by quarterback Cam Miller. All three were in the FCS playoffs.
The college rivals became NFL teammates on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Bobcat was selected with the No. 213 pick by the Raiders. The team selected the North Dakota State quarterback two picks later.
In those three college games against each other, Miller threw for 391 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Mellott suffered an early game-ending injury in their first encounter, but bounced back for nearly 700 scrimmage yards and six total touchdowns in their later two outings. Their last two games against each other were determined by three points or less.
"To compete against him and to have a guy like that who can just keep on pushing yourself in a program like North Dakota State that really sets the bar for everybody else to kind of go and chase, it helps everyone else become better," Mellott said of facing Miller. "And obviously we wish we could have been able to get after him and been on the other side of it, one of the three times at the very least."
Following the draft, Raiders director of college scouting Brandon Yeargan said he expects Mellott to switch from quarterback to receiver at the pro level, especially after he ran a 4.39 at his pro day. Along with his 5,810 passing yards, the Butte, Montana, native amassed 3,523 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns in his collegiate career, winning the 2024 Walter Payton Award given annually to the top offensive player in FCS football.
"I have the utmost respect for Tommy," Miller said of being drafted with his former adversary. "He obviously won the best offensive player in the country this year. I wouldn't have wanted anybody else to win that award and I said that after the ceremony. I think the way that he carries himself, the way that he plays the game, I'm super excited to work with him. And I think him and I have a very similar mindset."
Yeargan mentioned there were many hours contributed to scouting the two FCS standouts dating back to their second playoff matchup in December 2023. When asked what was the common theme in making them Raiders, he kept it simple: "they're winners."
"[B]oth athletic guys, competitive, tough, hard, nosed, and they've led their teams for a bunch of years now," Yeargan said. "And specifically to your question, we go everywhere. Our scouts hit the road all fall. We visited both those schools. We've sent national scouts to both those schools too. Credit to [scout] Lenny McGill, who was over the top of those schools too. So, we cover them all the same.
"Obviously, you're going to visit the FBS schools two to three times each scout. The FCS schools, we still devote a lot of attention to those. And those two programs in particular are really good programs too."
While Mellott's 33-8 record is impressive, Miller's 45-11 record as the starting quarterback of the Bison totaled the third-most wins in FCS history. Along with his two national championships, he set multiple school records for total offense (11,998), pass completion percentage (.694), pass completions (759) and passing yards (9,721), and his 129 total touchdowns tied the school record.
After out-dueling Mellott for two national championships, he'll be throwing passes to him as early as rookie minicamp. And the two couldn't be more excited to be linked to one another in the Silver and Black.
"We're very driven and we want to win games and we want to make those around us better," Miller said. "I think having played against him, you understand that he's a true competitor and that's somebody that I want on my team."
"I'm excited to play with him because he's a competitor," Mellott added. "Obviously, I never played directly against him. It was kind of offense, defense, offense, defense, but I'm excited to get to know the guy. I have a ton of respect for him and ready to get to work with him, for sure."
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The sights and atmosphere prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders International Fan of the Year from Australia Josh Gargiulo prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders International Fan of the Year from Australia Josh Gargiulo prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft signage around Green Bay before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders fans prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Signage prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Alabama guard Tyler Booker prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
LSU tackle Will Campbell prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Fans wait for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Fans wait for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft prospects stand on stage before the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Draft prospects stand on stage before the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders pick signage during the 2025 NFL Draft.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reads the Las Vegas Raiders' pick for 6th overall during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty shares a hug with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty after being selected 6th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
