Montana Recruits 2016

[kwcat]

Yes Opland is good but personally I would play him at corner,. Sparks and him are the fastest players (at least on the track) of the RBs you mention.Both run low 11's consistently

Does Opland have loose enough hips to play DB? I never got to see him play and can't tell on film.

[Bemiller49]

Yes Opland is good but personally I would play him at corner,. Sparks and him are the fastest players (at least on the track) of the RBs you mention.Both run low 11's consistently

Does Opland have loose enough hips to play DB? I never got to see him play and can't tell on film.

Playing AA does not make a D1 player. If you look at sheer number of kids that play AA compared to how many play the other classifications, you should get more D1 ability out of the lower classes. If Opland had the line many of the AA backs have, he would have set crazy records. His natural instincts are on the offensive side of the ball. Nunez said he had the best hips out of the linebackers at the MSU camp. He could move to defense, but he is instant impact on the offensive side of the ball. Not saying he would play as a freshman, but he could be special.

[VimSince03]

From Colter's article:

Sean Opland, Troy — Opland is a little shorter than his listed height of 6-foot-1 — he measured in at 5-11, 193 — but he’s a very good and polished athlete, particularly for a Class B player. He was among the most fluid linebackers, particularly through the hips and with his change of direction. He was also the standout of an underwhelming group of running backs. His fundamentals carrying the ball are good — he keeps the pigskin high and tight. He has quick feet and explosive cuts, two necessities for his upright running style.

Opland is also a standout track athlete where he’s competed against athletes from larger schools. He won the 100 and 400 meters at the Archie Row Invite, Flathead High’s longstanding large meet. He won the Class B title in the 200 (22.60), finished second in the 100 (11.2), 400 (49.49) and high jump (6-2).

[bcats]

I don't think anyone was saying that AA makes a player but I believe AA gets more exposure and athletes are perhaps easier to judge because of the overall depth speed and size of those programs. I also believe Sam Sparks can play at this level. Fast, decent size and strength. I don't know if there was any team in any class that had the overall speed of Senior this year. I really feel that the overall talent in Montana was very good this year and the Cats have recognized that already.

[Bemiller49]

Has Sam's highlights been posted?

[VimSince03]

I don't think anyone was saying that AA makes a player but I believe AA gets more exposure and athletes are perhaps easier to judge because of the overall depth speed and size of those programs. I also believe Sam Sparks can play at this level. Fast, decent size and strength. I don't know if there was any team in any class that had the overall speed of Senior this year. I really feel that the overall talent in Montana was very good this year and the Cats have recognized that already.

Agreed. I will say that I believe the Class A and B levels have more Division 1 players this year than AA. Just my opinion on what I have seen and heard.

[bcats]

I don't know... I have watched him play the last couple of years so I am going off of that. I don't think anyone has as many posted highlights or hype as Sean does right now. Very excited to see him as a bobcat at whatever position the coaching staff decides.

[Bemiller49]

I know it seems he is being possibly over hyped. We have been keeping a low profile on him for years. Now that he has been given the chance to show what he can do on a good team, we are all just so excited. And happy about him going to the Cats and not that other team. He has spent his whole time in Troy being under appreciated by most there. Just hate to see that happen to a good kid, that has earned all that he has gotten.

[John K]

Yes Opland is good but personally I would play him at corner,. Sparks and him are the fastest players (at least on the track) of the RBs you mention.Both run low 11's consistently

Does Opland have loose enough hips to play DB? I never got to see him play and can't tell on film.

Playing AA does not make a D1 player. If you look at sheer number of kids that play AA compared to how many play the other classifications, you should get more D1 ability out of the lower classes. If Opland had the line many of the AA backs have, he would have set crazy records. His natural instincts are on the offensive side of the ball. Nunez said he had the best hips out of the linebackers at the MSU camp. He could move to defense, but he is instant impact on the offensive side of the ball. Not saying he would play as a freshman, but he could be special.

That comment made me curious about the relative numbers for AA versus the lower classes. Just in terms of enrollment, not the number of kids who actually play football, the numbers for AA and all the lower classes combined, are almost even. I just guesstimated the numbers of schools in the lower classes, and the average enrollment per school, but here are the numbers:

AA: 14 schools x 1,500/school = 21,000
A: 20 schools x 500/school = 10,000
B: 40 schools x 200/school = 8,000
C (8/6 man combined): 80 x 50/school = 4,000
A-B-C combined: 22,000

[Bemiller49]

Yes Opland is good but personally I would play him at corner,. Sparks and him are the fastest players (at least on the track) of the RBs you mention.Both run low 11's consistently

Does Opland have loose enough hips to play DB? I never got to see him play and can't tell on film.

Playing AA does not make a D1 player. If you look at sheer number of kids that play AA compared to how many play the other classifications, you should get more D1 ability out of the lower classes. If Opland had the line many of the AA backs have, he would have set crazy records. His natural instincts are on the offensive side of the ball. Nunez said he had the best hips out of the linebackers at the MSU camp. He could move to defense, but he is instant impact on the offensive side of the ball. Not saying he would play as a freshman, but he could be special.

That comment made me curious about the relative numbers for AA versus the lower classes. Just in terms of enrollment, not the number of kids who actually play football, the numbers for AA and all the lower classes combined, are almost even. I just guesstimated the numbers of schools in the lower classes, and the average enrollment per school, but here are the numbers:

AA: 14 schools x 1,500/school = 21,000
A: 20 schools x 500/school = 10,000
B: 40 schools x 200/school = 8,000
C (8/6 man combined): 80 x 50/school = 4,000
A-B-C combined: 22,000

You are probably pretty close. So numbers are pretty close.

[VimSince03]

Has Sam's highlights been posted?

[VimSince03]

Has Sam's highlights been posted?

And Josh McCracken's from Flathead. Two good AA backs.

[Bemiller49]

He is quick, that is for sure! Great cuts

[Bemiller49]

We all have our favorites and usually favor kids that we have watched. And of course highlights always look good. Nobody puts in the times they were tackled for a loss in them. I just trust that the coaching staff will evaluate properly and get the kids that make for a successful program. There will always be the walk ons that out perform the scholees. I look forward to all of them showing what they can do and making Montana proud.

[LTown Cat]

Yes Opland is good but personally I would play him at corner,. Sparks and him are the fastest players (at least on the track) of the RBs you mention.Both run low 11's consistently

Does Opland have loose enough hips to play DB? I never got to see him play and can't tell on film.

Playing AA does not make a D1 player. If you look at sheer number of kids that play AA compared to how many play the other classifications, you should get more D1 ability out of the lower classes. If Opland had the line many of the AA backs have, he would have set crazy records. His natural instincts are on the offensive side of the ball. Nunez said he had the best hips out of the linebackers at the MSU camp. He could move to defense, but he is instant impact on the offensive side of the ball. Not saying he would play as a freshman, but he could be special.

That comment made me curious about the relative numbers for AA versus the lower classes. Just in terms of enrollment, not the number of kids who actually play football, the numbers for AA and all the lower classes combined, are almost even. I just guesstimated the numbers of schools in the lower classes, and the average enrollment per school, but here are the numbers:

AA: 14 schools x 1,500/school = 21,000
A: 20 schools x 500/school = 10,000
B: 40 schools x 200/school = 8,000
C (8/6 man combined): 80 x 50/school = 4,000
A-B-C combined: 22,000

I was going to post the same thing because an argument at work got me to look up the same about a year ago. I actually went off actual enrollments. There are more kids in AA alone than in A, B, and C combined...

[Bemiller49]

Yes Opland is good but personally I would play him at corner,. Sparks and him are the fastest players (at least on the track) of the RBs you mention.Both run low 11's consistently

Does Opland have loose enough hips to play DB? I never got to see him play and can't tell on film.

Playing AA does not make a D1 player. If you look at sheer number of kids that play AA compared to how many play the other classifications, you should get more D1 ability out of the lower classes. If Opland had the line many of the AA backs have, he would have set crazy records. His natural instincts are on the offensive side of the ball. Nunez said he had the best hips out of the linebackers at the MSU camp. He could move to defense, but he is instant impact on the offensive side of the ball. Not saying he would play as a freshman, but he could be special.

That comment made me curious about the relative numbers for AA versus the lower classes. Just in terms of enrollment, not the number of kids who actually play football, the numbers for AA and all the lower classes combined, are almost even. I just guesstimated the numbers of schools in the lower classes, and the average enrollment per school, but here are the numbers:

AA: 14 schools x 1,500/school = 21,000
A: 20 schools x 500/school = 10,000
B: 40 schools x 200/school = 8,000
C (8/6 man combined): 80 x 50/school = 4,000
A-B-C combined: 22,000

I was going to post the same thing because an argument at work got me to look up the same about a year ago. I actually went off actual enrollments. There are more kids in AA alone than in A, B, and C combined...

The coaching is usually better at the AA level and the athletes in the lower levels are usually more raw. More coaches on a staff makes for better coaching. Just how it is.

[topey711]

I'm very biased but there is no way Sean is over-hyped. The numbers he has put up in his career are amazing considering where he has played. I love Troy, but they have won 10 games the last 4 seasons. If he played for even a decent team, he would have been over 2000 yds a season the last two years. Maybe 3. In the Class B semi final Huntley Project as a team ran 46 times for 260yds against Loyola. Sean had 27 carries for 255. The last two years he has averaged over 9 a carry. Sophomore year he was over 8. If you watch his highlights, notice how most of the time he is breaking tackles just to get back to the line of scrimmage. All of this with opposing coaches knowing they only have to stop him. I've heard them yelling " I don't care, just go tackle Opland". That was the called defense.

[VimSince03]

Karl looks good in Blue and Gold!

[Hawks86]

[Bemiller49]

AWESOME!!