Montana Recruits 2016

[Clinton T]

Deleted.

[blueandgoldblitz]

Gus Herzog accepted a full scholarship from MT Tech. He was being recruited hard by Cramsey but heard nothing from MSU after Cramsey left. Butte came in with an offer and Gus wants to be an engineer. He couldn't pass up the opportunity. I think he would have been a good one. He beat out Chase Benson for team MVP and is of the same size and stature as Chase (and a power lifter to boot).

Well that sucks. I was hoping to get him and Benson to help shore up the D-Line in the future. He's had less injury trouble than Chase as well, hasn't he? Is NAIA's signing day the same as NCAA's? Maybe Choate just hasn't noticed him yet and will after his bowl game?

It's an interesting time for sure. Need to get all of our coaches together (didn't Choate say that not everyone would be working together until Jan 3?) and maybe we'll make a late push on some guys. Choate is a D-Line coach after all. I trust his judgment. Go Cats!

[VimSince03]

Gus Herzog accepted a full scholarship from MT Tech. He was being recruited hard by Cramsey but heard nothing from MSU after Cramsey left. Butte came in with an offer and Gus wants to be an engineer. He couldn't pass up the opportunity. I think he would have been a good one. He beat out Chase Benson for team MVP and is of the same size and stature as Chase (and a power lifter to boot).

Well that sucks. I was hoping to get him and Benson to help shore up the D-Line in the future. He's had less injury trouble than Chase as well, hasn't he? Is NAIA's signing day the same as NCAA's? Maybe Choate just hasn't noticed him yet and will after his bowl game?

It's an interesting time for sure. Need to get all of our coaches together (didn't Choate say that not everyone would be working together until Jan 3?) and maybe we'll make a late push on some guys. Choate is a D-Line coach after all. I trust his judgment. Go Cats!

Coaches have been in contact with all of the athletes they wanted prior to the dead period. Of course they can still communicate but Choate and the guys did a great job of getting communication going in-state and out-of-state. Gus wasn't likely going to get more than a PWO offer from us so good for him for getting the offer and running with it. I'm excited for January!

[VimSince03]

Shrine Game Roster Breakdowns

QB

East: Matthew Blunt - Miles City (5'11", 185 lbs.)
East: Dane Warp - Havre (6'4", 190 lbs.)

West: Leif Ericksen - Kalispell Glacier (6'4", 185 lbs.)
West: Luke May - Whitefish (6'0", 188 lbs.)

Alternate (West): Alec Nehring - Manhattan (6'4", 215 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Ian McIntosh - Chinook (5'10", 185 lbs.)

With the exception of Ericksen, the starting quarterbacks come from the Class A level for the shrine game...and rightfully so. Going into the season, I said Luke May and Dane Warp were the two best quarterbacks in Montana. Now I do think that Nate Dick (Billings Senior) and Troy Anderson (Dillon) have an argument that they are better than any of the four seniors on this list, but they are juniors so their names will get to join the conversation next year.


Dane Warp is the most decorated of the group, holding Montana records for the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in a career. He has a three star rating from scouting sites such as Scout.com and Rivals.com which goes to show how much those sites don't know Montana well at all. As a prospect, Dane has a very lean frame with good accuracy as a passer. He does not have the best arm strength but his accuracy helps overlook that category. He moves well in the pocket and shows good technique outside of it meaning when he rolls to his left or right, he still hits throws in stride. He is not fast and his athleticism outside the pocket is a weakness. Why has he been overlooked by the two in-state schools? Athleticism and arm strength. Those have to be the only two things hurting him because he has the height, the accuracy, the stats, and the GPA (4.0 student). It has been reported he is deciding between Carroll College for basketball or Dartmouth for football. The East should be happy to have Dane on their side. He is an excellent high school quarterback.


Matthew Blunt won a lot of games for Miles City as the starting quarterback. Miles City ran a very "run-heavy" scheme using a zone-read with a lot of pre-snap motion. Blunt was the operator of that scheme. One of their most successful play-calls this year was having Blunt keep the ball off the zone read and run up the gut with a pulling lineman through the hole. Blunt is also not a bad passer with his favorite target being Wyatt Lesh who is an alternate for the game. I am not sure on Blunt's future but he is a good enough athlete to play at any of the frontier conference schools. He and Warp will form a good pair of signal-callers for the East.


Luke May didn't have the Dane Warp records, but he finished his career with a State title. The dual-threat gunslinger led Whitefish to its first state title since 1979. An outstanding athlete, May was the Co-Offensive player of the year in the Northwestern A Conference. He does his damage on the run, throwing it or running it. He is one of those quarterbacks that may throw a better ball when he is actually on the move. Whitefish ran a zone-read scheme and May ran it well. I think he is a college level safety because of his football instincts and physicality. He wasn't afraid to dish out a hit as a quarterback or defensive back. Luke has already signed on to throw javelin at the University of Minnesota which is pretty cool gig if you ask me.


Leif Erickson almost go the Wolfpack back in the state title game for a third straight year but came up about 30 yards short in Bozeman in the semifinals. Leif's last pass of his high school career was a Bennett Hostetler interception inside the 10 yard line to seal a state title game berth for Bozeman. Leif played well in that game against a really good defense. Glacier relied a ton on their power run game this year behind Thomas Trefney and co. But Ericksen showed a strong arm and good accuracy in the passing game. Do not know about college offers or interest for Leif but he and the rest of the 2015 Glacier team exceeded expectations all season.


The only QB alternate on the West squad in Alec Nehring. Alec is another great athlete for his size. He could win both the shot put and discus in track this year along with high jump and long jump. He is that good of a track athlete. A good tight end/receiver in 2014, Manhattan moved him to QB his senior year and Manhattan made it all the way to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Baker. Alec put up great stats but his future is in track as he signed with the MSU track & field team. Go Cats!


The only QB alternate on the East squad is Ian McIntosh. Personally, I am jacked Ian got listed with these QBs because he deserves it. He was the catalyst for that Chinook championship team this year and he is a heck of an athlete. He has a good arm and good instincts at the position. An excellent scrambler who can make plays happen with his feet. He would be a quality backup to either East quarterback if needed. He is a gamer!

Ranking the QBs:
1.) Dane Warp
2.) Luke May
3.) Matthew Blunt
4.) Leif Ericksen
5.) Alec Nehring
6.) Ian McIntosh

[Bemiller49]

Nice write up Vim!

[VimSince03]

Nice write up Vim!

Doing running backs tomorrow!

[VimSince03]

Shrine Game Roster Breakdowns

RB

East: Conner Bokma - DGS (6'2", 205 lbs.)
East: Andrew Grinde - CMR (5'11", 215 lbs.)
East: Sam Sparks - Billings Senior (6'0", 180 lbs.)

West: Michael Banna - Missoula Big Sky (5'11", 225 lbs.)
West: Josh McCracken - Kalispell Flathead (5'9", 195 lbs.)
West: Sean Opland - Troy (6'0", 200 lbs.)
West: Chris Park - Whitefish (5'7", 180 lbs.)
West: Thomas Trefney - Kalispell Glacier (6'1", 205 lbs.)

Alternate (East): Bridger Coffman - Sidney (5'10", 170 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Riley Hagler - Savage (6'2", 200 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Aidan Collins - Missoula Loyola (6'2", 205 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Alex Draper - Hamilton (6'0", 200 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Wyatt Haldorson - Corvallis (5'10", 170 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Brad Holland - Flint Creek (5'9", 165 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Nick Winfield - Jefferson (5'10", 195 lbs.)

The East will carry three running backs while the West will carry five. The West also has a laundry list of quality alternates to choose from if need be. There are 6-7 backs that have a shot at the FCS level but I will only say two are scholarship players (Andrew Grinde and Sean Opland). Fringe PWO guys are Sam Sparks, Conner Bokma, Michael Banna, Josh McCracken, and Thomas Trefney. There are 15 backs to cover here so let's get started with the East backs.


Andrew Grinde was slowed this year by a few nagging injuries but it didn't stop him from still topping the 1,000 yard mark. He also ran behind a less than stellar offensive line (which still had SuperState player Noah Danielson). Andrew runs with speed, power and patience. He also a good pass blocker and receiver. The only knock on him would probably have to be his height but that just doesn't matter as a running back in my opinion. Just overall a great running back and one of the best to ever play in the Montana high school ranks. He committed to Yale early in the fall and has not looked back. Best of luck to him.


Sam Sparks was part of a three headed monster at Billing Senior this year with Nate Dick (QB) and Gabe Sulser (WR/ATH). The Broncs ran a zone read scheme almost to perfection at times and they had so much speed. Sparks only increased that speed as he had 1456 yards on 228 carries and led AA with 6.4 yards per carry. He ran behind a great offensive line. Sam has good hips and makes good cuts in the hole and on the outside. Has good speed. Will not be a power back by any stretch when he plays in college because he is more of a versatile player where you can line him up anywhere. Sam is worthy of a PWO offer in my book because he comes from a good program, has enough talent, could play other positions, and would be a nightmare on special teams if he doesn't crack a lineup.


Conner Bokma is a kid that I ranked as the third best running back in Montana going into this past season. He didn't get the chance to play his full senior season because of injury but he came back with a few games to go and led DGS to a State 6-man title. The phrase "he is just a six-man kid" doesn't work with Conner. He has the size (6'2", 205 lbs.) and versatility (played running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and safety) to get a shot at the Big Sky. Tim Cramsey followed him on twitter because he must have seen the talent as well. Conner isn't a burner but he isn't slow either. You can throw away his stats from 6-man and instead watch him on tape. He is a quick twitch athlete and plays loose. Plays physical with a ton of passion. His style of play is nearly exactly like Rhett Young's coming out of high school. Montana Tech, MSU-Northern, Rocky, and Dickinson State I think have already offered. What it will come down to is how badly Conner wants to be a Bobcat. If he doesn't get a PWO offer, he may just walk-on next fall and try to make the team. He badly wants to be a Bobcat.


For the West, Sean Opland is the first player that jumps out. He didn't pick up a ton of wins in his career but he finished in the top 5 in rushing yards for a career in Montana high school football history. A great athlete (we have talked about his track ability enough on here), Sean is slated to be a running back for the Cats. Cannot wait to see how the kid develops and how he shows his abilities against the best in-state competition this summer.


Thomas Trefney led AA in rushing yards his senior year behind a powerful Glacier rushing attack. Thomas is a slippery runner who can break a big run if he sees light. He also has good size and is a good receiver. The only knock I have on him is his running style. He runs stiff and he is not as good of a cutter as some of the other top backs. However, his stats don't lie. I can say he runs stiff all day but his tape shows a kid who ran against some of the best defenses AA has to offer and he was successful against all of them. Coach Grady Bennett put it best by saying he is one of those backs that gets better the more carries he gets. Thomas has received strong interest from nearly every Montana frontier school.


Michael Banna is the bruiser of the group. He is your prototypical fullback in a pro-style offense. He carried the load for Big Sky his senior year and racked up over 1,000 yards rushing. He is also an excellent receiver. Michael is also no slouch in the "athletic" department as he hurdles defenders multiple times in his senior tape. The old Bobcat staff was interested in him. I do not know on his interest level now but he is definitely worthy of a PWO because of his future as a short yardage back and blocker. Frontier schools have already offered.


Chris Park shined his senior season for Whitefish. He was the Co-Offensive MVP of the Northwestern A conference (as well as a Co-Defensive MVP at LB). He is only 5'7" but he plays like a 230 lb fullback. He is very similar to current Bobcat Logan Jones. One of those football players that can kind of do it all on offense. Again, the only thing hurting him is his size and he just tore his ACL during the A title game against Dillon. I think Carroll and other frontier schools are interested. I wouldn't be surprised if either school throws a PWO offer at him late in the recruiting game this month.


The final back is Josh McCracken from Flathead. The kid is built like a rock at 5'8", 195 lbs. Hard to bring down due to his size and speed combo. Josh was one of the hardest workers on Kyle Samson's team and Samson stated, " His strength allows him to break a lot of tackles but he also has the speed to break it outside and make some big plays there as well." His running backs coach, former Griz and NFL player Lex Hilliard, stated, "He never shies away from a hit and he's a fearless runner." Josh is getting strong interest from Frontier schools and their is a Griz connection there. I see him playing in the Frontier. Cody Kirk type work ethic though.


Alex Draper leads the group of alternates. If he wasn't on the West side of the state, he would be on the East squad no doubt. I have been very high on him throughout this year but the other backs from the West did prove to be the best five on the field. Alex is a good running back who has loose hips and is one of the better cutters in the State in my opinion. He doesn't have the break away speed some of the other backs have. He could turn into a good linebacker at the next level. He carried Hamilton for the past two seasons. The Griz have shown some interest in Alex but I have no idea about offers. Good football player who runs the football a lot like Chad Newell.


Nick Winfield transferred to Jefferson High School from Helena High before his senior season and he helped lead Jefferson to the Class B playoffs. Jefferson won the 5B title this year but they had a tough draw in the first round because they had to play the 2nd place team of the tough 3B conference. They got Huntley in the first round and lost a close game. Regardless, Nick had a great senior season and he is a quality running back. I don't know if he has the speed to compete at the Big Sky level but he is a "put together" athlete that is very competitive. Frontier conference schools are interested.


Aidan Collins from Missoula Loyola had a great senior season. One of the bigger backs in this class, here is what he thinks about running the football, ""It's a contact sport and I really enjoy it, so if someone's going to tackle me, they're going to hurt. If I hit them hard enough throughout the game they're going to not want to tackle me later on. I've seen it happen before." He was also a standout defensive end for the Rams. I do not know about offers from Frontier schools but he was definitely one of the top 15 backs in the state in 2015.


Bridger Coffman had a great career as a Sidney Eagle. Their primary running back for the past two seasons, Bridger is one of the faster player running backs in the state. He is also a standout wrestler. Not sure on his football interest but may have a future as a college wrestler.


Wyatt Haldorson may be a better defensive player (strong safety) than offensive player but he is listed as a running back alternate for the West squad. Corvallis didn't have a ton of success this year but most of their positive plays went threw him.
He has good speed and football instincts. Solid all-around football player that would be a quality alternate if called upon.


Riley Hagler is a bigger back from the 6-man ranks. He helped carry Savage all the way to the semifinals this year. He is not a division one athlete but has a chance to play in the frontier conference. Personally, I thought there were better backs in the East to list as alternates but Savage is a good program and Riley is a physical player that can help not just as a running back if needed.


Brad Holland is another running back who comes from the Flint Creek co-op (formerly Drummond and Philipsburg). He is the only Class C 8-man runner listed on the Shrine roster. He has been all-state the past two seasons on offense and defense for the Titans. Plays with a good motor for his size and has good speed. Do not know bout college interest.

Ranking the RBs:
1.) Andrew Grinde
2.) Sean Opland
3.) Sam Sparks
4.) Conner Bokma
5.) Michael Banna
6.) Thomas Trefney
7.) Chris Park
8.) Josh McCracken
9.) Alex Draper
10.) Nick Winfield
11.) Bridger Coffman
12.) Aidan Collins
13.) Wyatt Haldorson
14.) Brad Holland
15.) Riley Hagler

[Hawks86]

Trase LeTexier committed to the griz.

[VimSince03]

Trase LeTexier committed to the griz.

Nothing has shown up announcing it yet (except for on Egriz) but he was from a Griz family and had a PWO offer from them. The kid wanted to be a Griz for a long time so I'm glad he gets to have a shot at his dream. He still may come on his visits to both schools regardless. Good linebacker who I predict will be a defensive end when its all said and done. Congrats to him!

[Hawks86]

You're not following all the right people.

Clint Layng ‏@layng26
Just meet with Coach Stitt, Green, and Ferriter Trase Le Texier has verbally committed to Montana #Go Griz

[VimSince03]

You're not following all the right people.

Clint Layng ‏@layng26
Just meet with Coach Stitt, Green, and Ferriter Trase Le Texier has verbally committed to Montana #Go Griz

Well there ya go!

[bpcats20]

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't UM have a lot more scholarships to offer than MSU? I still think MSU will have a strong class of instate recruits....however it may come down to who can offer more money on some kids.

[VimSince03]

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't UM have a lot more scholarships to offer than MSU? I still think MSU will have a strong class of instate recruits....however it may come down to who can offer more money on some kids.

UM has less than us. Have opened up more by retooling roster. We will have about 18-20 new recruits is my estimation. On instate kids, you want to get Montana kids to accept that PWO offer who are fringe scholarship players. Low risk, high reward. Trase and about 10 other Montana players that are fringe scholly guys will most likely get PWO offers unless something opens up late.

[VimSince03]

Jace Lewis also verballed to the Griz just now. Two good linebacker prospects who will most likely be PWO for the Griz. Both were known Griz fans. Wouldn't be surprised if both still take visits. They are two of the top 5 linebackers in this Montana class. Good gets for the Griz. Scholarship players still out there include Chapman, Benson, Hadley, Rosling, Bradshaw, Oreilly, and Finch. When I say scholarship player I mean they are good enough to deserve a scholarship. The only players with known offers include Benson, Chapman, and possibly Hadley.

[tdub]

Leif Erickson almost go the Wolfpack back in the state title game for a third straight year but came up about 30 yards short in Bozeman in the semifinals. Leif's last pass of his high school career was a Bennett Hostetler interception inside the 10 yard line to seal a state title game berth for Bozeman. Leif played well in that game against a really good defense. Glacier relied a ton on their power run game this year behind Thomas Trefney and co. But Ericksen showed a strong arm and good accuracy in the passing game. Do not know about college offers or interest for Leif but he and the rest of the 2015 Glacier team exceeded expectations all season.

Leif just committed to play at DIII Whitworth University. Congrats to him!

[VimSince03]

Leif Erickson almost go the Wolfpack back in the state title game for a third straight year but came up about 30 yards short in Bozeman in the semifinals. Leif's last pass of his high school career was a Bennett Hostetler interception inside the 10 yard line to seal a state title game berth for Bozeman. Leif played well in that game against a really good defense. Glacier relied a ton on their power run game this year behind Thomas Trefney and co. But Ericksen showed a strong arm and good accuracy in the passing game. Do not know about college offers or interest for Leif but he and the rest of the 2015 Glacier team exceeded expectations all season.

Leif just committed to play at DIII Whitworth University. Congrats to him!

Cool!

[wbtfg]

Leif Erickson almost go the Wolfpack back in the state title game for a third straight year but came up about 30 yards short in Bozeman in the semifinals. Leif's last pass of his high school career was a Bennett Hostetler interception inside the 10 yard line to seal a state title game berth for Bozeman. Leif played well in that game against a really good defense. Glacier relied a ton on their power run game this year behind Thomas Trefney and co. But Ericksen showed a strong arm and good accuracy in the passing game. Do not know about college offers or interest for Leif but he and the rest of the 2015 Glacier team exceeded expectations all season.

Leif just committed to play at DIII Whitworth University. Congrats to him!

Congrats to him! Cool campus....s

[VimSince03]

Shrine Game Roster Breakdowns

WR

East: Tyger Frye - Billings Senior (5'11", 165 lbs.)
East: Jacob Hadley - Billings Central (6'6", 225 lbs.)
East: Justin May - Chester/Joplin/Inverness (6'2", 180 lbs.)
East: Karl Tucker - CMR (6'1", 205 lbs.)

West: Tracen Eggers - Twin Bridges (5'11", 175 lbs.)
West: Will Hunthausen - Helena Capital (6'2", 170 lbs.)
West: Caleb Jones - Kalisepll Glacier (5'10", 160 lbs.)
West: Jed Nagler - Whitefish (6'4", 210 lbs.)
West: Nate Simkins - Dillon (5'11", 145 lbs.)

Alternate (West): Danny Burton - Helena Capital (5'9", 165 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Cole Harper - Butte Central (6'0", 170 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Trais Hoisington - Thompson Falls (6'4", 195 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Payton LaFrentz - Dillon (6'2", 165 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Quade McQueary - Townsend (5'9", 175 lbs.)
Alternate (West): Hudson Smith - Polson (6'3", 180 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Wyate Lesh - Miles City (6'2", 175 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Nate Rismon - Havre (6'0", 175 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Chase Rossmiler - Power/Dutton/Brady (6'1", 175 lbs.)

The East squad took four receivers from their region and the West loaded up with five. Each team has a good mix of size and speed. The top 2 have already committed to UM and MSU so let's get started with them.


Karl Tucker II was the second Montana player to commit to the Cats this year. He had a strong relationship with the prior coaching staff so good on the new coaches reassuring him that he is part of the future. He is a outstanding wide receiver and one of the better ones to ever come out of CMR. He set the all-time receptions record at CMR and was up there in the receiving yards and touchdowns list. For a storied program, that is impressive. The first thing that jumps out to you when watching his tape are his hands. He catches everything around him, good or bad passes. He can go up and get it and is not afraid to go across the middle. He was used in a lot of spots for CMR but he has great run after the catch ability. He is a slicer on offense. A knock on him would probably be his speed but he will not have to be a burner at MSU as he will most likely be playing a lot in the slot. He is also an excellent route runner and blocker which is huge at the next level. While Jed Nagler is the better overall athlete, I rank Tucker over him because he is a better overall receiver. Does a lot of things well. He was a 1st-Team All-State and Super-State selection at receiver for CMR.


Jed Nagler passes the eye test when take a look at him. He is built like a linebacker or defensive end and runs like a gazelle. A very smooth athlete that knows how to get open. In Whitefish's offense, Nagler's big plays usually came when QB Luke May started to scramble around and Nagler knew how to get open. A Griz recruit, Nagler is a perfect fit for Bob Stitt's inside receiver position as he is a mismatch for linebackers and he excels at crossing routes. He might be the best track athlete in the State along with Sean Opland and Alec Nehring from Manhattan. He is a sprinter and high jumper. As a receiver, he has great hands and can go up and get it with the best of them. His strength shows in blocking. I think he will need improvement as a route runner but it shouldn't be a problem because he is so athletic. It's a close call between him and Karl Tucker but the way I see it is Jed is your Dez Bryant type while Karl is your Steve Smith type receiver. Jed was a 1st-Team All-State and Super-State pick at receiver for Whitefish.


Jacob Hadley was the star receiver for Billings Central and boy has he grown. The kid is up to 6'6", 225 lbs. and played big this year. He might be the best jump ball catcher in the state. His coming out party this year was against Dillon where he caught four touchdown passes against arguably the best defense in Class A. He was also a standout corner for the Rams but realistically he won't be playing there in college. He excels in catching contested balls but his route running could use some work. He has decent speed and was required to block a lot in high school. He is getting interest and possibly has offers from both MSU and UM and I expect him to take visits to both before a decision. He is from a Cat family as his sister attends MSU. Jacob earned All-State honors at WR and DB and Super State honors at DB.


Tracen Eggers was part of a high-powered Twin Bridges squad this year that made it all the way to the semi's, falling to Arlee 22-14. Tracen was the star receiver with speed to boot. He deserved a starting spot on the West roster because he has been doing it for a few years at Twin Bridges. He also may have a future at safety wherever he plays college football next year. A solid, steady football player from a good program. A two-time all-state selection in Class C.


Justin May is a three time all-stater from CJI. He played running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and safety. He made the Great Falls Super State team as a defensive athlete. He may have the best hands in Montana. If you want to know how good they are, watch the first highlight from his tape: He has tremendous upside and his biggest knock is his speed. But he is a savvy football player who has a shot at wide receiver or safety at the next level. Frontier conference schools have offered and MSU showed interest under the previous staff, inviting him to their top 15 recruit visit during the Griz game.


Will Hunthausen was a key cog in the resurgence of the Helena Capital team this year. He had over 1,000 yards receiving and has a great stride when he gets in the open field. He is also good in space and can make defenders miss. He has a long, lean frame and is an excellent hurdler in track. Both MSU and UM have interest in him being a PWO and he has gotten scholarship offers from some of the frontier conference schools. A good player who could be great if he continues to get stronger. He was a 1st Team All-State receiver for the Bruins.


Tyger Frye just added to the speed that Senior already had this year. If it wasn't enough of a nightmare to slow down Nate Dick, Sam Sparks, and Gabe Sulser, you then had to slow down Frye who was a cat quick receiver on the outside who could make contested, diving catches all over the field. Tyger committed to Dickinson State last week. He was a 1st Team All-State receiver for Senior.


Caleb Jones from Glacier plays the game a lot like current Bobcat and former Wolfpack standout Logan Jones. He is a slot receiver and defensive back that plays hard and fast. He may be the best cornerback out of Montana and he has gotten looks from Frontier conference schools. Just a good football player to have on the field. Will always play the game the right way. Caleb was a 1st Team All-State WR and DB for Glacier.


Nate Simkins out of Dillon was Troy Anderson's favorite target. The duo helped lead Dillon all the way to the title game in Class A. Nate was known for always getting open and catching everything coming his way. He was primarily a slot receiver who motioned into the backfield at times. He was an All-State pick as an ATH for Dillon. The only thing holding him back is his weight at 145 lbs. But he plays big and was definitely one of the best offensive players in Class A in 2015.

The West squad is carrying six alternates at WR while the East has three. Let's start with the West:


Danny Burton formed a dynamic receiving duo with Will Hunthausen at Capital. Kid plays with a lot of passion and he hurts defenses with his speed. He was an HM All-State pick for Capital. He also played corner at Capital.


Cole Harper from Butte Central did all he could to keep the Maroons in contention this year in Class A. He has really good hands and is not a great route runner. Makes his plays after the catch. Overall a good alternate who was an All-State receiver in Class A.


Payton LaFrentz out of Dillon is a taller receiver out of the West. He pair with Nate Simkins for a good receiving duo. He is a good blocker and can make enough plays in the passing game to be a quality alternate.


Hudson Smith is one of the better receivers to come out of the West. He led Polson to a playoff berth in Class A this year. Hudson has good size and speed for the position and he caught a lot of footballs in his career as he was heavily featured in their offense. He could have just as easily been picked as a starter. He was an All-State receiver for Polson. Good player who is a sleeper prospect.


Quade McQueary is the younger brother of Quinn McQueary who's college career took a turn about a year ago. Quade played for Deer Lodge his junior year before moving to Townsend to play with Jace Lewis for his senior year. He was Jace's favorite target but they couldn't get into the Class B playoffs to make another title run. Quade is a smaller sized receiver who is most likely headed to the frontier conference. Was a 1st-team 5B conference pick at WR and DB.


Trais Hoisington is a big, tall receiver from Thompson Falls. He had seven touchdowns on the year and led TF to the Class B playoffs. He was an All-State pick in Class B and 1st-team 7B selection as a receiver, defensive back, and punter.


Wyatt Lesh was Miles City's top pass catcher during their run this year in Class A. Whitefish needed to shut him down in the semifinal game this year and they accomplished that in the second half. I personally thought he deserved a spot on the East starting squad but he should be the first alternate. He is a very good athlete with a ton of big play potential. He was an All-State selection for Miles City and should garner attention from the frontier conference schools.


Nate Rismon has been a big part of Dane Warp's success at Havre since both were freshman. Rismon hauled in a lot of Warp touchdowns over his recording breaking career at Havre. Nate is another smaller receiver who plays big. He goes up and gets balls and can catch in traffic. Very good runner after the catch who will be another quality alternate for the East squad. Nate is also versatile as he was an All-State pick at WR and DB for Havre.


Chase Rossmiller is another good Class C receiver who did everything for PDB over the past few years. Similar to Justin May in the way he plays. With multiple All-State selections, he has plenty of talent to compete in the Shrine game if called upon.


Ranking the WRs:
1.) Karl Tucker II
2.) Jed Nagler
3.) Jacob Hadley
4.) Will Hunthausen
5.) Justin May
6.) Nate Simkins
7.) Caleb Jones
8.) Tyger Frye
9.) Tracen Eggers
10.) Hudson Smith
11.) Wyatt Lesh
12.) Nate Rismon
13.) Trais Hoisington
14.) Cole Harper
15.) Danny Burton
16.) Quade McQueary
17.) Chase Rossmiler
18.) Payton LaFrentz

[grizatwork]

Vim,
I would tell you to get a life, but then I would have to as well. Solid work. Much appreciated.

[VimSince03]

Shrine Game Roster Breakdowns

TE

East: Ben Hardy - Fairview (6'6", 210 lbs.)

Alternate (West): Robert McCarvel - Helena Capital (6'1", 190 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Abel Armitage - Roundup (6'5", 250 lbs.)
Alternate (East): Tanner Osborne - Columbus (6'2", 230 lbs.)

The West team will most likely run a spread attack so they don't have an actual TE listed on the roster. They do have one alternate. The East has the best tight end prospect in the state in Fairview's Ben Hardy along with two big alternates so look for the East to be using a power run game like past years. Let's get started with Hardy.


Ben Hardy comes to the shrine game from Fairview. The school produces good athletes nearly every year and Ben is no exception. What sets him apart from the rest is his height and pass-catching ability. He also has the frame to bulk up to around 245-250 in college. Ben is also a standout basketball and track athlete. Cat fans may remember his older brother Greg Hardy who was an All-Big Sky TE for the Grizzlies. Anyway, Ben is the best prospect Montana has to offer and the Bobcats are interested. I'm sure the Griz have put out some interest but it sounds like it has been all Cats so far as Ben was invited to the Cat-Griz game by the former staff. I didn't know if the new staff had any interest until I saw that Coach Choate and Ben followed each other on twitter yesterday. You can't teach 6'6", that is for sure. Ben was a two time All-State pick in football for the Warriors.

The rest of the tight end prospects are all alternates.


The lone tight end on the West roster is Robert McCarvel from Helena Capital. He was an HM All-State TE for the Bruins this past year and he helped lead a revitalized squad that made it all the way to the semis in 2015. He is a good blocker with soft hands. He plays hard and would be a quality alternate.


Abel Armitage is one of two Class B alternates for the East team. He comes from Roundup, Montana and is the biggest tight end listed at 250 lbs. He was a QB/DT for the Panthers which is an odd combination but when you're that big in Class B or C it doesn't really matter. Big is big! Anyway, Abel was an All-State selection in Class B and was a 4B First Team DT and Second Team QB.


The other East alternate is Columbus star Tanner Osborne. He is #6 in the photo above. Tanner played QB for the Cougars and if you check out his highlight film, he can spin it! He throws a great deep ball with plenty of air underneath it and can throw darts on his intermediate throws. Anyway, he most likely has a future as a tight end and Tanner isn't small. He is a good athlete at 230 lbs. If the East need another QB alternate, Tanner wouldn't be a bad option if Ian McIntosh can't go from Chinook. Tanner was an All-State selection in Class B and was a 4b First Team QB and First Team DE. He and Abel Armitage make up the heaviest conference QB tandem on any list that I have ever seen.

Ranking the TEs:
1.) Ben Hardy
2.) Tanner Osborne
3.) Able Armitage
4.) Robert McCarvel