2016 MSU Recruiting - 37 (13 Full/3 Part./12 PWO/9 Tranfers)

[DaCats21]

I know it's posted some where, just too lazy to look....how many guys are we looking to sign this spring and possible transfers over the summer?

It all kind of depends each year. Every year this question gets asked a lot but the true answer is that the coaches can bring in how many players they want and then adjust the roster accordingly in the spring. We could sign on 30 players if we wanted. Realistically, I'd say we sign between 20-25 kids (includes PWOs and transfers). And you can't really predict how many transfers you bring in during a summer. They kind of just happen if the opportunity presents itself and the fit is right.

On this note, does anyone think Choate might clean house a little with Ash's recruits after spring ball (especially on the defense)?

[VimSince03]

I know it's posted some where, just too lazy to look....how many guys are we looking to sign this spring and possible transfers over the summer?

It all kind of depends each year. Every year this question gets asked a lot but the true answer is that the coaches can bring in how many players they want and then adjust the roster accordingly in the spring. We could sign on 30 players if we wanted. Realistically, I'd say we sign between 20-25 kids (includes PWOs and transfers). And you can't really predict how many transfers you bring in during a summer. They kind of just happen if the opportunity presents itself and the fit is right.

On this note, does anyone think Choate might clean house a little with Ash's recruits after spring ball (especially on the defense)?

He said everyone will get to earn a chance to start. I don't think there will be any surprise cuts after spring is over. As the saying goes, the cream will rise to the top.

[wbtfg]

It also sounds like Choate might hold on to a few scholarships to use over the summer for a couple late transfers. Kramer always did this and seemed to have decent success.

[VimSince03]

Also to note, I'm just guessing on the scholarship breakdown of all these recruits. I'm sure on most of them but there could be a few that I'm not.

[mslacatfan]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

[VimSince03]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

They want him to be a running back. It is his best position. BUT he is getting just as many accolades at LB as he is getting at RB. The kid can almost run sub-11 sec. 100m dash and the most impressive track stat is his sub-50 sec. 400m dash. One word to describe this Montana class thus far is "versatile."

[Colter_Nuanez]

Jefferson High punter Jered Padmos sticks with the 'Cats
http://skylinesportsmt.com/jefferson-hi ... with-cats/

Dallas-area running back Anthony Pegues commits to MSU
http://skylinesportsmt.com/dallas-area- ... ts-to-msu/

[wbtfg]

It also sounds like Choate might hold on to a few scholarships to use over the summer for a couple late transfers. Kramer always did this and seemed to have decent success.

Also, Kane mentioned on his interview that this class will be more focused on quality than quantity.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

I think he would make a good safety as well. He is hard to judge on his film. He is no doubt very athletic but the talent he is going against on some of those defenses on D was not that great (size and speed wise). He was a man among boys. To me he reminds me of Jordan Craney (Safety) type in his film.

[VimSince03]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

I think he would make a good safety as well. He is hard to judge on his film. He is no doubt very athletic but the talent he is going against on some of those defenses on D was not that great (size and speed wise). He was a man among boys. To me he reminds me of Jordan Craney (Safety) type in his film.

I think the best way to judge that is by his track times and by watching other top players he went against on Hudl. I found a couple of the top players he went against, watched their tape against Sean, and he is just better than all of them. Stronger and faster.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

I think he would make a good safety as well. He is hard to judge on his film. He is no doubt very athletic but the talent he is going against on some of those defenses on D was not that great (size and speed wise). He was a man among boys. To me he reminds me of Jordan Craney (Safety) type in his film.

I think the best way to judge that is by his track times and by watching other top players he went against on Hudl. I found a couple of the top players he went against, watched their tape against Sean, and he is just better than all of them. Stronger and faster.

Oh yeah, not doubt he is very athletic. I'm just saying he was a man among boys out there in a lot of those videos. I am looking forward to seeing what he can do. I hope he plays on the D though as we need the size and speed!

[Colter_Nuanez]

We updated our recruiting table to show all the players that I have confirmed are coming on official visits this weekend.

MSU to host large group of recruits the weekend of January 15
http://skylinesportsmt.com/msu-to-host- ... of-jan-15/

[VimSince03]

Recruiting video out of Arizona that talks about a few Montana State offers and current commit Tyler Bruggman.

http://www.sports360az.com/2016/01/more ... ir-firsts/

[Colter_Nuanez]

Caught up with Sean Opland, Derek Marks, Jake Sessions and Karl Tucker about the uncertainty of the coaching change and why they remain committed to the Bobcats.

MSU recruits put at ease by Choate's hiring
http://skylinesportsmt.com/montana-stat ... es-hiring/

[VimSince03]

Caught up with Sean Opland, Derek Marks, Jake Sessions and Karl Tucker about the uncertainty of the coaching change and why they remain committed to the Bobcats.

MSU recruits put at ease by Choate's hiring
http://skylinesportsmt.com/montana-stat ... es-hiring/

Coach Choate is all about relationships. That article exemplifies that in the best way.

[Hawks86]

Should be an interesting visit with Murray and Gregory on the same weekend. Probably 1 scholarship left for a HS QB.

[TomCat88]

Got a kick outta this:

"... He actually knew where Troy was and no one knows where Troy is. That was really cool.”

[bobcat99]

Should be an interesting visit with Murray and Gregory on the same weekend. Probably 1 scholarship left for a HS QB.

Whoever takes it first.

[onceacat]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

They want him to be a running back. It is his best position. BUT he is getting just as many accolades at LB as he is getting at RB. The kid can almost run sub-11 sec. 100m dash and the most impressive track stat is his sub-50 sec. 400m dash. One word to describe this Montana class thus far is "versatile."

This is something that has been bothering me a little bit. We are already stacked at RB. Broke & Newell (SR) LaSane (JR) Dodd, James, Jones (SO) and then we add Tucker (maybe), Pegues, plus Opland in this class.

On D, we've got Champan and Marks at DE/OLB, a position where we've got a ton of really young talent. (I count 5 sophomore & younger LBs, and 4 DEs)

I'm not unhappy with a single one of those recruits, but the Cats probably only have 4-6 scholarships left, and I don't see a single DT. We probably need 2 CBs and 2 safetys. I think we have 1 of each.

Bottom line, I trust the staff to make good decisions moving forward about the long term health of the team, but I don't see a lot of talent in our weakest areas. I know DT and CB are the two hardest positions to recruit, but does anyone have insight as to why we seem to be short on recruits at our weakest positions, while we add lots more talent at our strongest?

[DicTater]

Sean Opland- I was just watching his highlight tape, he definitely does a little bit of everything, an all-around good athlete.

Any chance he could play Safety??? I wonder if this is one of the positions they will look at for him. He has the speed, really athletic, good size...

They want him to be a running back. It is his best position. BUT he is getting just as many accolades at LB as he is getting at RB. The kid can almost run sub-11 sec. 100m dash and the most impressive track stat is his sub-50 sec. 400m dash. One word to describe this Montana class thus far is "versatile."

This is something that has been bothering me a little bit. We are already stacked at RB. Broke & Newell (SR) LaSane (JR) Dodd, James, Jones (SO) and then we add Tucker (maybe), Pegues, plus Opland in this class.

On D, we've got Champan and Marks at DE/OLB, a position where we've got a ton of really young talent. (I count 5 sophomore & younger LBs, and 4 DEs)



I'm not unhappy with a single one of those recruits, but the Cats probably only have 4-6 scholarships left, and I don't see a single DT. We probably need 2 CBs and 2 safeties. I think we have 1 of each.

Bottom line, I trust the staff to make good decisions moving forward about the long term health of the team, but I don't see a lot of talent in our weakest areas. I know DT and CB are the two hardest positions to recruit, but does anyone have insight as to why we seem to be short on recruits at our weakest positions, while we add lots more talent at our strongest?

Well, its like this. at RB, both Brekke and Newell are graduating after one more year. Lasane graduates the year after. That means, in 2 years, after the new recruits are done being redshirt freshmen, there will only be 3 other RBs. RBs tend to get injured a lot. That doesn't sound like too many RBs to me.

As to DTs and DEs, my feeling is that some of our current DEs will be moving inside. Remember that Taylor Sheridan came in as a DE. It is easier to get a quick guy bigger than it is to get a big guy quicker. I would not be surprised to see Wright, Robinson, or Fa'anono moving inside. Another factor, I think, is that this year is unusual in DE depth. Guys like Marks and Balue are just too good to pass up.

As far as CBs and Safeties go, remember that we had a couple of guys redshirting last year, Chris Harris, and Sidney Holmes. Strong is returning at CB as is Bryce Alley. Transfer Zach Stern was moved to CB last year although he didn't see the field. A kid who was going to be on the field last year, Braelen Evans, injured his knee during winter workouts and missed all year. He'll be back as will Morris Gates who had to sit out after transferring, so that's 6 returning CBs. At safety, Garcia and McCabe return. I hear that freshman Brayden Konkol looked
good on the scout team last year. Harris and Holmes could be safeties. So, we have 10 players returning for 4 positions in the secondary.