Montana St. Signs 22

[GOKATS]

Brad Daly, DE, Helena Capital*
Jase Muri, WR, Billings West*
Andy Austin, OL/DL, Billings West*
Aleksei Grosulak, LB, Billings Central*
Chris Wilson, CB, C.M. Russell*
Tanner Bleskin, WR, C.M. Russell*
Killian Fitzpatrick, OL, Beaverton, Ore.
Preston Gale, DL, Forney, Texas
Joel Fuller, S, Libby*
Gianni Carter, WR, Eugene, Ore.
Christian Kelli’i, DT, Honolulu, Hawaii
Mackenzie Nolan, LB, Columbia Falls*
Cody Kirk, RB, Frenchtown*
Jordan Rohrich, WR, St. Ignatius*
Travis Bertelsen, RB, Wilbaux*
Zach Minter, DT, Peoria, Ariz.
Darius Jones, CB, Dallas, Texas
Everett Gilbert, WR, Dallas, Texas
David Abercrombie, OT, Dallas, Texas
Denarius McGhee, QB, Dallas, Texas
Shonquille Dorsey, DT, Dallas, Texas
Elvis Akpla, WR, Oregon University

* denotes an in state signee

[saccat]

We have a great looking class this year. Time will tell...

[MplsBison]

Wow, a good portion of kids from out of region (Ariz, Texas, Oregon).

[technocat]

11 mt
3 ore
6 tx
1 hi
1 ar

I like the distribution there.

[GOKATS]

Wow, a good portion of kids from out of region (Ariz, Texas, Oregon).

That's typical of many Big Sky teams, the more amazing fact for a Montana school is that have of these guys are Montana kids.

[MplsBison]

That's typical of many Big Sky teams, the more amazing fact for a Montana school is that have of these guys are Montana kids.

Yes that's true. But I don't see any kids from bordering states, Wyoming, Idaho, ND, etc.

Seems like either MT or out of region?

[already123]

montana st is very smart for recruiting texas....with a strong class last and this year, msu eill soon see the fruits of their labor IMO

[CatFan22]

montana st is very smart for recruiting texas....with a strong class last and this year, msu eill soon see the fruits of their labor IMO

I agree. I am extremely impressed with the guys that Ash has brought in. It's going to be pretty exciting to see what they all can do here.

[Casey_Orourke]

montana st is very smart for recruiting texas....with a strong class last and this year, msu eill soon see the fruits of their labor IMO

Trust me, Texas is an untapped source for good kids. Every FBS conference nationwide has a recruiter dedicated just to scouting the players here. Even then there are hundreds of kids who are as good as those signed who are missed and more than ready to sign with any school that shows an interest in them

[CatFan22]

More detailed view:

JANUARY TRANSFERS:

Elvis Akpla, WR
6-2, 185, So, Portland, OR -- Lincoln/Oregon
Player Notes: Transferred to MSU for the second semester... redshirted at Oregon in 2007 and didn’t see action in 2008... a former Oregon State Champion in the long jump (23-1 1/4) and triple jump (47-8)... lettered three times in basketball and twice in football at Lincoln High in Portland.

HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES:

David Abercrombie, OT
6-4, 255, Fr, Rockwall, TX -- Rockwall
Player Notes: A Region II All-District choice in the Texas 4A classification... earned second team all-district honors as a junior.

Andy Austin, OL
6-4, 250, Fr, Billings, MT -- West
Player Notes: A big offensive line prospect... noted for his frame and potential.

Travis Bertelson, RB
5-11, 180, Fr, Wibaux, MT -- Wibaux
Player Notes: An all-conference, all-state, and Great Falls Tribune Superstate selection as a senior... chosen for the Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star games... carried 510 times for 3,989 yards and 79 touchdowns in his career, catching 138 passes for 2,677 yards and 35 TDs... an all-state linebacker as a junior, when he recorded 313 tackles... a three-time all-conference basketball player, earning district MVP honors all three years... all-state in basketball as a junior and senior.

Tanner Bleskin, WR
6-3, 190, Fr, Great Falls, MT -- CM Russell
Player Notes: Moved to receiver from quarterback as a senior, earning Great Falls Tribune Superstate honors... also an all-state and all-conference choice, chosen for the Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star games... team MVP... caught 64 passes for 1,049 yards and nine TDs... averaged 16.4 yards a catch and 87.4 yards a game... presently a team captain in basketball and CMR’s team MVP as a junior... academic all-state choice.

Gianni Carter, WR
6-2, 196, Fr, Eugene, OR -- Marist
Player Notes: A two-way all-conference choice as a senior, earning all-state honors as a receiver... caught 60 passes for over 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns... also picked off three passes and registered 80 tackles... caught 60 passes for 805 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, earning team defensive MVP honors and helping his team to a state championship.

Brad Daly, LB
6-1, 198, Fr, Helena, MT -- Capital
Player Notes: Montana’s Class AA Defensive MVP in 2008... a Great Falls Tribune Superstate selection, earning all-conference and all-state honors, as well... registered 110 tackles as a senior with 15 sacks and 28 tackles for loss... team defensive MVP... first team all-state choice as a junior, when he registered 10 sacks... his father J. and brother Bobby each played at MSU.

Shonquille Dorsey, DL
6-0, 250, Fr, Dallas, TX -- L.G. Pinkston
Player Notes: Earned first team all-district honors as a senior... registered 83 tackles, with 12 sacks, in 2008.

Killian Fitzpatrick, OL
6-8, 260, Fr, Beaverton, OR -- Beaverton
Player Notes: A preseason top 10 selection who helped lead his team to a state semifinal berth... earned second team all-conference honors... the son of former USC and NFL lineman James Fitzpatrick.

Joel Fuller, DB
6-0, 176, Fr, Libby, MT -- Libby
Player Notes: One of the most prolific prep quarterbacks in Montana history, comes to MSU as a defensive back... Great Falls Tribune Superstate safety as a senior, earning selection to the Shrine (as safety) and Mon-Dak (quarterback) all-star games... threw for 6,399 yards (370-for-689) and 69 touchdowns in his career, rushing for 1,000 career yards, as well... finished fifth in passing yards and third in TD passes in Montana history among plays in all classifications.

Preston Gale, DE
6-3, 240, Fr, Forney, TX -- Forney
Player Notes: Helped lead Forney to a 9-1 regular season record as a senior... all-district selection in Region II of Class 4A... a two-year starter at Forney High School outside of Dallas... considered an outstanding pass rusher.

Everette Gilbert, WR
5-9, 175, Fr, Rockwall, TX -- Rockwall-Heath
Player Notes: Carried 118 times for 1,058 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior... rushed for 216 yards against Dallas Hillcrest and 193 against Sulphur Springs... also caught 54 passes for 755 yards and four TDs at Rockwall-Heath.

Aleksei Grosulak, LB
5-10, 200, Fr, Billings, MT -- Central
Player Notes: Earned first team all-state honors as a junior and senior, and was an all-conference selection, as well... Great Falls Tribune Superstate choice last fall... chosen for the Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star games... four-time academic all-state choice.

Darius Jones, CB
5-11, 170, Fr, Rockwall, TX -- Rockwall-Heath
Player Notes: Earned all-district honors at cornerback as a senior, and second team all-district honors as a junior... registered 54 tackles with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a senior... also a track standout.

Christian Keli’i, DL
6-1, 290, Fr, Ewa Beach, HI -- Campbell
Player Notes: Earned Oia Division 2 first team all-state honors, and was a team captain, as a senior... earned all-state honorable mention and all-conference honors as a junior.

Cody Kirk, RB
5-10, 184, Fr, Frenchtown, MT -- Frenchtown
Player Notes: An all-conference choice at Frenchtown... rushed for 1,739 yards on 147 carries as a senior... the nephew of former Bobcat Tom Mahlum.

Denarius McGhee, QB
6-0, 192, Fr, Euless, TX -- Trinity
Player Notes: Earned All-District 5-5A and honorable mention all-state honors as a senior... was team MVP and John Reddell Sportsmanship Award winner... also a standout in baseball, basketball and track... helped lead his basketball squad to a state title as a junior.

Jase Muri, WR
5-11, 172, Fr, Billings, MT -- West
Player Notes: First team all-conference choice, and Eastern AA offensive MVP... second team all-state quarterback, and Great Falls Tribune Superstate selection... three-time academic all-state choice... all-state in track, with best marks of 10.7 in the 100 m and 22-1 in the long jump... his father Jeff and uncle Ron played football for the Bobcats.

Zach Minter, DL
6-1, 250, Fr, Glendale, AZ -- Cactus
Player Notes: Registered 60 tackles and 15 sacks for Cactus as a senior... All-West Valley Region selection, West Valley Defensive Player of the Year, and first team All-State... also an outstanding point guard for the Cactus basketball team... played at the high school of Bobcat receivers coach Jonathan Beasley.

Mackey Nolan, P
6-0, 183, Fr, Columbia Falls, MT -- Columbia Falls
Player Notes: An all-conference player as a fullback, linebacker, kicker and punter who comes to MSU as a punter... two-time team captain... team’s most valuable defensive player.

Jordan Rohrich, Ath
6-0, 191, Fr, St. Ignatius, MT -- St. Ignatius
Player Notes: Earned all-state honors at running back, and all-conference kudos as a linebacker and kick returner.

Chris Wilson, DB
6-0, 170, Fr, Great Falls, MT -- CM Russell
Player Notes: A speedy defensive back... earned all-conference honors as a senior... earned all-state honors in track as a state champion (10.82) in the 100 m... AA state record-holder in the 100, school record-holder in 100 and 200.

[GOKATS]

Yes that's true. But I don't see any kids from bordering states, Wyoming, Idaho, ND, etc.

Seems like either MT or out of region?

Bordering states are Idaho ( low population with Idaho, Idaho St. & Boise St. recruiting), Wyoming (low population, with Wyoming recruiting but there is one kid still on the bubble who may end up at MSU), North Dakota (low population with NDSU and UND recruiting) and South Dakota (low population with SDSU and USD recruiting).

Not all that hard to figure out.

[GOKATS]

A little additional info from Coach Ash on this years recruiting class.


Other numbers pleased Ash, as well. “The academic quality of the class is outstanding. The average GPA is just over 3.0, the average SAT score is just about 990, the average ACT score is 22. It’s a very strong academic class.”

Ash also feels good about the general level of athlete MSU attracted. “We had to win some recruiting battles on most of these guys. Most of them had other options, and we’re excited that we were able to win those battles. I also like the breakdown geographically, starting with the strong core of Montana kids.”

[MplsBison]

Bordering states are Idaho ( low population with Idaho, Idaho St. & Boise St. recruiting), Wyoming (low population, with Wyoming recruiting but there is one kid still on the bubble who may end up at MSU), North Dakota (low population with NDSU and UND recruiting) and South Dakota (low population with SDSU and USD recruiting).

Not all that hard to figure out.

And Montana is a low population state with UM and MSU recruiting.

Spare the bs. If you actually recruited the border states you'd pull a couple kids out of them.

[CrazyCat]

And Montana is a low population state with UM and MSU recruiting.

Spare the bs. If you actually recruited the border states you'd pull a couple kids out of them.


Does WI,NE,TX,IL,CA, or FL border North Dakota because it looks like you got 9 recruits from those states.

[MplsBison]

Does WI,NE,TX,IL,CA, or FL border North Dakota because it looks like you got 9 recruits from those states.

Non sequitor.


My argument is that you are not recruiting border states. NDSU has several recruits every year from MN and sometimes from SD.

[FargoBison]

Non sequitor.


My argument is that you are not recruiting border states. NDSU has several recruits every year from MN and sometimes from SD.

Minnesota is like all the states that boder MT all combined into one. You can't really compare it to Montana State's situation. Bohl probably has 50 kids he can look at Minnesota, while there are maybe 10 in ND and good luck to any team that wants to battle with NDSU and UND for them.

[GOKATS]

And Montana is a low population state with UM and MSU recruiting.

Spare the bs. If you actually recruited the border states you'd pull a couple kids out of them.

You spare the bs. Yep, sure as hell if the Cats spent a good proportion of their limited recruiting dollars in those limited states they might pick up a quality recruit here and there. Simple (something you should be able to relate to) fact is that with limited recruiting dollars and limited schollies to give the coaches go where they can get the most bang for the buck.

[CatFan22]

Who the hell cares whether or not we recruit from Wyoming, Idaho, and the Dakotas? Give it a rest.

[CrazyCat]

He just mad because MSU doesn't wear Nike or play in a dome.

[FargoBison]

He just mad because MSU doesn't wear Nike or play in a dome.

No he has the same rant about NDSU recruiting Texas, Michigan, California, and Florida. Apprently past pipelines and connections coaches have mean nothing, a team can only recruit within a regional bubble in his world.

[GOKATS]

No he has the same rant about NDSU recruiting Texas, Michigan, California, and Florida. Apprently past pipelines and connections coaches have mean nothing, a team can only recruit within a regional bubble in his world.

And I'm thinking in his world it's a really small bubble.xnodx

[DuckDuckGriz]

Where is Oregon University xconfusedxxlolx

[GOKATS]

Where is Oregon University xconfusedxxlolx

It was obviously a 'cut and paste' from another board. Since you and I know the answer, let's keep it a secret and see if anyone else can figure it out.xshhhx;)

[Canyoncat]

This looks like a pretty good class. Wonder if Gilbert, Muri or Carter will play this year? Maybe all three? Also I am excited to see the big Hawaiian play. Overall, another good class (on paper) by Ash.

[CatFan22]

Muri won't play this year. He'll redshirt.