In-state recruits dominate early signing day for Griz, Cats
The NCAA early signing football period is upon us, and Montana State and Montana combined to add 28 players Wednesday.
Twelve of the Bobcats’ signees are from Montana, while the Grizzlies’ early class of 12 included 10 in-state signees.
Montana State was able to snare a Missoula player — offensive lineman Tommy Nilson out of Hellgate — for its class. The Bobcats signed four players from State AA runner-up Billings West, including Gatorade Player of the Year Taco Dowler and his brother Caden, and one from State B champion Florence in defensive lineman Ethan Abbott.
All Taco Dowler did was set Billings West career records with 2,752 receiving yards, 30 touchdowns, 149 catches and 4,562 all-purpose yards
Two more Butte products, receiver Dylan Snyder and kicker Casey Kautzman, joined the Cats. The Bobcats, 11-2, are heading into the FCS semifinals with a home game against South Dakota State Saturday at noon.
Montana brought on tight end Joseph Weida from AA champion Missoula Sentinel — Weida’s dad, JC, is the head football trainer for the Griz; the younger Weida caught two touchdowns in the AA title game — and Hellgate receiver Ian Finch.
The Grizzlies’ list includes Glacier Wolfpack kicker Patrick Rohrbach, who committed in August, and Polson defensive end Braunson Henriksen.
The future Griz also include Tyson Rostad of State A champion Hamilton. One out-of-state recruit, Eli GIlman of Cokata, Minn., rushed for 43 touchdowns for his championship Dassel-Cokato squad.
"I really like the class that we put together. We still have recruiting to do in January, but this is a good class," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said. "We're leaning heavily on Montana kids, as we always do here at the University of Montana, but I'm excited about all these guys."
One year after the 2020 season was put on pause due to the pandemic, Hauck says he and the Grizzlies will continue navigating a changed NCAA recruiting world to balance each class on the roster.
"Certainly, it's an odd year with numbers, everyone on the team getting an extra year of eligibility, and the seniors not counting against your number this fall," Hauck added.
"So, there's been a sort of salary cap. Things we've had to juggle. But I like where we're at."
Montana added 19 players in the class of 2021, 22 players in the class of 2020, 26 players in 2019, and 26 players in Hauck's first recruiting class at UM in 2018.
The early signing period continues through December 17. The regular signing period is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2022.
Montana Early Signees
Sam Alford, WR, 6-3, 190, Park City, Utah
Beau Dantic, Ath, 5-10, 173, Laurel
Marcus Evans, LB, 6-0, 190, Helena
Ian Finch, WR, 6-3, 195, Missoula (Hellgate)
Eli Gilman, RB, 6-0, 200, Cokato, Minn.
Braunson Henriksen, DL, 6-5, 230, Polson
Kaden Huot, QB, 6-4, 200, Helena
Chase McGurran, S, 6-0, 175, Helena
Patrick Rohrbach, K/P, 5-11, 157, Kalispell (Glacier)
Tyson Rostad, Ath, 6-1, 195, Hamilton
Joey Visser, S, 6-1, 175, Boulder
Joe Weida, TE, 6-4, 225, Missoula (Sentinel)
Montana St. Early signees
Ethan Abbott, DL, 6-5, 285, Florence
Christian Anaya, WR, 6-1, 175, Chandler, Ariz.
Caden Dowler, DB, 6-0, 190, Billings (West)
Taco Dowler, WR, 5-9, 160, Billings (West)
Logan Fredericksen, DE, 6-3, 210, Rigby, Idaho
Casey Kautzman, K, 5-11, 205, Butte
Max Kimball, DB, 6-0, 180, Billings (West)
Ryan Krahe, LB, 6-1, 205, Great Falls
Burke Mastel, OL, 6-4, 290, Red Lodge
Conner Moore, OL, 6-5, 260, Millbury, Ohio
Max Murphy, TE, 6-2, 220, Billings (West)
Tommy Nilson, OL, 6-3, 255, Missoula (Hellgate)
Dru Polidore, DB, 6-1, 185, Katy, Texas
Rylan Schlepp, TE, 6-4, 230, Bozeman
Dylan Snyder, WR, 6-2, 185, Butte
Jake Vigen, Ath, 6-2, 200, Bozeman (Gallatin)
UM and MSU Sports Information contributed to this article.