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2016 Montana High School Football Recruiting List

Paytonlives

Moderator
Staff member
Spun off from recruiting posts. Montana kids usually do not have the fanfare of kids from other states. Several factors contribute to this.
1- Scouting sites rarely spend any time in Montana, Idaho or Wyoming.
2- Montana HS players rarely travel to out of state clinics, camps, etc.
3- Montana coaches rarely promote their players.
4- Players rarely take the time to set up info on the recruiting sites.
5- Film in Montana is rare or sucks.

It does not mean they can't play, just that they have a hard time getting the attention of football coaches outside the state of Montana. In addition (like it or not) the trend is for UM and msu to wait until later in the year to offer Montana players, for fear they might "miss" on a out of state kid they really want. UM and msu also try to get Montana kids on partials because the cost of school is so much less for in-state kids.

All that being said, please post info on Montana football players here in this forum, I believe they deserve their own topic.

Montana Verbals
WR- Jed Nagler (Whitefish)
DE- Trace Bradshaw (Bozeman)
DE- Cole Rosling (Capital)
LB- Jace Lewis (Townsend)
LB- Trase LeTexier (Jefferson)

msu verbals
RB/LB Sean Opland (Troy)
WR- Karl Tucker II (CMR)
WR- Jacob Hadley (Billings Central)
DE- Michael Jobman (Huntley Project)
DE- Derek Marks (Belgrade)
OL-Jake Sessions (Colstrip)
DE- Balue Chapman (Bozeman)
DE- Kyle Finch (Dillon)
DL- Chase Benson (Helena High)
K- Jered Padmos (Jefferson)

Other Verbals/ Signed Players
ATH- Seamus Lucostic- Sentinel (Montana Tech)
ATH- Tanner Mayer- Fairfield (Montana Tech)
ATH- Quade McQueary- Townsend (Montana Tech)
QB- Dane Warp- Havre (Carroll basketball)
QB- Luke May- Whitefish (Minnesota Track-javalin)
QB- Jace Galt- Malta (Montana Tech)
QB- Clark Judisch- Conrad (Montana Tech)
RB- Bill Yeager- Twin Bridges (Montana Tech)
RB- Nick Winfield- Jefferson (Montana Tech)
RB- Sam Sparks- Billings Senior (Rocky Mountain)
RB- Andrew Grinde CMR (Yale)
RB- Connor Bokma- Denton/Geyser/Stanford (Montana Tech)
WR- Will Hunthausen- Helena Capital (Montana Tech)
WR- Walker Gruszie- White Sulpher Springs, MT (Montana Tech)
OL- Austin Pacheco- Big Fork (Montana Tech)
OL- Chase Barta- Manhattan (Montana Tech)
TE- Alec Nehring- Manhattan (Montana State-Track)
DL- Gus Herzog- Helena (Montana Tech)
DL- Cody Howe- Flathead (Montana Tech)
DE- Kyle Schulte- Butte Central (Montana-Western)
DE-Jake Rebish- Missoula Sentinel (Montana-Western)
DB- Jory Breen- Missoula Sentinel (Montana Tech)
DB- Brian FauntLeRoy- Whitefish (Carroll College)

Notable Names
1- LB- Peyton O’Reilly (Bozeman)
2- RB- Thomas Trefney (Glacier)

ATH- Jamison Hermanson (Great Falls High)
QB – Dylan Cook (Butte)
RB- Josh McCracken (Kalispell Flathead)
RB- Chris Park (Whitefish)
FB– Michael Banna (Big Sky)
WR/DB- Caleb Jones (Glacier)
WR- Paul Campbell (Butte)
WR- Justin May (Chester/Joplin/Inverness)
OL- Eli Horn (Glacier)
OL- Andrew Klamecki (Glacier)
OL- Blake Arneson (Columbia Falls)
OL- Noah Danielson (CMR)
OL- Ben Hardy (Fairview)

DL- Jake Michelotti (Butte Central)
DL- Chaffin Ross (Whitefish)
DL- Devin Maua (Billings Senior)
DE- David Peterson (Helena Capital)
LB- John Learn (Glacier)
LB– Jayson Leinwand (Billings West)
LB- Trevor Larson (Helena Capital)
LB- Riley Lamb (Helena Capital)
LB- Luke Weber (Forsyth)
LB- Matt Packer (Baker)
DB- Will Martel (Bozeman)
DB- Joe Mueller (Helena High)
DB- Dallas Mack (Huntley Project)

P– Anders Conwell (Sentinel)
K- Gabe Peppinger (Sentinel)
K – Dylan Sandefur (CMR)
 
WR Paul Campbell - Butte HS

Tucker and Campbell are the only class AA All-State receivers returning in 2015. (Besides honorable mentions)
 
Last season Class AA honorees that return for 2015 football season (Feb 2016 recruits)

ALL-STATE

First team offense

RB – Andrew Grinde, jr., CMR.
FB – Michael Banna, jr., Big Sky
P – Anders Conwell, jr., Sentinel.

Second team offense

QB – Dylan Cook, jr., Butte.
RB – Thomas Trefney, jr., Glacier
WR – Karl Tucker II, jr., CMR. Paul Campbell, jr., Butte.
OT – Andrew Klamecki, jr., Glacier

K- Jered Padmos Boulder
K – Dylan Sandefur, jr., CMR

Honorable mention offense

QB – Jackson Thennis, jr., Helena; DJ Perdaems, jr., Bozeman.
RB – Josh McCracken, jr., Flathead; Balue Chapman, jr., Bozeman.
FB – Payton Boyce, jr., Flathead; Nick Winfield, jr., Helena; Ben Askelson, jr., Senior.
WR – Alec Steele, jr., Sentinel; Keaton Krantz, jr., Flathead, Gabe Sulser, fr., Senior, Maxx Sitzman, jr., G,F.
C – Jake Rebish, jr., Sentinel
OG – Colten Boyle, jr., Flathead; Brandan Moes, jr., Great Falls
TE – Jace Leinwand, jr., West; Payton O'Reilly, jr., Bozeman.
P – Tyler Matteucci, jr., Helena.
K – Gabe Peppenger, jr., Sentinel

First team defense

DE – Chase Benson, jr., Helena

Second team defense

DE – Balue Chapman, jr., Bozeman
DL – Gus Herzog, jr., Helena
ILB – Jayson Leinwand, jr., West; Payton O'Reilly, jr., Bozeman

Honorable mention defense

DE – Flathead; Jaxen Hashley, so., Glacier, Devin Maua, jr., Senior
DL – David Peterson, jr., Capital; Jake Rebish, jr., Sentinel, Trace Bradshaw, jr., Bozeman
ILB – Kendall Johnson, so., Helena
OLB – Tadan Gilman, so., Glacier, Jacob Ridgeway, jr., Flathead; Brock Behan, jr., Bozeman.
S – Jake Willich, jr., Glacier
CB – Caleb Jones, jr., Glacier; Alec Steele, jr., Paul Campbell, jr., Butte
 
There is a lot of talent in the smaller schools; probably the best kicker in the state is the kid out of Jefferson High (Boulder) Jered Padmos. Schools interested in him are Wyoming, msu. Don’t know if Griz are looking at a kicker for the 2016, because they pick a good one last winter. If we want to get the best players in the state for each position he would have be on the list.
 
custer said:
There is a lot of talent in the smaller schools; probably the best kicker in the state is the kid out of Jefferson High (Boulder) Jered Padmos. Schools interested in him are Wyoming, msu. Don’t know if Griz are looking at a kicker for the 2016, because they pick a good one last winter. If we want to get the best players in the state for each position he would have be on the list.


They are, but he's an out-of-state kid
 
custer said:
There is a lot of talent in the smaller schools; probably the best kicker in the state is the kid out of Jefferson High (Boulder) Jered Padmos. Schools interested in him are Wyoming, msu. Don’t know if Griz are looking at a kicker for the 2016, because they pick a good one last winter. If we want to get the best players in the state for each position he would have be on the list.

Looks pretty good:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2248773/jered-padmos
 
Good stuff Payton. Here are my picks for some future college players from Butte:

My pick to add to the D1-bound player list in 2016 is Dylan Cook, Senior, Butte High. He is the same general size (6-6, about 240) as older brother Dallas and has shown really good arm strength and accuracy. Not the speed type QB obviously, but he will run your ass over. He is currently in California I think at a high profile QB camp. Granted he had Dalton Daum to throw to last year but he broke one record of his brother's marks (TD passes per game - six I think). Now que Alpha to say "But he throws jump balls!" I like Paul Campbell's (WR) chances too.

Kiely Caprara (Junior WR) is my darkhorse 2017 pick. He was injured last year after a couple great performances as a sophomore. He's fast and very tough and hangs onto the damn ball.

I'll go way out on a limb and plug four incoming Butte sophomores (class of 2018) on the horizon for college ball at some level anyways:

Greyson Mandek - D-line. This kid started on the varsity D line as a freshman. He can bench more than you can. He trains all the time like a beast. Enough said.

Bo Mortensen, RB. Again, the genetics (both parents placed college sports; mom in volleyball and dad I think did track). Not quite Dalton Daum speed, but fast and very strong. He got varsity quality time at running back as a freshman.

Nathan Ferguson, kicker/punter. Check out NCS camp rankings, class of 2018: he is ranked about 5th in the nation in their kicker punter chart and is a 5/5-star rated field goal kicker. He kicked/punted on the JV last year (and also played JV ball at QB, MLB, and TE). He can hit FGs out to 55 right now. We should see a lot more of him this season.

Carter Pribnow, center (son of 10+ year NFL veteran and former Bobcat Kerry Pribnow). This kid has a long way to go developing his snapping skills, but he has genetics on his side and should be BIG by his senior year. "You cant coach BIG, BIG is a talent" - Wayne Tinkle
 
Michael Delaney - 6'0" 175lbs - Charlo High School - QB/S /ATH

He ran a 11.12 in the 100 this year. He is 6'0" 175 and a great natural athlete. He was awarded the Offensive Player of the Montana Tech 8 Man camp and probably throws one of the nicest balls you will see.

He is being recruited hard by Carroll and smaller schools, but is under the radar due to playing 8 man and because he missed most of last season with a broken ankle. He is great on defense as well.

This is someone worth keeping an eye on.
One of his brothers just placed 2nd in the 400 hurdles at the NAIA national championships and plays WR at Carroll, while his other brother will be playing at Montana Tech this fall.
 
wrrolling said:
Michael Delaney - 6'0" 175lbs - Charlo High School - QB/S /ATH

He ran a 11.12 in the 100 this year. He is 6'0" 175 and a great natural athlete. He was awarded the Offensive Player of the Montana Tech 8 Man camp and probably throws one of the nicest balls you will see.

He is being recruited hard by Carroll and smaller schools, but is under the radar due to playing 8 man and because he missed most of last season with a broken ankle. He is great on defense as well.

This is someone worth keeping an eye on.
One of his brothers just placed 2nd in the 400 hurdles at the NAIA national championships and plays WR at Carroll, while his other brother will be playing at Montana Tech this fall.

Sounds like a good athlete. (I saw his brother on the news for the NAIA Championships too.)

I am guessing that 11.12 was hand-timed. Because a week later, at state, where the times are all electronic he was slower (but still fast)...

Michael Delaney 2015

11.92a Mar 28 Gene Hughes Invitation...
11.84c Apr 2 Jim Johnson
11.34a Apr 16 Sapphire Twilight Meet
11.76a Apr 21 Top 10 Meet
11.454a Apr 28 Lake County Meet
11.47a May 2 Kim L Haines Memorial
11.93a May 7 14C District Meet
11.15a May 15 Western B & C Division...
11.12a May 15 Western B & C Division...
11.44a May 22 MHSA Class C State Cha...
11.30a May 22 MHSA Class C State Cha...
11.30a May 23 MHSA Class C State Cha...
 
Buttegrizzle said:
Good stuff Payton. Here are my picks for some future college players from Butte:

My pick to add to the D1-bound player list in 2016 is Dylan Cook, Senior, Butte High. He is the same general size (6-6, about 240) as older brother Dallas and has shown really good arm strength and accuracy. Not the speed type QB obviously, but he will run your ass over. He is currently in California I think at a high profile QB camp. Granted he had Dalton Daum to throw to last year but he broke one record of his brother's marks (TD passes per game - six I think). Now que Alpha to say "But he throws jump balls!" I like Paul Campbell's (WR) chances too.

Kiely Caprara (Junior WR) is my darkhorse 2017 pick. He was injured last year after a couple great performances as a sophomore. He's fast and very tough and hangs onto the damn ball.

I'll go way out on a limb and plug four incoming Butte sophomores (class of 2018) on the horizon for college ball at some level anyways:

Greyson Mandek - D-line. This kid started on the varsity D line as a freshman. He can bench more than you can. He trains all the time like a beast. Enough said.

Bo Mortensen, RB. Again, the genetics (both parents placed college sports; mom in volleyball and dad I think did track). Not quite Dalton Daum speed, but fast and very strong. He got varsity quality time at running back as a freshman.

Nathan Ferguson, kicker/punter. Check out NCS camp rankings, class of 2018: he is ranked about 5th in the nation in their kicker punter chart and is a 5/5-star rated field goal kicker. He kicked/punted on the JV last year (and also played JV ball at QB, MLB, and TE). He can hit FGs out to 55 right now. We should see a lot more of him this season.

Carter Pribnow, center (son of 10+ year NFL veteran and former Bobcat Kerry Pribnow). This kid has a long way to go developing his snapping skills, but he has genetics on his side and should be BIG by his senior year. "You cant coach BIG, BIG is a talent" - Wayne Tinkle

ButteGrizzle - Great write-up.

Dillon Cook, last season, led the Class AA in passing yardage and touchdowns.

Dillon was working out with his Junior College brother Dallas this past Sunday afternoon at the East Jr. High practice fields. (My home while growing up) They were working on technique and getting some work in. They also ran a simultaneous 40 yard dash, in the grass, and crossed the "finish-line" (which was the end-line under the goal-post) identically. It was a photo finish. I have it on HD video. I would have to give the 1 one-hundredth of a second win to Dallas. Dallas said when he left for school this past semester he was taller than Dillon, but now coming home in June, that he has to look up to the taller Dillon. Those are two big boys.
 
Paytonlives said:
Spun off from recruiting posts. Montana kids usually do not have the fanfare of kids from other states. Several factors contribute to this.
1- Scouting sites rarely spend any time in Montana, Idaho or Wyoming.
2- Montana HS players rarely travel to out of state clinics, camps, etc.
3- Montana coaches rarely promote their players.
4- Players rarely take the time to set up info on the recruiting sites.
5- Film in Montana is rare or sucks.

It does not mean they can't play, just that they have a hard time getting the attention of football coaches outside the state of Montana. In addition (like it or not) the trend is for UM and msu to wait until later in the year to offer Montana players, for fear they might "miss" on a out of state kid they really want. UM and msu also try to get Montana kids on partials because the cost of school is so much less for in-state kids.

All that being said, please post info on Montana football players he in this forum, I believe they deserve their own topic.
*** note I listed Grinde and Warp as top recruites because they have already made waves with smaller FBS schools with their play and camp results.***

1- RB- Andrew Grinde CMR
1A- QB- Dane Warp Havre

Other notable names
RB Thomas Trefney 6'1" 220 Glacier
WR Michael Jobman 6-4, 200, Huntley Project High
DL Gus Herzog Helena High
DE Chase Benson 6-5, 245, Helena High
DE/WR Jed Nagler 6-3, 210, Whitefish High
LB Peyton O’Reilly 6-1, 220, Bozeman High
LB Balue Chapman Bozeman
LB Jace Lewis Townsend LB


WR Karl Tucker II CMR (msu verbal)
LB Derek Marks Belgrade (msu Verbal)

6. Montana just doesn't have the amount of HS talent that other states have, pure and simple. It's a population thing.... Why make excuses. It's not going to do your "homegrown" players any good to build in excuses for them. Sure there are "diamond in the rough" players that eventually rise to the top but the overall numbers just aren't there. If the talent was here, FBS recruiters would spend time
scouring the state. It's about "bang for your buck", you "fish where the fish are". It's just not about not going to camps, not having Rivals accounts, Montana coaches not promoting their players or bad film.....it's about where the talent is and where it's not. I just don't get the attitude of explaining away the reality of the situation. I can go to any one of 8 high schools in a five mile radius of my house and pick out the best player on the team and each guy would be a Montana Gatorade HS player of the year candidate. It's just the way it is....
 
CV Griz Fan said:
Paytonlives said:
Spun off from recruiting posts. Montana kids usually do not have the fanfare of kids from other states. Several factors contribute to this.
1- Scouting sites rarely spend any time in Montana, Idaho or Wyoming.
2- Montana HS players rarely travel to out of state clinics, camps, etc.
3- Montana coaches rarely promote their players.
4- Players rarely take the time to set up info on the recruiting sites.
5- Film in Montana is rare or sucks.

It does not mean they can't play, just that they have a hard time getting the attention of football coaches outside the state of Montana. In addition (like it or not) the trend is for UM and msu to wait until later in the year to offer Montana players, for fear they might "miss" on a out of state kid they really want. UM and msu also try to get Montana kids on partials because the cost of school is so much less for in-state kids.

All that being said, please post info on Montana football players he in this forum, I believe they deserve their own topic.
*** note I listed Grinde and Warp as top recruites because they have already made waves with smaller FBS schools with their play and camp results.***

1- RB- Andrew Grinde CMR
1A- QB- Dane Warp Havre

Other notable names
RB Thomas Trefney 6'1" 220 Glacier
WR Michael Jobman 6-4, 200, Huntley Project High
DL Gus Herzog Helena High
DE Chase Benson 6-5, 245, Helena High
DE/WR Jed Nagler 6-3, 210, Whitefish High
LB Peyton O’Reilly 6-1, 220, Bozeman High
LB Balue Chapman Bozeman
LB Jace Lewis Townsend LB


WR Karl Tucker II CMR (msu verbal)
LB Derek Marks Belgrade (msu Verbal)

6. Montana just doesn't have the amount of HS talent that other states have, pure and simple. It's a population thing.... Why make excuses. It's not going to do your "homegrown" players any good to build in excuses for them. Sure there are "diamond in the rough" players that eventually rise to the top but the overall numbers just aren't there. If the talent was here, FBS recruiters would spend time
scouring the state. It's about "bang for your buck", you "fish where the fish are". It's just not about not going to camps, not having Rivals accounts, Montana coaches not promoting their players or bad film.....it's about where the talent is and where it's not. I just don't get the attitude of explaining away the reality of the situation. I can go to any one of 8 high schools in a five mile radius of my house and pick out the best player on the team and each guy would be a Montana Gatorade HS player of the year candidate. It's just the way it is....

Agreed, for the most part. Same in San Antonio...the 8 schools in my daughter's division all regularly send multiple players to FBS teams....but, Montana does have about the 5th or 6th highest PER CAPITA ratio of players in the NFL (behind I believe Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana and one other state)...just don't have the critical mass of quality players necessary for teams to be willing to spend their recruiting dollars there.
 
Very true, and painfully obvious, that a population of 1 million scattered across a state over 700 miles across is not going to be efficient for college recruiters. Which is just the way we like it. Robin Selvig hit his 80000 wins or whatever using a steady pipeline of just enough montana talent. UM, MSU, Carrol and the rest of the Pioneer League maintains success by gleaning the talent off the top of the Montana prep ranks and filling the gaps with quality out of state talent. Sure we export a few great athletes but particularly in football I can't think of a lot of great ones that went out of state (Ryan Leaf, anyone?). The fact is, like rural Texas and Louisiana, in the fall football is king here. Montana flies under the radar of recruiting. And that's fine with me.
 
brewskis said:
Anyone watch Michael Banna's hudl clip? If so....I'm thinking possible RB recuit.

Agreed. He could play somewhere for sure. Besides Grinde maybe Banna is one of the best this year.
 
Buttegrizzle said:
brewskis said:
Anyone watch Michael Banna's hudl clip? If so....I'm thinking possible RB recuit.

Agreed. He could play somewhere for sure. Besides Grinde maybe Banna is one of the best this year.
He had over 1,000 yards his junior season from the FB position, and he was catching passes too. He's big and runs mean.
 
Buttegrizzle said:
Very true, and painfully obvious, that a population of 1 million scattered across a state over 700 miles across is not going to be efficient for college recruiters. Which is just the way we like it. Robin Selvig hit his 80000 wins or whatever using a steady pipeline of just enough montana talent. UM, MSU, Carrol and the rest of the Pioneer League maintains success by gleaning the talent off the top of the Montana prep ranks and filling the gaps with quality out of state talent. Sure we export a few great athletes but particularly in football I can't think of a lot of great ones that went out of state (Ryan Leaf, anyone?). The fact is, like rural Texas and Louisiana, in the fall football is king here. Montana flies under the radar of recruiting. And that's fine with me.

Osweiler
Dwan Edwards
Miller

Only three that come to mind in recent years.
 
IntuitiveGriz said:
wrrolling said:
Michael Delaney - 6'0" 175lbs - Charlo High School - QB/S /ATH

He ran a 11.12 in the 100 this year. He is 6'0" 175 and a great natural athlete. He was awarded the Offensive Player of the Montana Tech 8 Man camp and probably throws one of the nicest balls you will see.

He is being recruited hard by Carroll and smaller schools, but is under the radar due to playing 8 man and because he missed most of last season with a broken ankle. He is great on defense as well.

This is someone worth keeping an eye on.
One of his brothers just placed 2nd in the 400 hurdles at the NAIA national championships and plays WR at Carroll, while his other brother will be playing at Montana Tech this fall.

Sounds like a good athlete. (I saw his brother on the news for the NAIA Championships too.)

I am guessing that 11.12 was hand-timed. Because a week later, at state, where the times are all electronic he was slower (but still fast)...

Michael Delaney 2015

11.92a Mar 28 Gene Hughes Invitation...
11.84c Apr 2 Jim Johnson
11.34a Apr 16 Sapphire Twilight Meet
11.76a Apr 21 Top 10 Meet
11.454a Apr 28 Lake County Meet
11.47a May 2 Kim L Haines Memorial
11.93a May 7 14C District Meet
11.15a May 15 Western B & C Division...
11.12a May 15 Western B & C Division...
11.44a May 22 MHSA Class C State Cha...
11.30a May 22 MHSA Class C State Cha...
11.30a May 23 MHSA Class C State Cha...

His 11.12 and 11.15 were electronic as well. They were at the divisional meet. He could work into a good safety or WR. It took him a little time to round into shape with hardware in his ankle from football season. He broke it during their 2nd game.
 
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