http://badlandsbowl.com/montana-roster/
Scouting Reports (10-1) - http://bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=47247
Scouting Reports (20-11) - http://bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=47230
Scouting Reports (30-21) - http://bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=47202
Scouting Reports (40-31) - http://bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=47179
Scouting Reports (50-41) - http://bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=47175
2019 Badlands Bowl Montana Roster Breakdown: Offense
QB:
Blake Thelen (Great Falls High)
Kris Brown (Bozeman)
These two were the top two quarterbacks on my final ranking. They are both great passers with underrated running ability. MT is in good shape with these two. I have no snubs or surprises for this position. Alternates for this position included Mitch Norslein (Lewistown), Joe Byorth (Billings Central), and Rylan Ortt (Missoula Sentinel). For full scouting write-ups, follow the "20-11" link above.
RB:
Joe Olson (Bozeman)
Preston Blain (Kalispell Glacier) - replaced Blake Counts (Kalispell Flathead)
Joe got his potentially historic senior season cut short due to braking his arm in Game 6. As I've stated before, he was about 50 yards behind Blake Counts prior to their 6th game and both were on pace for about 2,500 rushing yards. Obviously, Blake set the record and Joe had to watch from the sideline. Glad Joe gets to get back out there and show his skill set. Too bad Blake won't be suiting up for the MT roster but Preston is a solid replacement. He was my 7th ranked RB in the state and an original alternate for the game along with Jack Studer (Billings Central) and Gunner Hegg (Billings Senior). However, other RBs I had ranked ahead of Preston and the other two alternates were Landers Smith (Charlo), Ryan Tirrell (Missoula Loyola), Elias DeWaters (Missoula Sentinel), and Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls). Tirrell declined invite for the game while Landers, Elias, and Colton weren't even alternates for this game...which is puzzling but it is what it is. A lot of players deserve to play in this game each year but don't get selected by the group of coaches making the roster. Anyway, for Joe's write-up, follow the "10-1" link above while Preston's can be found in the "50-41" link.
WR:
Jesse Owens (Billings West)
Chay Marsh (Billings West) - replaced Dawson Allen (Fairfield)
Camron Rothie (Hamilton) - replaced Kyle Torgerson (Great Falls High)
Tyson Racht (Broadwater) - replaced Ryan Simpson (Bozeman)
Josh Neil (Butte) - replaced Ryan Lonergan (Bozeman)
Jesse Owens was my #1 receiver in the state and you can see his write-up in the "10-1" link above. As for the rest, this position group got almost completely replaced when compared to the initial roster lineup. Allen, Torgerson, and Simpson were all kids I had ranked in my Top 40. Cam Rothie was my #10 receiver in the state but did not make my final Top 50 and was an original alternate for this game. He's a perfect replacement for Kyle Torgerson. Tyson Racht was a Southern B 2nd-Team All-Conference selection at QB/DB his senior year. Marsh was a HM AA All-State selection at WR for Billings West. Josh Neil did not show up on any post-season award list in AA and most of that can be attributed to an injury that nearly cost him his left leg (find more on his journey through this link: https://buttesports.com/butte-highs-josh-neil-selected-for-badlands-bowl/). Josh is listed as a WR but he was primarily a RB for Butte his senior season. The original alternates for this group were Rothie, Cooper Waters (Missoula Loyola), Anthony Jones (Kalispell Flathead), and Tanner Trafton (Lewistown). I'm assuming those other three declined invites for this game because if they didn't, what is the point of listing alternates for this game? Marsh was an all-state WR on the AA state champion so I get his head coach getting him on the roster. Tyson Racht didn't play WR during his career at Townsend but he's a good all-around athlete...but a kid like Casey Gunlikson is an even better one and was snubbed from the all-star game circuit for some reason. I understand track stars don't always equate to good football players...but Casey was a two-time Class B All-State football player and the fastest athlete in the state of Montana. As for Neil's selection, its a good story and its cool that the coaches still select talented players who lost their senior seasons to injury. Overall, I'm confused by the Racht selection but there were likely a lot of declined invites for kids who chose to play in the Shrine Game instead. UM/MSU coaches push there recruits to choose only one game to play in if they get selected for both so that could've also played a role. Also, some kids just choose to not play in any all-star game and arrive on the college campus early to train with their respective teams.
TE:
Noah Ambuehl (Great Falls Central Catholic)
Ryan Lonergan declined invite to this game but he and Noah were the original selections at TE for this game. Logan Kennedy of Laurel was the original alternate. These three were also my Top 3 TEs in the state and all in my Top 30. Like the QBs, these selections were no-brainers and you can see their write-ups in the links above.
OL:
Holden Sampson (Helena High)
Sam Gray (Billings Central)
Keegan Mires (Glendive) - replaced Andrew Siderius (Kalispell Flathead)
Sebastian Koch (Kalispell Flathead)
Nico Young (Kalispell Glacier)
Justus Perkins (Bozeman)
Maverick Roberts (Billings Central)
Starting with the center position, Justus and Maverick were my Top 2. Both are legit, college-ready centers and will provide good punch in the run game against the always-large ND defensive line. Carter Slade of Billings West was the lone alternate at center. You can find their write-ups in the 50-31 range. Per the listed roster, the guards will be Nico Young and Sebastian Koch. Both were 1st-Team AA All-State selections their senior seasons and Sebastian signed with Carroll. Both were in my final Top 10 interior lineman ranking. As for tackle, Holden Sampson is the star of the group and you can see his write-up in the "10-1" link. The other two selections are Sam Gray of Billings Central and Keegan Mires of Glendive. Both Gray and Mires were Class A All-State lineman (Gray at OT and Mires at OG). Andrew Siderius was on the original list but he got replaced by Mires. Mires was an original alternate selection but can also give MT another good punting option along with QB Blake Thelen. Both can bomb it! Alternates at the position include Kobe Nelson (Billings West), Spencer Warren (Bozeman), Riley Allen (Flink Creek), and Garrison Poetzl (Billings Senior). Obviosuly, Poetzl's alternate status was more of a recognition thing because he is likely still recovering from his ACL injury suffered during his senior year. Nelson, Warren, and Allen were 1st-Team All-State in each of their respective class levels so all good picks. There are also some good offensive lineman slotted as starters on the defensive line so there are plenty of good options on both sides of the ball to mix and match units.