How Montana Grizzlies commit Kougar Kappel has added to Red Lodge's recruit rush
Kougar Kappel is the seventh Division I football player in the past six recruiting cycles to come out of Class B Red Lodge.
A couple of interesting tidbits --
- Part of the reason for committing here is the steadiness of the coaching staff and their positive relationship with the players, as well as the team bond.
- All freshmen are given the same NIL. Which means that our NIL is currently strong enough to offer all freshman money in addition to any scholarship they get. That's a big sign of health for the NIL, as they clearly aren't scrambling to create money to lure one particular kid, but are healthy enough that all freshmen that participate are getting something.
-- For people that are big on us recruiting at home first, ""They said we could go find a great athlete in Texas, for example, but we really want to stay in Montana and you're a great person, we believe you'd fit really good with our team," he said of UM's recruiting pitch. "That was huge that they were looking at the person I am, not just the athlete."
-- Dad was a Bobcat, but thought his son made the right choice coming to the Griz. Always nice to snag away a legacy player from the neighbors.
-- Here is the full text. As always, shout out to Griz Addict who I am willing to slave away an extra 10 seconds for in order to provide the text.
MISSOULA — Kougar Kappel has seen numerous NCAA Division I football players come before him at Red Lodge.
The senior-to-be is now the latest in the small-town, Class B pipeline that has sent seven standouts to big-time college football in the past six recruiting cycles. He joined that group by committing to the Montana Grizzlies in May.
"Our coach, John Fitzgerald, he's a great guy and he really wants the best for us and pushes us all the time," Kappel said in reflecting on the success this decade. "I think our weight program really sets us apart from a lot of schools, especially with our new facility we got three years ago. It's really nice and it's nice to have that nice of a weight room and be able to stay in shape."
All seven D-I recruits have come under Fitzgerald. He's been a part of the program for most of the past two decades and the head coach since 2017.
He played Class B football himself at Columbus, so he's been in similar shoes as his players who are trying to earn D-I offers. He went on to suit up at fullback for the Grizzlies on their 2001 FCS national championship team.
"I think it's a combination of being extremely fortunate and then also the kids' work ethic," Fitzgerald said of producing so many D-I players in a short period. "We have a strong weight room atmosphere and kids that hold each other accountable and kids that want to be successful. They push each other and that's why I believe they've had that opportunity."
At UM, Kappel will rejoin high school teammates Chase Cook, who will be a freshman running back in the fall. He may also get a shot to compete against former teammates who are at Montana State: tight end Thomas Buchanan and offensive lineman Burke Mastel.
He also played in high school with Owen Reynolds, who spent 2024 at UM as redshirt safety and transferred to NAIA Montana Tech after spring camp. The Grizzlies' only letterwinners from Red Lodge came in 1964 and 1902.
"We're all good friends," Kappel said. "Just being around them, they pushed me hard all the time. They always pushed me hard in the weight room. They'd always keep my head up if I did something wrong in a game or something.
"They were just all great leaders and they wanted the best for everybody. Always worked hard. I think that's kind of what formed me into the athlete I am right now."
The recent line of D-I players started before Kappel began playing for Red Lodge in 2022. Defensive end Corby Mann went to the Griz and tight end Elijah Reynolds went to the Cats, both in the 2021 recruiting class.
They each lasted for a short period with their college team, but they had started to lay the foundation for a town with a population of about 2,600 people and a school with an enrollment of 176 students this year.
"It's helped everyone else get looks too," Kappel said. "I think that's what kind of started it. The guys who first got those big offers, I think it just helped set the rest of us up for success. It really just put us on the map since we're such a small town."
Montana football commit Kougar Kappel poses for a photo on April 25 in Missoula. The Red Lodge senior-to-be has committed to the Grizzlies as part of their 2026 recruiting class.
Montana Athletics
With so many talented players, Kappel began high school on junior varsity but got some varsity playing time as a freshman due to injuries, Fitzgerald said. He became a two-way starter as a sophomore at receiver and safety.
He started again as a junior, staying at safety on defense and playing more at running back on offense. Fitzgerald expects him to to play similar positions this year while also being a special teams returner.
"He's been surrounded by some pretty good football players the last few years," Fitzgerald said. "They've done a nice job leading the team. Kougar had more of a support role as a sophomore, and last year as a junior him and Chase Cook took the lead, and he's carrying that into the summer and has been a great leader for us this summer so far.
"He's calling kids, texting kids, getting them there in the wight room and for conditioning sessions. Just him along with the other seniors are doing a great job leading."
Kappel has also run track during high school and felt that has helped improved his speed on the football field. He set personal records in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and the 300-meter hurdles this spring.
He took second at the State B championships in the 300 hurdles and third in the 400. He was also seventh in the 200, 10th in the 100 and ran a leg on the 4x100 relay that placed ninth.
"He moves well, has good size, range," Fitzgerald said of Kappel. "He broke 50 in the 400 this year, so he's got the endurance with the speed. He's got great quickness too and instincts."
Kappel said Red Lodge is more of a Cats town because it's two hours from Bozeman. He rooted for both teams — his father, Brad Kappel, ran cross country at MSU, he said, and his aunt, Shari Kappel, played for the Lady Griz basketball team — but he became more of a Griz fan after attending a game.
"It was really a big thing to commit to one of those schools," he said. "I think it was a great choice. My family thought it was a good choice. Even my dad, who went to Bozeman, he thought it was a great choice too.
"The coaches there are really real with you. When I first went there, we didn't go straight to talking football. We were just talking about what we do, like fishing. That was really big for me to see that I think Missoula is more of a good place for me than Bozeman would or any other place I've been so far."
Kappel was primarily recruited by head coach Bobby Hauck, recruiting coordinator Justin Green and director of recruiting Keaton Johnson, he said. The recruiting started in January, he noted, and the first in-person contact came when tight ends coach Rob Phenicie visited his school in February.
"They said we could go find a great athlete in Texas, for example, but we really want to stay in Montana and you're a great person, we believe you'd fit really good with our team," he said of UM's recruiting pitch. "That was huge that they were looking at the person I am, not just the athlete."
Red Lodge's Kougar Kappel is tackled by Manhattan's Mitchell Thibeault (3) and George Stenberg (40) after making a reception in a Class B football semifinal game in November. Kappel has committed to the Montana Grizzlies.
Dan Chesnet, Belgrade News
Montana offered Kappel in April when co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tim Hauck visited his school, he said. It was his first D-I offer, and it came to play on the defensive side of the ball.
"They thought I'm a fast player and smart and I know what I'm doing and I just like to hit people pretty hard," he said of why UM wanted him to play on defense. "I like to make plays and all that. My film shows that."
Kappel also had an offer from Rocky Mountain College. He been receiving interest from Montana State and went on a Junior Day visit to Bozeman. He chose the Griz for a few specific reasons.
"Just like a consistent coaching staff, there's not like a ton of people going in and out," he said. "Then also how close are the coaches and players. Those are always questions I ask, like, what do you guys do out of practice? Do you guys eat lunch or dinner together? Those are the two big ones. Then good city around them, good fans and support from the community. Those were really big things for me."
When Kappel announced his commitment in May, he said he got texts from Cats head coach Brent Vigen and defensive coordinator Shawn Howe inquiring if he was still open to receiving an offer from MSU.
"I said I was still kind of open since I still have my senior year to go," he said. "I think I'm just starting to be pretty committed to the Griz now and I don't think I'm going to be looking for any offers. I don't think I need to go anywhere else. I think Missoula's going to be the spot for me. I have Chase Cook, who's my good buddy, who's going there. I think it's good to have a few friends in Missoula. I have some family in Missoula too."
Kappel will head to UM on a partial scholarship that covers his tuition, he said. He'll also be able to receive Name, Image and Likeness money from UM's Good Ol' Grizzlies NIL collective, noting "all the freshmen get paid the same."
Kappel has already started offseason work for his final high school season this coming fall. He'll join the Grizzlies ahead of the 2026 season as a potential redshirt who will have an opportunity to earn playing time right away.
"They said if you work hard, we'd like to play the best players that we have and there's a possibility for you on special teams to start you off and you'll eventually build your way up," he recalled of conversations with coaches. "Eventually if I do start, they said it would be (a) full-ride (scholarship). It's something that drives me to want to be the best I can and work hard."
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at [email protected].
