Vim's 2018 Montana High School Football Recruiting List

[dayday]

Takes one hell of a recruiter to get kids to Havre.

Curious why you say this?

Is that really a question. I think it’s tough area to recruit to (I live in Havre). It’s in the highline not super close to big interstate highways or an international airport. Also a lot of their education programs are offered elsewhere in the state. Also in the past there was not a big financial commitment to the football program. However, it sounds like that is going to turn around.


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Just to clarify, I personally like Havre. But dayday basically sums up my opinion on why Northern is a tough place to recruit kids to play football.

Most of the people in Havre are second to none. Very generous and friendly. I am not knocking Havre but just pointing out the reality of their struggles as a football program.


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[406]

Curious why you say this?

Is that really a question. I think it’s tough area to recruit to (I live in Havre). It’s in the highline not super close to big interstate highways or an international airport. Also a lot of their education programs are offered elsewhere in the state. Also in the past there was not a big financial commitment to the football program. However, it sounds like that is going to turn around.


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Just to clarify, I personally like Havre. But dayday basically sums up my opinion on why Northern is a tough place to recruit kids to play football.

Most of the people in Havre are second to none. Very generous and friendly. I am not knocking Havre but just pointing out the reality of their struggles as a football program.


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I don’t see #1-5 on this. What an I doing wrong?


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[HookedonGriz]

Is that really a question. I think it’s tough area to recruit to (I live in Havre). It’s in the highline not super close to big interstate highways or an international airport. Also a lot of their education programs are offered elsewhere in the state. Also in the past there was not a big financial commitment to the football program. However, it sounds like that is going to turn around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just to clarify, I personally like Havre. But dayday basically sums up my opinion on why Northern is a tough place to recruit kids to play football.

Most of the people in Havre are second to none. Very generous and friendly. I am not knocking Havre but just pointing out the reality of their struggles as a football program.


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I don’t see #1-5 on this. What an I doing wrong?


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Just go to page 1 of this thread and it's all there and updated

 

[grizbro]

Ty Chouinard is a sleeper... could walk on at Griz or Cats but not getting a lot of attention. Frontier stud for sure

 

[George Ferguson]

Curious why you say this?

Is that really a question. I think it’s tough area to recruit to (I live in Havre). It’s in the highline not super close to big interstate highways or an international airport. Also a lot of their education programs are offered elsewhere in the state. Also in the past there was not a big financial commitment to the football program. However, it sounds like that is going to turn around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just to clarify, I personally like Havre. But dayday basically sums up my opinion on why Northern is a tough place to recruit kids to play football.

Most of the people in Havre are second to none. Very generous and friendly. I am not knocking Havre but just pointing out the reality of their struggles as a football program.


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I'm biased. I was born here, and the only time I haven't lived in Havre is the five years I spent at the University of Montana. I've had a chance to leave many times, but nothing has pulled me away. Maybe I'm nuts with the -35 in the winter and trying to play golf in a 20 mph wind every day in the summer, but, it's home.

As for recruiting to Northern, it is hard for the coaches, of all the sports. And yet, basketball and wrestling have always been very successful at Northern. Football has also done it. I consider the Samson years pretty dang good for a program that was dormant for almost 30 years. The late Walt Currie did a great job of building the foundation, and Northern should forever be indebted to him for that. But Samson was the right guy at the time, and he cultivated a pretty good run, including being able to recruit a lot of really good Montana kids. He also used a Canadian pipeline, and I thought that was really smart on his part. So, it's been done before. No, they didn't win the national title, and yes, they only made the playoffs once, but, from 2005-2010, they weren't a team that anyone in the league ever dared overlook. They beat everybody in the league at some point, and they had great defenses, and that kept them in games, no matter how good the opponent was in those days.

But, DayDay is right, ask any Northern coach and they'll tell you, at least off the record, the recruiting is hard. I've gotten to know hundreds of athletes over the years that chose to come to Northern, and I know many who picked other Frontier schools, and I'll say, I disagree that it's anything to do with Havre being smaller than Butte or Helena, or Billings. It has, in recent years, much more to do with the school and what it has to offer. At the Frontier Conference level, almost every kid, no matter the sport, is actually thinking about the future when picking a school. They're not going to the NFL or the NBA or the Olympic volleyball team ect. They're looking at a degree and a future profession, and for a time, Northern struggled to offer what a lot of kids are looking for. That is changing however.

MSU-N is set to open one of the most remarkable buildings on any college campus in the country in its new diesel tech building. Trust me, there's nothing like it anywhere. It's a niche' program yes, but it's been lauded by people all over the country, including a name all Griz fans are familar with. Also, Waded is steadfast in her belief that Northern will succeed. She loves Northern, and is behind the school one hundred percent. So is the BOR. Those of you who were hoping Northern might be on the chopping block, it's not going to happen. Things are slowly turning at Northern, and while it will always be a rural, niche' university, it also currently lays claim to this:

MSU-Northern graduates have better workforce outcomes than graduates from other four-year colleges in the state. MSU-Northern graduates made $31,200 in median wages a year after graduation, which is 50% more ($11,000) than the median across all four-year colleges in the state. Statistics by Amy Watson, Economist with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry in an August 2017 report on Labor Market Outcomes and Supply and Demand Analysis for Graduates from MSU-Northern.

So again, the school is starting to make some real progress again.

Lastly, as for football recruiting, I'll say this. Kids from Montana will still probably choose Tech, Western, Rocky and Carroll many times over Northern if they have that opportunity. BUT, for the first time since the end of Samson's tenure, it won't be because of the head coach. The kids that Andrew Rolin recruits, they may say no thanks in the end, but I know they'll say "I would love to play for that guy". He's that good. And, that's a start.

 

[VimSince03]

Ty Chouinard is a sleeper... could walk on at Griz or Cats but not getting a lot of attention. Frontier stud for sure

I hope he gets a shot somewhere. He's good enough.

 

[grizbro]

Ty Chouinard is a sleeper... could walk on at Griz or Cats but not getting a lot of attention. Frontier stud for sure

I hope he gets a shot somewhere. He's good enough.

Agree. Heard he's looking at MSU but not going to walk on.

 

[Paytonlives]

So according to Vim and Howard, these are the best Montana HS players that are still unsigned.

Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. – MLB
Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 240 lbs. - OL
Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. – OLB
Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'4", 180 lbs. – WR
Ty Chouinard (Hamilton) - 5'11", 165 lbs. - WR/S

Thanks... Fixed...
I would add near the top of this list
Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 210 lbs. - LB
and Brandon Aimsback (Browning) - 6'4", 255 lbs. - DL

 

[HowardRoss280]

So according to Vim and Howard, these are the best Montana HS players that are still unsigned.

Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. – MLB
Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 240 lbs. - OL
Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. – OLB
Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'4", 180 lbs. – WR
Ty Chouinard (Hamilton) - 5'11", 165 lbs. - WR/S

Thanks... Fixed...
I would add near the top of this list
Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 210 lbs. - LB
and Brandon Aimsback (Browning) - 6'4", 255 lbs. - DL

Agreed, Braxton Hill is becoming a dark horse of this class. The kid is a natural linebacker. Think Jace Lewis for comparison. I think Braxton could make a very fast impact for a team given a chance, similar to what Lewis has done his first couple years at UM

 

[obiwan]

http://usatodayhss.com/2017/2017-all-usa-montana-football-team

 

[VimSince03]

Front page info:

Treyton Pickering and Wyatt Alexander are Montana Tech signees from December. Tanner Harrell signed with Carroll College back in December.

 

[Paytonlives]

Front page info:

Treyton Pickering and Wyatt Alexander are Montana Tech signees from December. Tanner Harrell signed with Carroll College back in December.

Thanks, Added

Its amazing that when you look at the list Carroll College has only ONE Dude and Tech has a dozen plus...
This is a complete reversal from 10 years ago.

 

[Paytonlives]

Condensed List of Top Montana HS Players still available via Vim and Howard lists

VimSince03 2018 Class (20):
10.) Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. - MLB
11.) Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
19.) Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. - OLB
23.) Ty Chouinard (Hamilton) - 5'11", 165 lbs. - WR/S
24.) Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 250 lbs. - OL
26.) Tyler Buckingham (Billings West) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - LB
29.) Caeden Suero (Helena High) - 6'0", 235 lbs. - DL
32.) Michael Lee (Kalispell Flathead) - 6'4", 265 lbs. - DL
33.) Brandon Aimsback (Browning) - 6'4", 255 lbs. - DL
37.) Bridger Bauder (Hamilton) - 5'10", 195 lbs. - RB
38.) Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 210 lbs. - LB
39.) Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'3", 180 lbs. - WR/TE
40.) Ben LaBeau (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 160 lbs. - WR
41.) Jacob Caldwell (Frenchtown) - 6'0", 225 lbs. - DL
44.) Coby King (Dillon) - 6'0", 185 lbs. - LB
45.) Dawson Hoerauf (Whitehall) - 6'2", 265 lbs. - OL/DL
47.) Bruce Spang (Billings Skyview) - 6'3", 250 lbs. - DL
48.) Alec Lovegren (Sidney) - 5'9", 175 lbs. - RB
49.) Dalton Macy (Billings Skyview) - 5'11", 170 lbs. - RB/S
50.) Hayden Guisti (Jefferson) - 6'1", 190 lbs. - LB


HowardRoss280's Top 50 (17):
9.) Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
15.) Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. – MLB
17.) Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 240 lbs. - OL
19.) Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. – OLB
20.) Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'4", 180 lbs. – WR
26.) Jake Olsen (CMR) – 6’5”, 205lbs. TE/DE
28.) Damien Nelson (CMR) - 5'10", 155 lbs. – CB/KR
32.) Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 205 lbs. – LB
33.) Bruce Spang (Billings Skyview) - 6'2", 235 lbs. - OL/DL
34.) Dalton Macy (Billings Skyview) - 6'1", 175 lbs. - RB/S
35.) Mark Northey (Helena Capital) – 5’10”, 170lbs.- CB
40.) Ben LaBeau (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 160 lbs. – WR
41.) Kadin Lahti (Missoula Big Sky)- 5'8”, 160lbs. – WR
43.) Corbin Walker (Butte) - 5'10", 200 lbs. – DL
44.) Bridger Bauder (Hamilton) - 5'10", 195 lbs. - RB/WR
45.) Tyler Flink (Missoula Big Sky) - 5'11", 200 lbs. - RB/LB
49.) Brock Peterson (Livingston) - 5'10", 160 lbs. - WR/DB

 

[Paytonlives]

So according to Vim and Howard, these are the best Montana HS players that are still unsigned.

Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. – MLB
Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 240 lbs. - OL
Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. – OLB
Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'4", 180 lbs. – WR
Ty Chouinard (Hamilton) - 5'11", 165 lbs. - WR/S

Thanks... Fixed...
I would add near the top of this list
Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 210 lbs. - LB
and Brandon Aimsback (Browning) - 6'4", 255 lbs. - DL

Agreed, Braxton Hill is becoming a dark horse of this class. The kid is a natural linebacker. Think Jace Lewis for comparison. I think Braxton could make a very fast impact for a team given a chance, similar to what Lewis has done his first couple years at UM

Yes, His injury cost him...
Find it interesting that he is tearing it up on the BBall court and yet all his twitter pictures are of football. I would guess that shows were his heart lies...

 

[VimSince03]

Condensed List of Top Montana HS Players still available via Vim and Howard lists

VimSince03 2018 Class (20):
10.) Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. - MLB
11.) Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
19.) Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. - OLB
23.) Ty Chouinard (Hamilton) - 5'11", 165 lbs. - WR/S
24.) Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 250 lbs. - OL
26.) Tyler Buckingham (Billings West) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - LB
29.) Caeden Suero (Helena High) - 6'0", 235 lbs. - DL
32.) Michael Lee (Kalispell Flathead) - 6'4", 265 lbs. - DL
33.) Brandon Aimsback (Browning) - 6'4", 255 lbs. - DL
37.) Bridger Bauder (Hamilton) - 5'10", 195 lbs. - RB
38.) Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 210 lbs. - LB
39.) Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'3", 180 lbs. - WR/TE
40.) Ben LaBeau (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 160 lbs. - WR
41.) Jacob Caldwell (Frenchtown) - 6'0", 225 lbs. - DL
44.) Coby King (Dillon) - 6'0", 185 lbs. - LB
45.) Dawson Hoerauf (Whitehall) - 6'2", 265 lbs. - OL/DL
47.) Bruce Spang (Billings Skyview) - 6'3", 250 lbs. - DL
48.) Alec Lovegren (Sidney) - 5'9", 175 lbs. - RB
49.) Dalton Macy (Billings Skyview) - 5'11", 170 lbs. - RB/S
50.) Hayden Guisti (Jefferson) - 6'1", 190 lbs. - LB


HowardRoss280's Top 50 (19):
9.) Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
15.) Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. – MLB
17.) Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 240 lbs. - OL
19.) Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. – OLB
20.) Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'4", 180 lbs. – WR
26.) Jake Olsen (CMR) – 6’5”, 205lbs. TE/DE
27.) Ben Voss (Billings Central) - 5'10", 165 lbs. – RB
28.) Damien Nelson (CMR) - 5'10", 155 lbs. – CB/KR
32.) Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 205 lbs. – LB
33.) Bruce Spang (Billings Skyview) - 6'2", 235 lbs. - OL/DL
34.) Dalton Macy (Billings Skyview) - 6'1", 175 lbs. - RB/S
35.) Mark Northey (Helena Capital) – 5’10”, 170lbs.- CB
40.) Ben LaBeau (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 160 lbs. – WR
41.) Kadin Lahti (Missoula Big Sky)- 5'8”, 160lbs. – WR
43.) Corbin Walker (Butte) - 5'10", 200 lbs. – DL
44.) Bridger Bauder (Hamilton) - 5'10", 195 lbs. - RB/WR
45.) Tyler Flink (Missoula Big Sky) - 5'11", 200 lbs. - RB/LB
49.) Brock Peterson (Livingston) - 5'10", 160 lbs. - WR/DB
50.) Max Mader (Helena High) - 6'3", 180 LBS. - LB/S

On Howard's list, Ben Voss is a Montana Tech signee and Max Mader signed with Western.

 

[HowardRoss280]

So according to Vim and Howard, these are the best Montana HS players that are still unsigned.

Seth Schneider (Helena Capital) - 6'0", 205 lbs. - RB/LB
Blake Allred (Billings Senior) - 6'0", 200 lbs. – MLB
Trevor Welnel (Helena Capital) - 6'3", 240 lbs. - OL
Conner Nash (Helena High) - 6'0", 190 lbs. – OLB
Easton Hatfield (Townsend) - 6'4", 180 lbs. – WR
Ty Chouinard (Hamilton) - 5'11", 165 lbs. - WR/S

Thanks... Fixed...
I would add near the top of this list
Braxton Hill (Anaconda) - 6'2", 210 lbs. - LB
and Brandon Aimsback (Browning) - 6'4", 255 lbs. - DL

Agreed, Braxton Hill is becoming a dark horse of this class. The kid is a natural linebacker. Think Jace Lewis for comparison. I think Braxton could make a very fast impact for a team given a chance, similar to what Lewis has done his first couple years at UM

Yes, His injury cost him...
Find it interesting that he is tearing it up on the BBall court and yet all his twitter pictures are of football. I would guess that shows were his heart lies...

For sure. I’ve heard from a lot of people that Hill wants to play football in college. The kid is a pure athlete, he could play whatever sport he wanted, he must just have that kind of love for the game of football. He will be a big pick up for whatever school he ends up at.

 

[Grizrule16]

I wonder how many schools are talking to Hill? I would think that he would be getting his door beat down by both football and basketball coaches trying to get him to commit. Maybe when the quiet period ends Hauck and company will give him a visit. Hauck seems to find the under-recruited hidden gems.

 

[Paytonlives]

On Howard's list, Ben Voss is a Montana Tech signee and Max Mader signed with Western.

Thanks... Fixed

 

[VimSince03]

I wonder how many schools are talking to Hill? I would think that he would be getting his door beat down by both football and basketball coaches trying to get him to commit. Maybe when the quiet period ends Hauck and company will give him a visit. Hauck seems to find the under-recruited hidden gems.

Oh I fully believe both schools want him...but not as a scholarship player. Like most of these in-state kids, they have to make a decision: if I don't get any scholarship aid from MSU or UM, do I walk-on or do I take the full-ride from one of the Frontier schools (Tech, Carroll, Rocky, Western, or Northern). Braxton also has offers to play basketball at the NAIA level. So take the money or take a risk that may lead to money? It's a tough decision, especially as the smaller in-state schools continue to offer competitive degrees/educations.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Vim when are they going to announce the Mondak team? What would your choice be by position for the team?