Selections
East: Layne Swigart (Sidney) - 6'3", 210 lbs.
Senior Year Football Accolades: Class A All-State TE/DE
Future Plans: Will play football for Minot State University
East: B.J. Hatcher (Laurel) - 6'2", 200 lbs. (#4 in the photo below)
Senior Year Football Accolades: Class A All-State DL
Future Plans: Will play football for MSU-Northern
East: Justin Brown (Miles City) - 6'4", 220 lbs. (#56 in photo below)
Senior Year Football Accolades: Class A All-State DE; Badlands Bowl Selection - OT
Future Plans: Will play football for UM-Western
West: Clay Allison (Dillon) - 6'7", 215 lbs. (#75 in photo below)
Senior Year Football Accolades: Class A All-State DE
Future Plans: Unavailable
West: Hunter Hartwick (Butte Central) - 5'11", 185 lbs.
Senior Year Football Accolades: 1st-Team Southwestern A All-Conference DE
Future Plans: Will attend Montana Tech for school
West: Rylan Wilcox (Missoula Big Sky) - 6'4", 210 lbs. (#89 in photo below)
Senior Year Football Accolades: HM AA All-State DE
Future Plans: Will play football for Montana State University
Declined to Play
East: Tanner Harrell (Shepherd) - 6'1", 255 lbs. (#75 in photo below)
Senior Year Football Accolades: Class B All-State OL/DL; GF Super-State Team - OL; Badlands Bowl Selection - OG
Future Plans: Will play football for Carroll College
East: Jory Choate (Bozeman) - 6'0", 200 lbs.
Senior Year Football Accolades: 1st-Team AA All-State DE; GF Super-State Team - DL; Badlands Bowl Selection - DE
Future Plans: Will play football for Montana State University
West: Logan Kolodejchuk (Columbia Falls) - 6'2", 240 lbs. (#9 in photo below)
Senior Year Football Accolades: Class A All-State FB/DE; GF Super-State Team - DL; Badlands Bowl Selection - DE
Future Plans: Will play football for Montana Tech
ADVANTAGE:
Losing Jory Choate and Tanner Harrell certainly hurts the East but they still should be in decent shape at DE. All three East selections will be playing college football this fall and for good reason. B.J. Hatcher was one of the more underrated players in the state last year. He's an explosive athlete with good film that has a ton of room to add good weight to play defensive line. Justin is a physical, two-way lineman out of Miles City. What he lacks in athleticism he makes up for in toughness and technique. Justin played offensive tackle in the Badlands Bowl and will switch to DE for the Shrine Game. Layne Swigart of Sidney was primarily a blocking TE for Sidney's run-heavy offense but he shined on defense at DE for the Eagles. He is a long, wirey kid who gives OT's fits while rushing the passer or playing the run. Also, Jayden Holley will play either DE or DT in this one so he could be in the rotation.
The West squad won't include Logan Kolodejchuk of Columbia Falls but it does feature two players from the Southwestern A conference along with a Missoula Big Sky product. Clay is by far the tallest player on the either roster and his length on the defensive line gives offensive lineman problems on a consistent basis. Whether its batting down passes or stretching out a run play, Clay can handle most situations at DE. Hunter is a versatile athlete who will line up at DE. He's undersized for the position but he plays with good pad level, effort, and technique to make up for this lack of size. Rylan is an athlete that has a ton of potential at the DE position and I'm glad he gets to play it for the Shrine Game. He's got excellent length and strength for the position. Rylan also excelled as a pole vaulter, taking 3rd at State AA this past May.
Overall, I believe the East has more overall talent at the position than the West even without Choate and Harrell. Moving Swigart over to DE gives the East two legitimate pass-rushers (Swigart/Hatcher). The East gets the advantage at DE.
