Initial signing period, Wednesday 3 Dec 2025

[TomCat88]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

Yeah, I think Dahlke, who's enrolling next semester, and Linder will be good early. The out of state guys are a little more difficult just because it's hard to stay posted on a weekly basis.

The QB looks like an incredible athlete. Lots of them look more than capable of becoming good players.

[tetoncat]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

I am guessing we will all be disappointed unfortunately with todays transfer portal, all the good ones will leave within a year. Hope I'm wrong.

Really. Most freshman don't play other than special teams so history has shown at least 2 and many times 3 before they get offers.

[msucat123]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

I am guessing we will all be disappointed unfortunately with todays transfer portal, all the good ones will leave within a year. Hope I'm wrong.

Really. Most freshman don't play other than special teams so history has shown at least 2 and many times 3 before they get offers.

Maybe so. Good news for us is that Bozeman is such a desirable place it would hard to leave and transfer to a different place

[lutecat]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

I am guessing we will all be disappointed unfortunately with todays transfer portal, all the good ones will leave within a year. Hope I'm wrong.

Really. Most freshman don't play other than special teams so history has shown at least 2 and many times 3 before they get offers.

He's a troll.

[msucat123]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

I am guessing we will all be disappointed unfortunately with todays transfer portal, all the good ones will leave within a year. Hope I'm wrong.

Really. Most freshman don't play other than special teams so history has shown at least 2 and many times 3 before they get offers.

He's a troll.

That is not very kind to call a fellow cat a troll...

[grizzh8r]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

I am guessing we will all be disappointed unfortunately with todays transfer portal, all the good ones will leave within a year. Hope I'm wrong.

Really. Most freshman don't play other than special teams so history has shown at least 2 and many times 3 before they get offers.

He's a troll.

I don't think he's a troll. Just a Karen. Ir Negative Nancy. Some people just hate being positive or happy...

*Edit*

Scratch that - definitely a troll. And a pathetic one at that. I lost count how many accounts he's created!!

[BelligerentBobcat]

Brit Linder is going to be a quick fan favorite I think.

[AFCAT]

Brit Linder is going to be a quick fan favorite I think.

Yeah, he’s my early pick for star of the class.

[wbtfg]

https://helenair.com/sports/college/big ... -top-story

Nice article on Linder. Dude has a monster season and hardly practiced due to a herniated disc in his back. The article also said he had “more lucrative offers”

Hopefully he’s able to get rested and be a full go in the strength and conditioning program. Really excited about this dude.

[Norsky19]

https://helenair.com/sports/college/big ... -top-story

Nice article on Linder. Dude has a monster season and hardly practiced due to a herniated disc in his back. The article also said he had “more lucrative offers”

Hopefully he’s able to get rested and be a full go in the strength and conditioning program. Really excited about this dude.

paywall. boo.

[wbtfg]

https://helenair.com/sports/college/big ... -top-story

Nice article on Linder. Dude has a monster season and hardly practiced due to a herniated disc in his back. The article also said he had “more lucrative offers”

Hopefully he’s able to get rested and be a full go in the strength and conditioning program. Really excited about this dude.

paywall. boo.

That's my bad, boo.....here you go.

HELENA — Brit Linder is old school and not just because of the way that he plays linebacker.

The two-way standout for the Helena Capital Bruins, and a member of the Bruins' 2024 state championship team, made his Montana State commitment official this week, signing his letter of intent.

Linder's signing was announced by Montana State on Wednesday on Early National Signing Day, but he held his ceremony on Thursday at Capital High School.

"It feels great," Linder said. "Dreams do come true. I'm very blessed to be in this position. I'm super thankful."

At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, there's a reason Linder was rated as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports, and why he had offers from Nevada and UTEP of the FBS, in addition to an offer from the Montana Grizzlies.

"They're (Bobcats) getting a great player," Capital head coach Kyle Mihelish said. "He hasn't spent a tremendous amount of time in the weight room. When he fills out and gets to 240-245, he's going to be an All-Big Sky football player."

Linder flashed first in the 2024 season, earning all-state honors at linebacker for the Bruins. He committed to Montana State before the season, then proceeded to be just one of two running backs in Class AA to reach 1,000 yards rushing this season (1,041 yards) and did it on just 141 attempts (7.1 per carry).

The senior finished with six 100-yard games this season. That's on top of 91 tackles on defense (71 solo), giving him an average of 7.8 solo tackles per game. He also had five tackles for loss, three sacks, five hurries and a pass breakup.

Even more impressive is the fact that Linder did all of that while playing with a herniated disk.

"Nobody on the outside, knew what was happening on the inside," Mihelish said. "He was injured and only practiced on Wednesdays due to the wear and tear. It's a credit to him as a young man and the fortitude he showed. He didn't want to let his teammates down."

When Linder committed to the Cats, he admitted that he had more lucrative opportunities to play elsewhere. Some would have taken that chance, just like some would have taken themselves off the field during a 2-7 season, to protect a bright future.

"I knew that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I had given up on my team, my friends, and all the guys that are here with me today," Linder said. "I'm super thankful I was able to finish out and play nine games."

It was determined that Linder's injury wouldn't get worse. It also wasn't going to improve until he rested it.

"There was definitely talk about it during the last couple weeks of the season, if I wanted to continue to stick it out," he said. "I guess I was just motivated, seeing how my friends were struggling with injuries. I felt like If I had given up, then everyone else might have given up."

Looking ahead, Linder said he was looking forward to "developing" at Montana State, with an eye on making an impact similar to that of some Montana natives in the recent Brawl of the Wild.

"It was cool to see Caden Dowler get the pick-six and Cole Taylor was right there," Linder said of the Bobcats win. "That's two Montana products. Watching that makes me hope and wonder if I could be like that.

"That makes me motivated to work hard."

[Norsky19]

Appreciated! Sounds like an impressive kid. Hope that back gets healed soon!

[Catsrgrood]

That last part has to be hard for griz fans to read.
In one of the biggest moments of the game this year, there was two MT kids heavily involved in the play, and one of the best HS players in MT watching it and having it motivate him even more and get that much more excited to play for the Cats vs the gris.

Another example of how the in state recruiting battle is going right now and how it keeps building on itself as MT kids have more and more success here.

[wbtfg]

With all the upheaval at Sac St and now the coaching change, players that signed a letter of intent could portal, even high school seniors. I wonder if there is still any interest in the Glacier QB? Felt like a QB was missing from the class. (I know of the Oregon kid but he strikes me as more of an athlete than QB).

My take from the "Random Stuff" thread:

That's a good question...I'd imagine there are a lot of factors involved. What did his decommitment look like? Do we have any additional scholarship $ available in the qb room? Would he be interested in a walk-on role? How happy are we with the current qb room? Do we think he's a true difference maker?

With all those questions, I'd say it's highly unlikely.

I'm going to retract this, as I keep forgetting, since we opted in to the house settlement, we aren't playing by the traditional rules that we've played by in the past. It's my understanding that we don't necessarily have a roster limit. We still have a scholarship limit, but we can essentially pay scholarship through NIL, which is now controlled by the university.

In light of that....I say, Saddle up partner....the more the merrier.

Go Cats.

[BelligerentBobcat]

I know we always say this, but it looks like a really good class. Really stacked up good line talent. Vigen talked up Walden in a big way.

[TomCat88]

https://helenair.com/sports/college/big ... -top-story

Nice article on Linder. Dude has a monster season and hardly practiced due to a herniated disc in his back. The article also said he had “more lucrative offers”

Hopefully he’s able to get rested and be a full go in the strength and conditioning program. Really excited about this dude.

paywall. boo.

That's my bad, boo.....here you go.

HELENA — Brit Linder is old school and not just because of the way that he plays linebacker.

The two-way standout for the Helena Capital Bruins, and a member of the Bruins' 2024 state championship team, made his Montana State commitment official this week, signing his letter of intent.

Linder's signing was announced by Montana State on Wednesday on Early National Signing Day, but he held his ceremony on Thursday at Capital High School.

"It feels great," Linder said. "Dreams do come true. I'm very blessed to be in this position. I'm super thankful."

At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, there's a reason Linder was rated as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports, and why he had offers from Nevada and UTEP of the FBS, in addition to an offer from the Montana Grizzlies.

"They're (Bobcats) getting a great player," Capital head coach Kyle Mihelish said. "He hasn't spent a tremendous amount of time in the weight room. When he fills out and gets to 240-245, he's going to be an All-Big Sky football player."

Linder flashed first in the 2024 season, earning all-state honors at linebacker for the Bruins. He committed to Montana State before the season, then proceeded to be just one of two running backs in Class AA to reach 1,000 yards rushing this season (1,041 yards) and did it on just 141 attempts (7.1 per carry).

The senior finished with six 100-yard games this season. That's on top of 91 tackles on defense (71 solo), giving him an average of 7.8 solo tackles per game. He also had five tackles for loss, three sacks, five hurries and a pass breakup.

Even more impressive is the fact that Linder did all of that while playing with a herniated disk.

"Nobody on the outside, knew what was happening on the inside," Mihelish said. "He was injured and only practiced on Wednesdays due to the wear and tear. It's a credit to him as a young man and the fortitude he showed. He didn't want to let his teammates down."

When Linder committed to the Cats, he admitted that he had more lucrative opportunities to play elsewhere. Some would have taken that chance, just like some would have taken themselves off the field during a 2-7 season, to protect a bright future.

"I knew that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I had given up on my team, my friends, and all the guys that are here with me today," Linder said. "I'm super thankful I was able to finish out and play nine games."

It was determined that Linder's injury wouldn't get worse. It also wasn't going to improve until he rested it.

"There was definitely talk about it during the last couple weeks of the season, if I wanted to continue to stick it out," he said. "I guess I was just motivated, seeing how my friends were struggling with injuries. I felt like If I had given up, then everyone else might have given up."

Looking ahead, Linder said he was looking forward to "developing" at Montana State, with an eye on making an impact similar to that of some Montana natives in the recent Brawl of the Wild.

"It was cool to see Caden Dowler get the pick-six and Cole Taylor was right there," Linder said of the Bobcats win. "That's two Montana products. Watching that makes me hope and wonder if I could be like that.

"That makes me motivated to work hard."

Story was written by Chris Peterson - Helena IR.

[nanacat]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

Yeah, I think Dahlke, who's enrolling next semester, and Linder will be good early. The out of state guys are a little more difficult just because it's hard to stay posted on a weekly basis.

The QB looks like an incredible athlete. Lots of them look more than capable of becoming good players.

So is Dahlke graduating early? Must have enough high school credits to do that? You don't hear of that happening alot, or at least I haven't. Good athlete, good student, just what you want!

[TomCat88]

I know that it’s pointless, and we won’t know for a couple years……. But any initial guesses at ranking this class? Top 10 list?

I think it’s pretty loaded, but have a feeling that Linder will be an absolute stud, and the gem of this class.

Yeah, I think Dahlke, who's enrolling next semester, and Linder will be good early. The out of state guys are a little more difficult just because it's hard to stay posted on a weekly basis.

The QB looks like an incredible athlete. Lots of them look more than capable of becoming good players.

So is Dahlke graduating early? Must have enough high school credits to do that? You don't hear of that happening alot, or at least I haven't. Good athlete, good student, just what you want!

Chance Wilson did it.

[BlueAndGoldNation]

Watching him play, Dahlke looks like Taco Dowler reincarnated. He's got elite vision, great hands, and similar shiftiness. He just seems to know what to do when the ball is in his hands, and fights for extra yards, despite his size. He is a little slower than Taco. Dahlke ran a respectable 11.35 100 meter for track, good for 2nd in state this year. Compare that to Taco's 10.92, Tommy's 11.25, and Troy's 10.88, it puts him in good company. I'd imagine he could immediately return kicks/punts with his explosive side to side agility. Looks deserving of the 3 stars. So glad we got him!

[tetoncat]

Watching him play, Dahlke looks like Taco Dowler reincarnated. He's got elite vision, great hands, and similar shiftiness. He just seems to know what to do when the ball is in his hands, and fights for extra yards, despite his size. He is a little slower than Taco. Dahlke ran a respectable 11.35 100 meter for track, good for 2nd in state this year. Compare that to Taco's 10.92, Tommy's 11.25, and Troy's 10.88, it puts him in good company. I'd imagine he could immediately return kicks/punts with his explosive side to side agility. Looks deserving of the 3 stars. So glad we got him!

For punt returner I would take shiftiness and quick burst over the all out speed. Kick returner maybe need more of ability to outrun them.