2026 Montana Recruits
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2024 2:24 pm
2026 - Initial Ranking
Tier 1 - "The Rare Ones"
Matt Ludwig (Billings West) - TE/DE - 6'4", 235 lbs. (committed to Michigan)
Thoughts: "Six members of the Michigan coaching staff (including the head coach) visited one of his basketball games in Billings this spring...we have not had a prospect like Matt come out of Montana since Will Dissly a decade ago."
Tier 2 - "The Blue Chips"
Jackson Presley (Kalispell Glacier) - QB - 6'2", 195 lbs. (committed to Montana State; previously committed to Boise State; held UM offer)
Elias Bonner (Billings West) - WR/S - 6'0", 180 lbs. (also holds UM offer; MSU offered back in October 2024)
Carter Dahlke (Bozeman Gallatin) - ATH - 5'9", 165 lbs. (committed to Montana State; also held AF/UM offers)
Brit Linder (Helena Capital) - FB/LB - 6'3", 210 lbs. (MSU offered on 1.16.25; also holds UM offer back in December as well as a Nevada offer)
Tommy Lewis (Havre) - OL - 6'5", 295 lbs. (committed to Montana State; held UM offer)
Derek Opitz (Helena Capital) - OL/DE - 6'3", 235 lbs. (committed to Montana)
Maverick Diede (Kalispell Glacier) - OL/DL - 6'4", 280 lbs. (committed to Army; held UM offer)
Thoughts: "Jackson is a blue chip QB prospect for the state of Montana but its also arguably true he was not the best QB in the state in 2024 meaning there is still room to grow before I put him in Tier 1. Elias is one of the best two-way athletes in the state as you could plug him into WR or S at the next level and he has an All-Big Sky ceiling. Carter is yet another explosive slot receiver coming out of the state of Montana and nearly all of his predecessors have had success at UM or MSU. Brit is the #1 LB prospect in the state and he translates to the inside at the next level. Tommy has interior OL written all over him and he is the back-to-back runner up at the heavyweight class for State A wrestling his sophomore and junior seasons. Derek isn't as explosive as his brother Hayden (currently plays for the Griz) but he's also a different athlete as he plays on the lines and that's what is intriguing about him as you could recruit him as an IOL or DL at the next level. Maverick is one powerful OL recruit who packs a punch when he throws his hands into defenders and one of the best at moving bodies when he gets engaged."
Tier 3 - "The Partials"
Wesley Ehret (Belgrade) - WR/ATH - 6'2", 180 lbs. (committed to Montana)
Bridger Alexander (Florence) - TE/DE - 6'2", 210 lbs.
Merek Fisher (Billings Skyview) - OL - 6'7", 235 lbs.
Evan Pyron (Missoula Hellgate) - TE - 6'3", 230 lbs.
Logan Humphrey (Bozeman) - TE - 6'4", 230 lbs.
Hudson Luedtke (Butte) - WR/S - 6'2", 185 lbs.
Kougar Kappel (Red Lodge) - ATH - 6'0" 175 lbs. (committed to Montana)
William Snell (Billings Central) - WR - 6'4", 190 lbs.
Easton Brooks (Columbia Falls) - WR/DB - 6'2", 175 lbs.
Thoughts: "Wesley starts at Belgrade and is projected to have a big senior season at WR. Bridger has the tools to be a h-back or hybrid edge rusher at the next level. Merek is still growing into his body but he's already very strong for his size so if he continues to add mass he arguably is a better long-term prospect than Maverick or Tommy above. Evan and Logan are no-nonsense TE recruits (good blockers and pass-catchers) who you could plug and play after a few years in your development program. Hudson is 99.9% going to play basketball but he is a very intriguing WR prospect...frisbee catching dog. Kougar is a two-way star for Red Lodge as a RB and S. William Snell is a build-a-WR out of Billings Central as he has the build, athleticism, and ability to compete at the next level. Easton has two-way flexibility on the outside and is a fluid mover in space."
Tier 4 - "PWOs"
Jack Robinson (Kalispell Glacier) - S - 6'2", 200 lbs.
Kade Robinson (Missoula Sentinel) - TE - 6'6", 210 lbs.
Ayden Salter (Billings Central) - ATH/RB - 6'1", 190 lbs.
Evan Hughen (Bozeman) - CB - 6'2", 170 lbs.
Trapper Kinamon (Conrad) - OL - 6'3", 250 lbs.
Titus Newman (Missoula Big Sky) - DE/LB - 6'2", 190 lbs.
Colter DeVoss (Great Falls High) - DE/LB - 6'1", 205 lbs.
Tyton Larsen (Billings Central) - DE/OL - 6'4", 220 lbs.
Kingston Oe (Laurel) - DL - 5'11", 250 lbs.
Noah Blom (Helena Capital) - C - 6'0", 250 lbs.
Brody Bulette (Polson) - OL - 6'7", 285 lbs. (committed to Montana State; held UM offer)
Hunter Lee (CMR) - LB - 6'2", 220 lbs.
Lane Bradley (Billings Senior) - OL - 6'6", 240 lbs.
Howie Martin (Billings Central) - QB/ATH - 6'4", 185 lbs.
Bobby Gutzman (Bozeman Gallatin) - WR/S - 6'2", 180 lbs.
Mason Swanson (Red Lodge) - DE - 6'4", 215 lbs.
Truman Giese (Fort Benton) - NB - 5'11", 170 lbs.
Dawson Hammond (Malta) - WR/DB - 6'1", 165 lbs.
Caleb Taylor (CMR) - S - 6'3", 190 lbs.
Cormac Batt (Missoula Big Sky) - SS/WR - 6'2", 160 lbs.
Brody Duchien (Florence) - WR - 6'1", 165 lbs.
Parker Link (Missoula Hellgate) - WR/S - 5'11", 185 lbs.
Carsen Ross (Bozeman Gallatin) - DL - 6'2", 250 lbs.
Thoughts: "Only doing PWOs this year as most PWOs are still projects at the next level. As usual, a ton of intriguing prospects in this list but my favorites are Jack Robinson, Tyton Larsen, Kingston Oe, Lane Bradley, Mason Swanson, Dawson Hammond, and Parker Link."
Tier 1 - "The Rare Ones"
Matt Ludwig (Billings West) - TE/DE - 6'4", 235 lbs. (committed to Michigan)
Thoughts: "Six members of the Michigan coaching staff (including the head coach) visited one of his basketball games in Billings this spring...we have not had a prospect like Matt come out of Montana since Will Dissly a decade ago."
Tier 2 - "The Blue Chips"
Jackson Presley (Kalispell Glacier) - QB - 6'2", 195 lbs. (committed to Montana State; previously committed to Boise State; held UM offer)
Elias Bonner (Billings West) - WR/S - 6'0", 180 lbs. (also holds UM offer; MSU offered back in October 2024)
Carter Dahlke (Bozeman Gallatin) - ATH - 5'9", 165 lbs. (committed to Montana State; also held AF/UM offers)
Brit Linder (Helena Capital) - FB/LB - 6'3", 210 lbs. (MSU offered on 1.16.25; also holds UM offer back in December as well as a Nevada offer)
Tommy Lewis (Havre) - OL - 6'5", 295 lbs. (committed to Montana State; held UM offer)
Derek Opitz (Helena Capital) - OL/DE - 6'3", 235 lbs. (committed to Montana)
Maverick Diede (Kalispell Glacier) - OL/DL - 6'4", 280 lbs. (committed to Army; held UM offer)
Thoughts: "Jackson is a blue chip QB prospect for the state of Montana but its also arguably true he was not the best QB in the state in 2024 meaning there is still room to grow before I put him in Tier 1. Elias is one of the best two-way athletes in the state as you could plug him into WR or S at the next level and he has an All-Big Sky ceiling. Carter is yet another explosive slot receiver coming out of the state of Montana and nearly all of his predecessors have had success at UM or MSU. Brit is the #1 LB prospect in the state and he translates to the inside at the next level. Tommy has interior OL written all over him and he is the back-to-back runner up at the heavyweight class for State A wrestling his sophomore and junior seasons. Derek isn't as explosive as his brother Hayden (currently plays for the Griz) but he's also a different athlete as he plays on the lines and that's what is intriguing about him as you could recruit him as an IOL or DL at the next level. Maverick is one powerful OL recruit who packs a punch when he throws his hands into defenders and one of the best at moving bodies when he gets engaged."
Tier 3 - "The Partials"
Wesley Ehret (Belgrade) - WR/ATH - 6'2", 180 lbs. (committed to Montana)
Bridger Alexander (Florence) - TE/DE - 6'2", 210 lbs.
Merek Fisher (Billings Skyview) - OL - 6'7", 235 lbs.
Evan Pyron (Missoula Hellgate) - TE - 6'3", 230 lbs.
Logan Humphrey (Bozeman) - TE - 6'4", 230 lbs.
Hudson Luedtke (Butte) - WR/S - 6'2", 185 lbs.
Kougar Kappel (Red Lodge) - ATH - 6'0" 175 lbs. (committed to Montana)
William Snell (Billings Central) - WR - 6'4", 190 lbs.
Easton Brooks (Columbia Falls) - WR/DB - 6'2", 175 lbs.
Thoughts: "Wesley starts at Belgrade and is projected to have a big senior season at WR. Bridger has the tools to be a h-back or hybrid edge rusher at the next level. Merek is still growing into his body but he's already very strong for his size so if he continues to add mass he arguably is a better long-term prospect than Maverick or Tommy above. Evan and Logan are no-nonsense TE recruits (good blockers and pass-catchers) who you could plug and play after a few years in your development program. Hudson is 99.9% going to play basketball but he is a very intriguing WR prospect...frisbee catching dog. Kougar is a two-way star for Red Lodge as a RB and S. William Snell is a build-a-WR out of Billings Central as he has the build, athleticism, and ability to compete at the next level. Easton has two-way flexibility on the outside and is a fluid mover in space."
Tier 4 - "PWOs"
Jack Robinson (Kalispell Glacier) - S - 6'2", 200 lbs.
Kade Robinson (Missoula Sentinel) - TE - 6'6", 210 lbs.
Ayden Salter (Billings Central) - ATH/RB - 6'1", 190 lbs.
Evan Hughen (Bozeman) - CB - 6'2", 170 lbs.
Trapper Kinamon (Conrad) - OL - 6'3", 250 lbs.
Titus Newman (Missoula Big Sky) - DE/LB - 6'2", 190 lbs.
Colter DeVoss (Great Falls High) - DE/LB - 6'1", 205 lbs.
Tyton Larsen (Billings Central) - DE/OL - 6'4", 220 lbs.
Kingston Oe (Laurel) - DL - 5'11", 250 lbs.
Noah Blom (Helena Capital) - C - 6'0", 250 lbs.
Brody Bulette (Polson) - OL - 6'7", 285 lbs. (committed to Montana State; held UM offer)
Hunter Lee (CMR) - LB - 6'2", 220 lbs.
Lane Bradley (Billings Senior) - OL - 6'6", 240 lbs.
Howie Martin (Billings Central) - QB/ATH - 6'4", 185 lbs.
Bobby Gutzman (Bozeman Gallatin) - WR/S - 6'2", 180 lbs.
Mason Swanson (Red Lodge) - DE - 6'4", 215 lbs.
Truman Giese (Fort Benton) - NB - 5'11", 170 lbs.
Dawson Hammond (Malta) - WR/DB - 6'1", 165 lbs.
Caleb Taylor (CMR) - S - 6'3", 190 lbs.
Cormac Batt (Missoula Big Sky) - SS/WR - 6'2", 160 lbs.
Brody Duchien (Florence) - WR - 6'1", 165 lbs.
Parker Link (Missoula Hellgate) - WR/S - 5'11", 185 lbs.
Carsen Ross (Bozeman Gallatin) - DL - 6'2", 250 lbs.
Thoughts: "Only doing PWOs this year as most PWOs are still projects at the next level. As usual, a ton of intriguing prospects in this list but my favorites are Jack Robinson, Tyton Larsen, Kingston Oe, Lane Bradley, Mason Swanson, Dawson Hammond, and Parker Link."