2025 Montana Recruits

[VimSince03]

Initial Ranking

"The Rare Ones"

None in this group yet. Only kids to get a FBS offer so are Curnow and Wrikus (both Nevada).

"The Blue Chips"

1.) Carter Curnow (Dillon) - 6'4", 210 lbs. - TE/LB (MSU commit; held Griz/Nevada offer)
2.) Brady Casagranda (Bozeman) - 6'2", 205 lbs. - RB/LB (Montana Tech commit)
3.) Ben Winters (Kalispell Glacier) - 6'4", 300 lbs. - OL (MSU commit)
4.) Vincent Souza (Billings Central) - 6'4", 205 lbs. - TE/DE/LB (MSU commit; held Griz offer)
5.) Grant Vigen (Bozeman Gallatin) - 6'6", 205 lbs. - QB (MSU commit; held Griz offer)

Thoughts: Carter is long, rangy, and athletic with a great feel for the physical part of the game. Brady is a Nolan Askelson clone and a future 4-time AA All-State player as he's started on defense since he was a freshman for one of the best programs in the state. Ben has played right tackle for an offensive powerhouse in Glacier and moves very well for a big man who I see more as a future center or guard. Vinny played H-back on offense for the Rams but surprisingly was a starting corner for Billings Central so the versatility is awesome...though I see a future LB. Grant is your classic "built in a lab" pocket passer as he has a lot of Casey Bauman/Tucker Rovig to his high school game and he throws a beautiful ball with good velocity.


"The Partials" (No Order)

Vaughn Wirkus (Helena Capital) - 6'6", 240 lbs. - OL (MSU Commit; held Griz/Nevada offer)
Bridger Smith (Kalispell Glacier) - 6'1", 175 lbs. - WR (UM Commit; held Cat offer)
Chase Cook (Red Lodge) - 5'10", 175 lbs. - RB (UM Commit)
Malachi Claunch (Billings West) - 6'2", 190 lbs. - AP (MSU Commit; held EWU/Idaho offer)
Tre Gary (Havre) - 6'0", 190 lbs. - AP/CB
Jaxan Lieberg (Helena High) - 6'3", 175 lbs. - WR (Griz offer)
Billy Corette (Frenchtown) - 6'2", 220 lbs. - DE
Cole Cordis (Valley Christian) - 6'4", 245 lbs. - TE/OL/DL/DE
Blaine Downing (Malta) - 6'3", 205 lbs. - DE/LB (MSU Commit; held Griz offer)

Thoughts: Vaughn has received offers from both MSU and UM and deservedly so as he's the best tackle prospect in this class. Bridger came on during his junior season and turned heads at summer camps this year with his crisp route running and excellent hands. Chase plays RB like he's shot out of a cannon. Malachi is a super smooth runner who can be developed in a lot of spots. Tre runs with a lot of urgency and can be that jet motion athlete, a pure RB, or possibly a star in the secondary. Jaxan has natural receiver traits that play at the next level. Billy is having a big senior season for the Broncs and has the explosiveness off the line you want to see out of a future pass rusher. Cole is very raw but very fun to watch as a 8-man player as he was a menace as a big DE...but it really depends on how college coaches few him developmental wise. Blaine may be the biggest riser out of any player in the state as his ability to live in the backfield on defense and be explosive on offense makes him a valuable prospect.


"The Safe Investments" (No Order)

Henry Carlson (Bigfork) - 6'5", 290 lbs. - OL (Griz offer)
Calvin Garmann (Red Lodge) - 6'5", 180 lbs. - WR
Ben Morasko (Bozeman Gallatin) - 6'4", 225 lbs. - DL
Luke Oxarart (Jefferson) - 5'11", 175 lbs. - AP/S (MSU Commit)
Bryson LeCoure (Thompson Falls) - 6'4", 200 lbs. - LB/ATH
Solomon Morgan (Corvallis) - 6'2", 190 lbs. - RB/LB
Kaden Juhnke (Joliet) - 6'2", 190 lbs. - AP/S
Merek Mihelish (Helena Capital) - 6'2", 170 lbs. - AP/S (UM Commit)
Jaxon Allery (Missoula Sentinel) - 5'10", 165 lbs. - CB
Kobe Dorcheus (Kalispell Glacier) - 5'10", 180 lbs. - RB
Jace Koshatka (Missoula Sentinel) - 5'11", 185 lbs. - AP
Carson Baker (Kalispell Glacier) - 5'11", 175 lbs. - NB
Lane Voermans (Columbia Falls) - 6'0", 235 lbs. - OC/DL


"The Projects" (No Order)

Levi Eaton (Glendive) - 6'5", 240 lbs. - OT
Jack DeBourg (Billings Central) - 6'2", 200 lbs. - FB/LB
Jackson Ritchie (Billings Central) - 6'7", 300 lbs. - OT
Drew Anderson (Belgrade) - 6'5", 280 lbs. - OL
Reese Dahlke (Bozeman Gallatin) - 5'8", 165 lbs. - AP
Schafer Garness (Great Falls High) - 6'1", 260 lbs. - OG/DL
Gage Goltz (Bridger) - 6'4", 195 lbs. - ATH
Wes Banks (Eureka) - 6'3", 215 lbs. - TE/DE
Bridger Salvevold (Culbertson ) - 6'2", 215 lbs. - AP/LB (UM Commit)
Simon Harbour (Bozeman) - 6'3", 245 lbs. - OG

[Travelingcat]

Thanks for putting together this list. Really enjoy reading your analysis.

By my count 17 of these 33 guys are class A or lower, so seems like we may have better talent in the lower divisions this year. I always like our chances with the smaller school guys because big out-of-state schools will be scared to pull the trigger on them (they are already nervous enough about offering our AA guys)

[AFCAT]

[AFCAT]

[BelligerentBobcat]

Fantastic athlete, and if you look at his Twitter, the pictures of his dad at the Cat and Griz junior days cracks me up tremendously.

[AFCAT]

[VimSince03]

Watch out for this kid. Might be the best safety in the class. Really good football player.

[AFCAT]

Might have to move him up the list.

[AFCAT]

[wbtfg]

Son of Helena Capital head football coach, Kyle Mihelish.

[msufaithful]

Watch out for this kid. Might be the best safety in the class. Really good football player.

And being coached in Football and Track by a former Bobcat punter.

[Monymony]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

[mslacatfan]

I’m hoping to see a Top 5 sweep! Let’s go!

[CodyCat]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Im not surprised at all.

[kennethnoisewater]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Seems like the gris are not trying to develop players and are relying on the transfer portal way more than MSU. That could pay off for them or it could hurt them. In a perfect world you'd want to develop players and get them fully bought in to the program, but we all know it's not a perfect world in college sports. For a program that built itself off being the best at recruiting Montana kids, it sure seems to me like a recipe for disaster. I personally don't think Hauck is all that interested in getting players who can contribute in 2-3 years because he'll be retired by then.

[Montanabob]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Seems like the gris are not trying to develop players and are relying on the transfer portal way more than MSU. That could pay off for them or it could hurt them. In a perfect world you'd want to develop players and get them fully bought in to the program, but we all know it's not a perfect world in college sports. For a program that built itself off being the best at recruiting Montana kids, it sure seems to me like a recipe for disaster. I personally don't think Hauck is all that interested in getting players who can contribute in 2-3 years because he'll be retired by then.

exactly. win today do not worry about the future.

[luckyirishguy25]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Seems like the gris are not trying to develop players and are relying on the transfer portal way more than MSU. That could pay off for them or it could hurt them. In a perfect world you'd want to develop players and get them fully bought in to the program, but we all know it's not a perfect world in college sports. For a program that built itself off being the best at recruiting Montana kids, it sure seems to me like a recipe for disaster. I personally don't think Hauck is all that interested in getting players who can contribute in 2-3 years because he'll be retired by then.

exactly. win today do not worry about the future.

Justwinbaby!

[Monymony]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Seems like the gris are not trying to develop players and are relying on the transfer portal way more than MSU. That could pay off for them or it could hurt them. In a perfect world you'd want to develop players and get them fully bought in to the program, but we all know it's not a perfect world in college sports. For a program that built itself off being the best at recruiting Montana kids, it sure seems to me like a recipe for disaster. I personally don't think Hauck is all that interested in getting players who can contribute in 2-3 years because he'll be retired by then.

Agreed. Vigen is a total developer and the staff seem to be great at it. I will say though, with our senior led team I think it’s mandatory to get guys from the portal. We lose McCullouch, Tommy, Davis, Elliott, Lonergan, Perkins, Reed, Grebe, Schmidt, Bullouck, McCade, Danny U, Woodard, and Ortt. Some seriously big shoes to fill.

BH in my opinion is trying to ride the high and recruit high ranked players from out of state primarily and get FBS drop downs. I think this will come back to bite him as your team isn’t always going to play in Frisco and the out of staters obviously have a tendency to leave after success.

[blueandgoldblitz]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Seems like the gris are not trying to develop players and are relying on the transfer portal way more than MSU. That could pay off for them or it could hurt them. In a perfect world you'd want to develop players and get them fully bought in to the program, but we all know it's not a perfect world in college sports. For a program that built itself off being the best at recruiting Montana kids, it sure seems to me like a recipe for disaster. I personally don't think Hauck is all that interested in getting players who can contribute in 2-3 years because he'll be retired by then.

exactly. win today do not worry about the future.

Justwinbaby!

So if Vim is secretly Kane Ioane, does that mean justwinbaby is secretly Bobby?

[luckyirishguy25]

Anyone surprised how the cats seem to be doing better in instate recruiting. I know it’s early but I thought the gris would do better after last season. Also can note two are OL which would pick MSU unless they are crazy, but cats seem to be doing well.

Seems like the gris are not trying to develop players and are relying on the transfer portal way more than MSU. That could pay off for them or it could hurt them. In a perfect world you'd want to develop players and get them fully bought in to the program, but we all know it's not a perfect world in college sports. For a program that built itself off being the best at recruiting Montana kids, it sure seems to me like a recipe for disaster. I personally don't think Hauck is all that interested in getting players who can contribute in 2-3 years because he'll be retired by then.

exactly. win today do not worry about the future.

Justwinbaby!

So if Vim is secretly Kane Ioane, does that mean justwinbaby is secretly Bobby?

I'm still trying to figure out who it is, not as egotistical as Hooked or Rep, possible Bwalberg but I don't think he's chicken s* to play a troll, maybe EG? Or maybe Robbie didn't like all the ****** we flung way (which we didn't actually, but gris fans actually have...) and all he can do is troll?