Bobcat FB Sign Cody Cleveland

As I mentioned in post directly below I red today that Rob Ash has signed a couple players from Providence high school in Mokena, Illinois. In that article I posted some info on DL Steve Laski and here I am going to give a little information on his teammate Cody Cleveland.

After doing some research on Cleveland, I had to go back and make sure he was not already announced by the coaching staff but as far as I can tell he did not sign in February. According to the Southtownstar.com story today Cleveland recently signed with the Montana State Bobcats, but according to the Chicagotimes.com article Cleveland was committed to the Bobcats as early as last January. So if this is all old news please excuse me.

Cleveland 6-1 180 pound is a defensive back / safety prospect who also played the wide receiver spot for Providence high school. In what I have read it sounds like Cleveland will be playing in the secondary for the Bobcats but he played all over the field on defense so his exact position for the Bobcats, I would imagine is yet to be determined. He also played quite a bit on special teams as a returner and kick blocker. I think the key thing about Cleveland is that he is an incredibly versatile player.

Bobcat FB Signs Steve Laski

Today I ran across a report in the Southtownstar.com the Rob Ash has signed two more high school athletes who will play for the Bobcats this coming season (2010-11). The first is defensive lineman Steve Laski and defensive back / Cornerback Cody Cleveland both from Providence Catholic high school in Mokena, Illinois. I am going to do a little more blurb on each. The first up is Mr. Laski

Laski is a 6-0 (although I have seen him listed any where from 5-11 to 6-1) 290 pound athlete who help lead Providence to the state championship game with a 12-2 record. providence ended up losing in the Catholic League State championship.

Laski was named Chicago Catholic League First team , the Champaign News-Gazette All-State team, and Special mention All-State Class All Illinois, Southtown-Star All-Area team and Providence Catholic Defense co-MVP.

Bobcat FB recruit: Lexington Smith

Both Rivals.com and Scout.com are reporting that the Bobcat football program will be hosting Lexington Smith from East Denver high school in Colorado, this week end. Smith is a 6-4 260 pound defensive end / defensive tackle prospect who might be flying a little under the radar right now.

Smith is a two time first team 5A Central Metro League as a defencive tackle and offensive line man, as well as a two time All State 5A honorable mention selection. Despite this his recruitment has been hampered a little bit by and injury that kept him out of 3 games this season.

Smith is has great size and strength for the D-1AA level and great athletisism to boot. From what I have read some think he could also be a great interior Offensive line at the college level because of his good lateral movement and quickness.

Bobcat FB recruit: Darien Johnson

I have heard that the Bobcat football staff is recruiting Darien Johnson of Bishop Amat high school in La Puente, California. Depending on whom you talk to the 5-9 175 Johnson is either a wide receiver or defensive back prospect. He is an explosive athlete who has played most of the skilled position save quarter back for Bishop Amat high school.

Out of the back field he had 19 carries this season for 109 yards. As a receiver he had 32 receptions for a total of 382 yards.

As a defensive back he had 35 solo tackles and 19 assists for a total of 54 total tackles, and 3 interceptions one that was returned 79 yards for a touch down.

On special teams he 8 punt returns for an average 21 yards a return and 1 touch down. As a kick off return man he was even more dangerous returning 14 kickoffs for a 36 yard per return average with 3 of them going for touch downs from the 85, 90 and 99 yards.

Football Recruiting: Big Week End

I have heard that the coming week end (January 15th and 16th) is big week ends for both the Bobcat and grizzly football programs.

I have heard that quite a few high priority out of state football prospects will be visiting Montana State this week end including Jared Jones, R.J. McGill and William Poehls. I also expect a contingent from Texas to also trip this week end. Typically each year both MSU and UM will schedule as many Montana prospects as they can for the same week end. I have not been able to confirm it but I believe the big Montana recruiting week end will be next week end (January 22nd and 23rd)

I have also heard from sources that Montana also is entertaining a large contingent of high priority prospects this week end but I have not been able to confirm any particular athletes who will be in. Like wise I do not know for sure when their Montana week-end is (maybe this week –end?), but given the coaching change I could see that they might not be so concerned about bring in players based on where they live. They might be more interested in just getting them in.

Bobcats FB recruit: Jamal Campbell

#2 Jamal Campbell returns a punt 60 yards for a TD

Rob Ash’s Montana State football staff continues to recruit quality safeties with the recruitment of Jamal Campbell of Lincoln high school in Stockton California. The 6-0 170 pound Campbell is primarily receiving most of his attention as a defensive back / safety prospect but he should also see time early on in his college career as return man on special teams.

Campbell was named second team all Stockton area as a senior and compiled 33 solo tackles with 12 assists for a total of 45 tackles. Additionally he had 3 interceptions last year. He also played wide receiver and had 11 catches for a total of 110 receiving yards. As a return man he returned 21 punts for a 22 yard per punt average, with three going for touch downs (see above).

Bobcat FB recruit: Kyle Tokasey

I have heard that Montana State football head coach Rob Ash is recruiting Kyle Tokasey from Desert Mountain high school in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 6-1 175 pound Tokasey is primarily receiving most of his recruiting interest as a safety / defensive back prospect, but played defensive back, safety, wide receiver, punter as well as returning kicks.

As wide receiver he caught 31 passes for a total of 307 yards and one touch down in his senior season.

On defense he tallied 45 solo tackles and 28 assists for a total of 73 tackles. He also had 10 interception on the season with one returned for a touch down.

On special teams he averaged 37 yards per punts on 57 total punts. He also returned 6 punts for an average 12 yards per return. He also blocked two kicks for good measure.

For his efforts this season Tokasey was named to numerous 4-A all state teams as a defensive back and punter.

Bobcat FB recruit: Danny Trittler

I have heard that Rob Ash’s Montana State coaching staff is recruiting Danny Trittler of Chaparral high school in Scottsdale, Arizona. Trittler is a 6-1 180 pound wide receiver who just finished up his fist season with Chaparral high school.

Trittler played his first three year of high school ball for Cactus Shadows high school also in the Scottsdale area, As a junior Trittler lead all 4A receivers in receptions yardage with 1,115 receiving yards and caught nine touchdown passes. As a result he was named up first team all 4-A state. For his senior year his stats were down some but he was on a much better team as Chaparral won the state 4A championship. Trittler in his senior year had 53 receptions for 861 total passing yards averaging 62 yards a game and scoring 12 touch downs on the year. He also returned 12 punt and averaged 17 yards per return. He was named to the Honorable mention 4-A all State all team.

Bobcat FB recruit: R.J. McGill

It is being reported by multiple sources that he Montana State football coaching staff is recruiting Reginald (R.J.) McGill. McGill is a 5-9, 165 pound running back corner back prospect from St. Mary’s high school in Phoenix, Arizona.

This past season for St. Mary’s McGill had 193 carries for 1167 rushing yards and averaging just less than 100 yards a game also scoring a total of nine rushing touch downs. Additionally receiving he had 37 catches for 577total receiving yard, averaged just under 50 yards a game receiving and scoring a total of two 2 receiving touch downs. On special team he returned 6 punts, averaging 10 yards a punt and returned 12 kick off for and average over 20 yards per kick off returns.

As a junior he had 1,100 total yards offense and seven touchdowns for St. Mary’s.

Odds and Ends: 1-08-10

Welcome to another edition of odds and ends for January 8th 2010. Football recruiting season is in full swing with visits happening every week on both the UM and MSU campuses. I have heard that the UM recruiting hit a very minor bump in the road with changing of coaching staff, but given that the hire was from with-in the programs it went as absolute well as one could hope. There may be some recruiting priority changes with the new staff, and possibly a few recruits added to the Griz lists by the new incoming coaches but it seems most of the Griz recruits seem to content with the Griz. I have heard , though, some buzz from a few recruits, that they would be curios to see if Hauck’s new staff at UNLV would be interested in them their, but if it does happen we most likely will never know.

• I am told by a source in the Southern California area that Griz commit Kareem Jamar is getting a lot of attention from Big West, Mountain West as well as Pac-10 schools as his stock continues to soar. His Westchester high school team continues to dominate California as well as other national teams who challenged them this year. Westchester is currently ranked in the top 20 nationally by most organizations.

Unlike when Will Cherry committed and then signed with the Griz last year before his stock started taking off Jamar has not signed yet and can not do so until April. The NCAA does not recognize commitments so Jamar is complete recruitable by anyone and everyone, if they chose, and I am told a lot of schools have

inquired about the status of his recruitment.