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.

Griz FB recruit: Jesse Brantley

I have heard that the new and the old football staffs for the University of Montana Grizzlies are recruiting Jesse Brantley of Gilbert high school in Gilbert, Arizona. Brantley is a 6-2 180 pound record setting wide receiver prospect for Gilbert high school.

For his senior 2009 season set a school record in catches with 69 receptions and for total yards with 1,222 receiving yards. Additionally recorded 13 touch downs and 2 2-point conversions wile averaging 122 yards per game.

On defense he recorded 20 tackles from the defective back position and one interception for a touch down.

He also returned 20 kick off returns for a 22 yard average.

Griz FB Recruit: Brett Kirschner

I have heard that the Griz football staff has offered Brett Kirschner of Interlake high school in Bellevue, Washington. Kirschner is a 5-11 200 pound athlete who is receiving attention as both a running back, where he has gotten the most accolades at or as a converted out side line backer. In high school he also has played defensive back for Interlake.

According to scout.com, as a 2009 senior at Interlake, he ended up with 2,193 Yards total offense and 26 Touchdowns. Was named KingCo Conference 2A/3A Offensive Player of the Year. Selected to Seattle Stars – All Area Seattle Times Team, 1st Team All Kingco Conference Tailback, Evergreen State Preps All-State, The News Tribune All State, Bellevue Reporter Player of the Year, Bellevue Reporter All-Area Team and East West Washington Team/Game.

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.

Griz FB recruit: Dillon Romain

I have heard that the former football staff led by former coach Bobby Hauck was recruiting Dillon Romain from Blair Academy prep school in New Jersey. The 5-10 200 pound running back is one of the more interesting story in this football recruiting season. First of all when was the last time you have heard that the Grizzly football staff recruiting a player from New Jersey.

Romain is a 5th year senior who played his first four years at Don Bosco high school also located in New Jersey where he rushed for 1,436 yards and 26 touchdowns before being named Gatorade Player of the Year and Most Valuable player of the New Jersey vs. Northeast All-Star Classic. After his senior year he did not get any D-1 offers he liked so he enrolled this year at Blair Academy a prep school who typically is ranked among the nation’s best. This year at Blair Academy the running back finished the season with 1,104 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 181 carries, and was just as impressive defensively. Romain rotated between safety, cornerback and outside linebacker to collect 57 tackles, including eight for a loss, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. For his effort this year Blair was named the New Jersey Prep Player of the Year.

Griz recruit: Caleb Statham

I have heard that the Griz football staff is recruiting Caleb Statham of Blain high school in Blain, Washington. Statham is being primarily recruited as a running back prospect but some schools are also interested in him as a converted corner back prospect. The other intriguing thing about Statham is that he has the ability to break plays for huge gains, and could see an action early in his college carrier as return specialist.

Stratham is 5-10 and 175 and runs the 40 in 4.48 seconds. In his senior season he had 182 carries for 1488 yards and 21 touch downs on the season. This included a 99 yard gain from scrimmage which set a new school record. As a kick off and punt returner he average 30 yards per return.

His awards were numerous including unanimous All Conference First Team and NWC All-Conference Running Back, Team Offensive MVP. Ranked in 2009 as one of National Underclassmen, West top 100 RB, as well as 2009- Marcus Trufant Seahawks Football Camp MVP

Bobcat & Griz recruit: Brian Maus

I have heard that both the Bobcat and Grizzly football coaching staffs are recruiting Brain Maus out of Missoula Sentinel. Maus is a 6-2 225 pound defensive lineman prospect, who’s also getting some serious recruiting attention a track prospect this year.

In football Maus recorded 112 total tackles with 8 for a loss, 3 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles. He is a three time all AA defensive team first team selection and I believe the only current senior in the state to hold that distinction.

In track he is a two time state AA Discus State Champion and as you might guess is favored to win it again this year. If he does he will be in some lofty track category as one of only three Montana athletes to ever win the state championship three times. BTW, Bob Hawke and Dennis Black are the only three time (or more) AA discus state champions.

Odds and Ends 12/30/09

It has been quite a while since I have done an Odds and Ends post but I have a handful of thing that are worth mentioning but maybe not in a full post by themselves.

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• In the in case you missed it category Helena Capital’s Matt Miller committed to Boise State a couple day’s ago. Sorry nothing from me at the time but I had a few balls in the air, but this sounds like a great choice by Mr. Miller. As a matter of fact I think Arizona State and Stanford would also have been great choices as well. Here is a quote Miller gave to Rick Kimbrel of Blue-Turf.com (part of the Rivals.com network).

“When I went down to Boise State for my visit,” Miller said. “I just felt so comfortable and thinking about it I felt that at Boise I would be the most happy for the next couple of years of my life.

“Boise State is a great football team,” Miller said. “They are a top 10 football team year in and year out. That is very enticing to me.

“The school as well is on the rise academically,” Miller said. “I kind of want to get into wildlife biology and ultimately become a college coach so I felt at Boise State, I could accomplish all those goals.

Griz FB recruit: Anthony LaCoste

I have heard that the grizzly coaching staff is recruiting Anthony LaCoste of West Albany high school in Albany Oregon. LaCoste is a 5-11, 193 pound, record setting running back from West Albany. While he played a couple offensive and defensive positions in high school running back is where he excelled.

Griz FB recruit: Teddy Cotton

The Grizzly football coaches are recruiting Teddy Cotton of Lakes high school of Lakewood, Washington. Cotton is a 5-11 and 185 pound running back who is also getting some look as a corner back.

This past season he had 107 carries for 764 yards and 13 touch downs. He was named First team All-SPSL 3A football team for lakes high school who finished 7-1.

Here is an evaluation from ESPN