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BOZEMAN — Two weeks after officially announcing their 2018 recruiting class, the Montana State Bobcats are receiving some of the highest praise in the nation from HERO Sports. HERO named the Bobcats’ class the third-best crop of recruits in all of the FCS.
Ivy League programs Princeton and Yale ranked first and second in the nation, meaning Montana State’s class ranked higher than FCS powerhouses North Dakota State (No. 4) and James Madison (No. 5). The only other Big Sky Conference team ranking inside of the top 10 was Eastern Washington (No. 10).
Weber State (19), Montana (31) and Northern Colorado (48) were also ranked in HERO Sports’ top 50.
HERO named running back Sherod White, offensive lineman Donny Long, and defensive backs Ty’Rese and Ty’Rhae Gibson as the team’s top recruits. This is the website’s blurb on the class as a whole:
“Aside from the usual group of in-state talent, Bobcats dipped into California and Washington for the majority of its class — and boy did they come out winners. Montana State repeatedly beat out FBS programs for top kids, giving a good indicator of where head coach Jeff Choate’s football program is heading. Don’t be surprised if some of these players play a role immediately this fall.”
The Bobcats turned heads in Jeff Choate’s second season at Montana State. With the prestige of this incoming class, Choate hopes to have something brewing in Bozeman.
Here is an overview of MSU’s 2018 recruiting class:
February Signings
Blake Allred, FB 5-11 200 Fr Billings, MT (Senior)
Ryan Barkley, OL 6-5 275 Fr Durango, CO (Durango)
Seer Deines, DL 6-3 270 Fr Connell, WA (Connell)
Koby Duru, WR 6-2 195 Fr La Puente, CA (Bishop Amat)
Greg Filer III, CB 6-0 170 Jr Compton, CA (Compton College)
Isaiah Ifanse, RB 5-10 190 Fr Bellevue, WA (Bellevue)
Donny Long, OL 6-3 280 Fr Norco, CA (Norco)
Mekhi Metcalf, WR 6-4 180 Fr Seattle, WA (Garfield)
Treyton Pickering, TE 6-4 220 Fr Sunburst, MT (Sunburst)
Malik Putney, S 6-0 200 Fr Tacoma, WA (Eastside Catholic)
Sherod White, TB 5-10 175 Fr Menifee, CA (Heritage)
James Williams, NT 5-10 305 Fr Aledo, TX (Aledo)
High School – Montana – December
Nolan Askelson, LB 6-1 205 Fr Billings, MT (Senior)
Jory Choate, LB 6-2 185 Fr Bozeman, MT (Bozeman)
Mark Estes, WR 6-1 180 Fr Kalispell, MT (Glacier)
Logan Kleinhans, WR 6-1 195 Fr Bozeman, MT (Bozeman)
Joe McElroy, OL 6-5 255 Fr Missoula, MT (Loyola)
Lane Sumner, RB 5-8 183 Fr Huntley, MT (Huntley Project)
Kaleb Winterburn, DB 6-2 190 Fr Helena, MT (Helena)
Out-of-State – December
Casey Bauman, QB 6-6 225 Fr Somas, WA (Nooksack Valley)
Justin Cauley, RB 5-9 195 Fr Venice, CA (Venice)
Ty’Rese Gibson, DB 6-0 165 Fr Lawndale, CA (Paramount)
Ty’Rhae Gibson, DB 6-0 165 Fr Lawndale, CA (Paramount)
Derryk Snell, TE 6-2 235 Fr Anchorage, AK (Chugiak)
Transfers – December
Tristan Bailey, K 6-1 215 Jr Colo. Springs, CO (Rampart Coffeyville/Wyoming)
Travis Jonsen, QB 6-4 210 Jr Fullerton, CA (Servite Riverside CC/Oregon)
Tyler Natee, RB 6-1 260 So Euless, TX (Trinity Indiana)
Bryce Sterk, DL 6-5 250 Jr Lynden, WA (Lynden Washington)
