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2019 Final Top 50 Montana Recruits (40-31)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 4:40 pm
by VimSince03
40.) Riley Dickinson – Great Falls Central Catholic (6’0”, 190 lbs.)

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• 2018 Class C 8-Man All-State
• 2017 Class C 8-Man 2nd Team All-Conference – TE
• 2018 GFT Super-State – LB
• 2018 Badlands alternate - LB
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – RB
• 900 rushing yards; 14 touchdowns (senior year)
• 89 tackles; 5 sacks; 3 FFs; 1 int.; 1 TD (senior year)
• 77 tackles; 1 sack; 1 FF; 2 int.; 1 TD (junior year)
• 7th ranked LB



On Dickinson: "When GFCC was going on their run to the state title game this fall, several local media outlets wanted to talk about Griz signee Noah Ambuehl, the big Mustang QB. As Noah was rightfully listed as a star player and key piece to the Mustang's success during 2018, head coach Greg Horton made sure to note how talented the entire senior class was and made mention of his talented RB/LB...Riley Dickinson. Though he is only 6'0", Riley has excellent length and range as an athlete. As a linebacker, he can run and hit sideline to sideline while also covering receivers out in the slot. Riley's long arms are key in helping him wrap up ball carriers at a consistent clip and deflecting passes in coverage. His instincts are prevalent throughout his highlight film whether its making plays in the backfield or sniffing out a screen pass. As a running back, he's a north/south runner who likes playing downhill (physical). Is a smooth receiver out of the backfield as he amassed 76 receptions his senior season. He doesn't have great overall speed but he makes up for it by trusting his instincts. If Riley was a little bigger (height/weight), he likely would've been recruited harder by UM/MSU as a PWO but he has plenty of options from the in-state NAIA schools. Overall, he is a solid football player who can develop at RB or LB at the next level."


39.) Justus Perkins – Bozeman (6’1”, 240 lbs.)

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• 2018 1st Team All-State AA – C
• 2017 HM All-State AA – C
• 2018 2nd Team All-USA Today Montana – OL
• 2018 Badlands selection - OL
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – C
• 5th ranked interior OL



On Perkins: "In my five years of scouting Montana high school offensive lineman, I have rarely seen a kid play as mean/nasty as Justus (Carson Shuman from last year's class is a close second). A two-year starter at center for the Bozeman Hawks, Justus plays with the edge required/needed in the trenches to be successful. He's built well for the position and has superior agility which sets him apart from the other centers in the state. The hardest thing for a center to overcome is how quickly they can snap the ball without losing any movement engaging a defender. This is where Justus' agility really shows as he doesn't have a ton of wasted movement and gets to his spot consistently from snap to first contact with a defender. Like Maverick Roberts, Justus can straight-up move kids off the ball in the run game by using quickness, technique (low pad level), and lower body strength. Per MaxPreps, he finished his high school career with 100+ pancake blocks as a starter and his highlight film is littered with them. I do not see a ton of defensive lineman enjoy going up against him on film. The kid simply does not stop blocking until the whistle blows...and sometimes after which means he knows how to "take souls". One area Justus needs to grow as a player is building his upper body to match his lower half. He got bested by several all-state defensive lineman in this class when lower body strength was even but the other kid was simply stronger up top than Justus. He isn't a broad shouldered kid to begin with but adding more strength will only make him better. Overall, it will be interesting to see where Justus wants to play in college as he holds a PWO offer from the Cats and multiple full-ride offers from NAIA programs. He definitely has shown enough on tape to be considered one of the best offensive lineman and THE best center prospect in the state."


38.) Dawson Allen – Fairfield (6’3”, 185 lbs.)

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• 2x Class B All-State
• 2016 Class B 1st Team All-Conference - DB
• 2018 Badlands selection - WR
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – WR
• 3 Yr. starter (football)
• 2018 State Track Placer – 2nd in 110H; 2nd in Javelin
• 2017 State Track Placer – 2nd in 110H; 4th in 200M
• 2016 State Track Placer – 5th in 110H
• 8th ranked WR; 10th ranked CB



On Allen: "When discussing who the best all-around athletes are in the state of Montana, Dawson's name usually gets brought up. Allen has taken home a medal at state track since he was a freshman and has earned 1st Team honors in football since his sophomore year. He is also a standout basketball player for the Eagles. As a football player, his length and speed are always on display. He is more fast than quick (if that makes sense) as his long stride can out run nearly every defender guarding him, especially at the Class B level. Dawson invites contact and took a ton of snaps out of the wildcat formation his senior year which produced positive results nearly every time. He shows good awareness as a receiver as he had a QB (Ryder Meyer) who was comfortable running around in the backfield looking for the open receiver. Dawson has excellent hands and shows good concentration on contested catches or when he has to work the sideline. His ball skills show up a ton in coverage too as a corner. He is also a willing run blocker who is not afraid to throw his body around. Dawson is simply an explosive wide receiver who has some of the best run after the catch ability in the state. However, his short area quickness was never really tested in high school. Since he is more of a long strider, his releases aren't as fast as one would hope and will be an initial struggle for him if he decides to play in college as corners will make him work to get off the line. Also, his route running is more of the freelance variety instead of precise and with purpose. Overall, he is a versatile football player who is a weapon with the ball in his hands. NAIA schools should be battling for his services as a WR at the next level."


37.) Mitchell Norslien – Lewistown (6’2”, 185 lbs.)

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• MT Tech signee - QB
• 2018 Class A All-State
• 2017 Class A 1st Team All-Conference – QB
• 2016 Class A 2nd Team All-Conference - QB
• 2018 Badlands alternate - QB
• 2018 Shrine Game alternate – QB
• Career Passing – 324/575 for 4625 yards; 42 touchdowns/28 interceptions
• Career Rushing – 282 carries for 1654 yards; 21 touchdowns
• 2018 Central A Offensive MVP – QB
• 4th ranked QB



On Norslien: "As a QB prospect, there is a lot to like with Mitchell. When evaluating his game, the first characteristic that jumps out to me is his arm talent, specifically the speed of his release. He wastes no time in getting rid of the ball and if he got sacked, it was never because of his release speed. His arm strength is decent. He throws a tight spiral and does a good job of throwing a catchable ball at various route depths/types. His mechanics mesh well with his arm talent as his footwork is relatively smooth in or out of the pocket while his delivery and motion are consistent. When out of the pocket, he does a good job of resetting his shoulders prior to throwing to make sure the ball is delivered as accurately as possible. Mitchell has adequate pocket awareness as he does a good job of feeling pressure and isn't afraid to climb the pocket under duress. He also proved to be a threat on the ground during his high school career. As for the intangibles, can't say enough about Mitchell's competitiveness, leadership, and toughness. Even though they were losses, he played some of his best ball in big games against Billings Central and Columbia Falls his senior year. The biggest knocks on Mitch throughout his high school career were his turnovers and questionable decision making at times. However, he did a great job his senior year of cutting down on the "hero throws" and just taking what the defense gave him which actually helped him become more of a threat on the ground. Also, his turnovers weren't due to a lack of accuracy as most of them came on him trying to do too much on a play. Overall, he is a solid QB prospect who has started a ton of games at the position the last four years. Talent-wise, I don't think he would've broke the starting lineup as a QB at either in-state FCS program so Montana Tech is a good fit for him. In my opinion, he has the chance to be a three year starter for the Orediggers at QB over the next four or five years. Mitch has a lot of football ahead of him as he has all the tools to be elite at MT Tech."


36.) Logan Gilliard – Bigfork (6’3”, 210 lbs.)

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• 2x Class B All-State
• 2016 Class B 2nd Team All-Conference - LB
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – C
• 3 Yr. starter (football)
• 2018 All-State Class B basketball
• 5th ranked TE; 5th ranked DE



On Gilliard: "Logan is one of the most intriguing prospects in this entire class. He is about 6'3", 210 lbs. with long arms that seem like they hang down to his knees. As a football player, he starred on the offensive line while lining up all over the defensive line and at linebacker for Bigfork. On the basketball court, Logan is one of the best power forwards in the state on one of the best teams in the state at any level. The kid makes plays on tape that should make coaches want to watch more. His senior season, he lined up at DE and MLB for the Vikings and battled injuries from mid-season on but he was still productive. As a defensive end, Logan is a solid run defender and showed the ability to disrupt plays at the line of scrimmage as his length can dominate opponents. As a linebacker, Logan thrives on playing down hill and laying big hits on ball carriers while his pass coverage ability is solid for a kid his size. On the offensive line, he moved from left guard to center his senior season and played a major role in Bigfork's ability to play their style which is run the ball north/south. Logan is also a quality long-snapper which again just proves how versatile he is as a football player. But the one position that has me super-intrigued for Logan's future is TE. If you want to see why, go watch his basketball highlights as everything that makes him an all-state basketball player translates to what could make him a dominate TE. If he chooses to play football, Logan has a ton of upside to develop at either TE or DE (specifically a hybrid type). He was decent at MLB during high school but I just don't think he is quick enough to play that position at a high level in college. Overall, Logan is big, versatile athlete with a bunch of room to grow who has a ton of untapped potential at TE/DE and plays the game with a high level of passion. In the Flathead Beacon's 'Best of Preps - Fall of 2018', Logan was listed and here was his quote on football: 'I just love it. I don’t mean to sound dumb, but I just love the physicality of it all, the camaraderie … It’s just a great game; the best game on the planet.'"


35.) Zach Spiroff – Helena High (5’9”, 165 lbs.)

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• Carroll College signee - DB
• 2018 1st Team All-State AA – CB, HM All-State AA - WR
• 2017 2nd Team All-State AA – CB
• 2x All-State AA – Return Specialist
• 2018 Badlands selection - CB
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – CB
• 9 career inteceptions; 17 career PBUs
• 5th ranked CB



On Spiroff: "Zach is one of the top cover corners in the state. He excels at both zone and man coverage possessing the innate ability to pick up the proper routes in zone while also being able to run with some of the best AA receivers in the state. Technique-wise, he has solid hip transition in coverage without a ton of wasted movement. Zach has decent make up speed when getting beat but also when he is trying to bait a QB into throwing his way. He also has the ability to play clean (few penalties) while also maintaining a physical playing style. Zach had 9 career interceptions in two years of starting so he is excellent in finding the ball in coverage, especially in zone where most of his picks came from simply peeling off his man to snag a pass intended for another receiver. He also has good versatility as he had his best year as a receiver this past fall while also consistently being one of the best return specialists in the state. Honestly, the two main reasons Zach didn't get more interest from UM or MSU is because of a lack of size (5'9", 160) and top-end speed. Also, he can struggle in the run game against bigger receivers and backs though I still like his willingness to play the run aggressively. Overall, Zach is another one of those players where you want to have him on your team because he is so reliable and durable (rarely leaves the field). He overcomes his size and speed by playing corner with a keen awareness in coverage unmatched by most of his peers at the position. I have four other corners ranked ahead of him for various reasons but make no mistake...Zach is a very good defensive back with a bright future at Carroll College."


34.) Garrett Brown – Corvallis (6’3”, 270 lbs.)

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• 2x Class All-State – OG/DT
• 2018 State Track Placer – 4th in Shot Put (51’9”)
• 2017 State Track Placer – 5th in Shot Put (49’3.5”)
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – DL
• Career 52 solo tackles; 7.5 sacks; 25 hurries (per MaxPreps)
• Broke Jesse Sims’ Corvallis weight room bench-press record – 345 lbs.
• 4th ranked interior OL; 4th ranked DT



On Brown: "Garrett is one of the largest prospects in the state at 6'3", 270 lbs. He is a natural fit as a 3-tech defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme. Garrett can excel at both stopping the run and rushing the passer. He has a good combination of mass and natural strength so his frame is made for eating up blockers. He is hard to move when double teamed. Garrett has decent feet for a kid his size and he flashes ability to make plays in the backfield. As an offensive guard, Garrett gets out of his stance and into his work quickly. He has the willingness to move defensive lineman in the run game and moves his feet well throughout his block. Garrett possesses a powerful upper body so he can engulf and maul opponents in the run game. So why isn't Garrett a can't miss prospect at either OG or DT? Basically, all of his problems start with sloppy technique. At guard, I love the way he fires off the ball. But he leads with his helmet instead of playing from his legs up. He actually head butts kids more often than not when making first contact which will simply not work for him long-term. At defensive tackle, I love his ability to eat up blockers and make plays in the backfield. However, he washes himself out of too many run plays by flying up field and letting the opposing blocker just block him off without any real effort. He also could be so much better with his hands to get off blocks. Garrett mostly just uses his mass and power to get away with a lack of technique. If he wants to improve, his pad level will have to get much better on both sides of the ball. He plays too high which just wastes his natural strength. He has good feet and is a monster in the weight room so it sounds to me like he just needs coaching. Garrett has so much untapped potential that he has yet to show on the field. Overall, he is 100% worth a PWO by either in-state FCS school because its hard to look at his combo of size/athleticism and not get excited. If he does play at the next level and if he makes the necessary improvements to his game, Garrett has the chance to be special at either guard or defensive tackle."


33.) Jaden MacNeil – Kalispell Flathead (5’9”, 160 lbs.)

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• MT Tech signee - ATH
• 2018 1st Team All-State AA – ATH
• 2017 1st Team All-State AA - S
• 2018 Badlands selection - S
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – QB
• 116/199 for 1735 yards; 23 touchdowns/8 interceptions (senior year)
• 165 carries for 1362 yards; 12 touchdowns (senior year)
• 87 total tackles (56 solo); 6 TFLs; 5 interceptions (junior year)
• 2018 MHSA State Wrestling – 2nd Place (132 lb. class)
• 2017 MHSA State Wrestling – Qualified (132 lb. class)
• 2018 State Track Qualifier – Pole Vault
• 9th ranked QB; 8th ranked S



On MacNeil: "Jaden turned in one of the more under-the-radar seasons his senior year mostly because his teammates Blake Counts stole the headlines with his record setting year. But he was the man behind center and played a major role in getting Flathead to the AA title game in 2018. Despite his size, Jaden is a fearless competitor on the field and wrestling mat. He moved to QB his senior season after being a part-time running back and full-time safety his junior year. Jaden will likely not play QB in college but scouting profile is still fairly simple...he's a playmaker! He ran Kyle Samson's scheme at a very high level and there wasn't a significant drop off in the passing game despite Jaden not being a natural passer. But his real value came as a runner. Jaden is an elusive, shifty athlete who is hard to bring down in space. He also excels at getting north/south with good acceleration as he is not a timid runner. He plays the game fast and it put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses this past fall. Jaden really shined on defense his junior year as a strong safety. He made a bunch of plays in coverage that made you want to watch more of his highlights. His abilities as a football player get enhanced because of his wrestling prowess. He drops weight to get down to the 132 lb. weight class (or he just lies about his 160 lb. weight on hudl) and nearly took state last year. Jaden's size obviously limited his options in recruitment but he has a future somewhere on the football field. I believe his best position at the next level will be in the slot as a wide receiver. Overall, Jaden is a player that will always give max effort to overcome his limitations wherever he lines up."


32.) Ethan Bullock – Big Timber (6’6”, 220 lbs.)

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• MSU signee - TE
• 2x Class B All-State
• 2018 Shrine Game alternate – OL
• 10+ sacks; 10+ TFLs; 5+ PBUs; 2 interceptions for TDs (senior year)
• 2018 Class B 2nd Team All-Conference basketball
• 4th ranked TE; 4th ranked DE



On Bullock: "Ethan primarily played OL and DE in high school and was one of the best football players in Class B the past two years. Obviously, his length jumps out on film. He's 6'6" but his wingspan is likely closer to 6'10"-6'11". He also moves well as an athlete with his size. There is a reason Ethan is a good basketball player. In my opinion, he shined the most on the defensive side of the ball where he was a problem every game for offensive tackles. The swim move was his go-to move in high school as he could get on top of most Class B lineman. When trying to set the edge in the run game, Ethan proved hard to reach block as he stretched out a ton of run plays to the outside. When the run play went opposite of his alignment, he did an excellent job in pursuit chasing down runners from the backside of the play. Ethan also plays with a great motor and it wore out opposing offensive lineman throughout games. As an offensive lineman, Ethan did a lot of pulling in Big Timber's scheme from his left guard spot. When pulling, he got to show off his athleticism when blocking in space. Once again, his length caused problems for the opponent as he was simply hard to beat when his technique was sound. Ethan does have several things to improve/work on at the next level. If he plays TE or DE in college, he will have to get better at the point of attack. Like I said above, his go-to was a swim move as a DE. It worked against inferior opponents but Ethan will have to actually learn how to employ the move correctly in college with the proper technique and that will start with him building his bull-rush technique first before anything else. He used his speed and length more often than bull-rushing through blockers mostly because his length usually got him a positive result. But he will have to lower his pad level and use those long limbs properly in order to have success as a defender or blocker. Experienced lineman will put him on his backside if he tries the same swim move in college or if he plays too high as a blocker in the run game. Building up his bull-rush will also help him develop technique as a TE. He already showed flashes while blocking as a left guard in high school as his footwork and hand placement aren't too far from where they need to be in college. Again, he just plays too high because let's face it...he's tall! The good news for Ethan is that he's already an excellent athlete that actually HAS a ton of room for improvement because he was a pretty good player without really knowing how to play with the proper technique. He had success because he played fast with a good motor and used his athleticism and length to his advantage. Ethan is nowhere near his ceiling yet and that is a good thing for his future as a football player."


31.) Kyle Torgerson – Great Falls High (5'10", 150 lbs.)

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• MT Tech signee - WR/CB
• 2018 1st Team All-State AA – WR/CB
• 2017 HM All-State AA - CB
• 2018 1st Team All-USA Today Montana – WR
• 2018 GFT Super-State – CB
• 2018 Badlands selection - WR
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – CB
• 60 receptions for 1063 yards; 13 touchdowns (senior year)
• 78 solos tackles; 3 TFLs; 1 sack; 3 interceptions; 11 PBUs (senior year)
• 7th ranked WR; 4th ranked CB



On Torgerson: "Like most of the best players in the state, Kyle only plays one speed: fast. He has good foot quickness which only helps as a receiver/corner. Kyle took on a heavy workload in GFH's scheme his senior season and he produced All-State results on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, his elusiveness/lateral quickness gains him separation more than his straight-line speed. Kyle's quick-twitch suddenness allows him to plant and make lateral movement to break tackles and separate from corners. He's also hard to jam off the line of scrimmage which makes him one of the best slot options in the state. His route running is solid (lacks polish at times) and he made a ton of contested catches in high school. He has excellent awareness to get open when a play breaks down and get on the same page with his QB. Blake Thelen's success in 2018 had a lot to do with Kyle simply getting open when a play broke down. He doesn't have break-away speed but Kyle will grind out yards with not only his agility but also toughness. As a corner, it is evident Kyle takes his tackling duties seriously. In my opinion, he is the #1 corner against the run in this class as he rarely needs help taking down ball carriers in space or at the line of scrimmage. For proof of this, go to 7:13 in the highlight reel above: he reads run and jams the receiver at the line, pushing him back five yards then makes the tackles for a loss. For another clip, go to 7:41: Kyle comes up to stop McCade O"Reilly at the line of scrimmage despite an obvious size and strength disadvantage. It isn't pretty but he gets the job done. In coverage, Kyle's short-area quickness made him a problem for wide receivers. Receivers struggled to gain separation in his coverage and when they did, Kyle could recover to break up the pass. He doesn't let his size impact his level of play. If you want proof of this, go to 1:30 in his senior year highlight. Kyle is matched up against Ryan Simpson (6'6") in solo coverage and it ends up being a jump ball situation.....Kyle wins the matchup. The only real weaknesses in Kyle's game are his size and speed...two things he can't control. Overall, Kyle is a great ballplayer who was beloved by his coaches/teammates for his attitude, competitiveness, and work ethic. If I was a cornerback coach, I would have them watch Kyle's tape to learn how to play the run as a DB. In my opinion, if he was a step faster, MSU/UM would have offered him a partial without any hesitation. Instead, MT Tech gets to develop him for the next four or five years."