How many?

[BleedingBLue]

So do we think we start hearing anything today on some guys going to the portal? Is today the last day to enter during this period?

We’ll lose someone, probably a few, I’m just holding out hope it’s not as bad as some speculate.

There will be a lot of returning talent no matter what, hopefully we can add some real contributors as well and have a net gain, or at least net neutral outcome to the whole portal business.

I expect we lose anywhere from 5-8 players with the majority being backups not getting the playing time they expected and they're either going into their junior or senior seasons. I do expect that group to also include 2-3 of our best players going into their senior seasons who will have NIL decisions to make.

I don’t expect actual answers here, we’ll know soon enough, but just speculating on who some likely targets will be.

If we’re thinking we lose a couple of our best players, that will be seniors, I’d say a short list of possibilities would be:

Simeon Woodard
Grebe
Danny U
Reimer
Wehr
Valdez

I’d consider those our best, biggest contributors that will be seniors next year.
I’d hate to lose any of those guys, but reality is we likely do.

Davis and Hall will be seniors also and are huge contributors, but I’d be surprised if they turned around and left again after one year of being here and having great seasons.

*edit: don’t want to leave out Tommy, he’s obviously as important as any of them, but between being such a MT guy and the now unknown injury/recovery status, I’d be very surprised if he was one to leave as well.

No disrespect to Danny U and Woodard, but neither of them are P5 players, and I don't see guys leaving to go G5. I have a hard time seeing MT kids like Wehr and Grebe leaving as well.

[Catsrgrood]

So do we think we start hearing anything today on some guys going to the portal? Is today the last day to enter during this period?

We’ll lose someone, probably a few, I’m just holding out hope it’s not as bad as some speculate.

There will be a lot of returning talent no matter what, hopefully we can add some real contributors as well and have a net gain, or at least net neutral outcome to the whole portal business.

I expect we lose anywhere from 5-8 players with the majority being backups not getting the playing time they expected and they're either going into their junior or senior seasons. I do expect that group to also include 2-3 of our best players going into their senior seasons who will have NIL decisions to make.

I don’t expect actual answers here, we’ll know soon enough, but just speculating on who some likely targets will be.

If we’re thinking we lose a couple of our best players, that will be seniors, I’d say a short list of possibilities would be:

Simeon Woodard
Grebe
Danny U
Reimer
Wehr
Valdez

I’d consider those our best, biggest contributors that will be seniors next year.
I’d hate to lose any of those guys, but reality is we likely do.

Davis and Hall will be seniors also and are huge contributors, but I’d be surprised if they turned around and left again after one year of being here and having great seasons.

*edit: don’t want to leave out Tommy, he’s obviously as important as any of them, but between being such a MT guy and the now unknown injury/recovery status, I’d be very surprised if he was one to leave as well.

No disrespect to Danny U and Woodard, but neither of them are P5 players, and I don't see guys leaving to go G5. I have a hard time seeing MT kids like Wehr and Grebe leaving as well.

Makes sense, and no real argument from me there, I'm just making a short list of players that could be considered “2-3 of our best players entering their senior year”

So yea, some of those might not be very likely, but they fit the description.

[BleedingBLue]

So do we think we start hearing anything today on some guys going to the portal? Is today the last day to enter during this period?

We’ll lose someone, probably a few, I’m just holding out hope it’s not as bad as some speculate.

There will be a lot of returning talent no matter what, hopefully we can add some real contributors as well and have a net gain, or at least net neutral outcome to the whole portal business.

I expect we lose anywhere from 5-8 players with the majority being backups not getting the playing time they expected and they're either going into their junior or senior seasons. I do expect that group to also include 2-3 of our best players going into their senior seasons who will have NIL decisions to make.

I don’t expect actual answers here, we’ll know soon enough, but just speculating on who some likely targets will be.

If we’re thinking we lose a couple of our best players, that will be seniors, I’d say a short list of possibilities would be:

Simeon Woodard
Grebe
Danny U
Reimer
Wehr
Valdez

I’d consider those our best, biggest contributors that will be seniors next year.
I’d hate to lose any of those guys, but reality is we likely do.

Davis and Hall will be seniors also and are huge contributors, but I’d be surprised if they turned around and left again after one year of being here and having great seasons.

*edit: don’t want to leave out Tommy, he’s obviously as important as any of them, but between being such a MT guy and the now unknown injury/recovery status, I’d be very surprised if he was one to leave as well.

No disrespect to Danny U and Woodard, but neither of them are P5 players, and I don't see guys leaving to go G5. I have a hard time seeing MT kids like Wehr and Grebe leaving as well.

Makes sense, and no real argument from me there, I'm just making a short list of players that could be considered “2-3 of our best players entering their senior year”

So yea, some of those might not be very likely, but they fit the description.

That's fair for sure. I think Connor Moore could be on the list of possibilities. He has some growing to do, especially in pass pro, but he is going to be REALLY good. The guys I worry most about leaving this off-season are Reimer, Omar and Valdez. Next tier I worry about, Moore, Grebe and Wehr.

[LTown Cat]

And the portal will be full of Bryce Sterk types looking for more PT. Just need to replace any losses.

[VimSince03]

And the portal will be full of Bryce Sterk types looking for more PT. Just need to replace any losses.

Can not say this enough, use the portal to your advantage! Bobby Hauck was the biggest proponent of the portal in terms of what it does for player development but his team improved dramatically because of it the past year.

[Joe Bobcat]

And the portal will be full of Bryce Sterk types looking for more PT. Just need to replace any losses.

Can not say this enough, use the portal to your advantage! Bobby Hauck was the biggest proponent of the portal in terms of what it does for player development but his team improved dramatically because of it the past year.

Proponent? I thought Bobby hated the portal because of how it destroys the old path of player development. Having said that yes he did use it to improve his team.

[VimSince03]

And the portal will be full of Bryce Sterk types looking for more PT. Just need to replace any losses.

Can not say this enough, use the portal to your advantage! Bobby Hauck was the biggest proponent of the portal in terms of what it does for player development but his team improved dramatically because of it the past year.

Proponent? I thought Bobby hated the portal because of how it destroys the old path of player development. Having said that yes he did use it to improve his team.

Flubbed up...OPPONENT.

[AFCAT]

I’d be semi-surprised if Wehr and Grebe leave, not because they aren’t talented but because they are such Montana boys. Grebe also has his brother on the team. Money talks though and I guess I couldn’t blame them if they were offered some decent NIL money to play their last year somewhere else. The only real player that I could see really testing the waters is Valdez, especially if he was offered something closer to home. Connor Moore too, I guess.

Vigen does need to hit the portal more this year than he has in the past. I know he wants to develop talent in house, but there are some significant areas of improvement on the defense and special teams that need help right away.

[91catAlum]

I’d be semi-surprised if Wehr and Grebe leave, not because they aren’t talented but because they are such Montana boys. Grebe also has his brother on the team. Money talks though and I guess I couldn’t blame them if they were offered some decent NIL money to play their last year somewhere else. The only real player that I could see really testing the waters is Valdez, especially if he was offered something closer to home. Connor Moore too, I guess.

Vigen does need to hit the portal more this year than he has in the past. I know he wants to develop talent in house, but there are some significant areas of improvement on the defense and special teams that need help right away.

I worry about Omar and Rush getting offers as well.

[Catsrgrood]

And the portal will be full of Bryce Sterk types looking for more PT. Just need to replace any losses.

100% agree.

We will lose some, that sucks.

We will gain some, that could be great.

I hope our additions can at least replace our losses. But we could get some gems too and actually have a net gain out of the whole deal.

It’s not all bad, it’s just the new normal dealing with this every off season.

[kennethnoisewater]

College football recruiting is so much different from what it was 5 years ago. Now you have to recruit high school players, you have to recruit the portal, and you have to recruit your own players. I'd think for some programs, recruiting high schoolers is the lowest priority of the three.

[AFCAT]

I’d be semi-surprised if Wehr and Grebe leave, not because they aren’t talented but because they are such Montana boys. Grebe also has his brother on the team. Money talks though and I guess I couldn’t blame them if they were offered some decent NIL money to play their last year somewhere else. The only real player that I could see really testing the waters is Valdez, especially if he was offered something closer to home. Connor Moore too, I guess.

Vigen does need to hit the portal more this year than he has in the past. I know he wants to develop talent in house, but there are some significant areas of improvement on the defense and special teams that need help right away.

I worry about Omar and Rush getting offers as well.

Omar is certainly a possibility but he already transferred once, plays a lot, and seems to be close to some of the MSU coaches and is active in the community. He could go to a Texas school if he is actively courted. Rush probably could have left after last season and didn’t. If Rush has or will graduate (I know, not a requirement) though, it is certainly possible.

[MSU01]

I’d be semi-surprised if Wehr and Grebe leave, not because they aren’t talented but because they are such Montana boys. Grebe also has his brother on the team. Money talks though and I guess I couldn’t blame them if they were offered some decent NIL money to play their last year somewhere else. The only real player that I could see really testing the waters is Valdez, especially if he was offered something closer to home. Connor Moore too, I guess.

Vigen does need to hit the portal more this year than he has in the past. I know he wants to develop talent in house, but there are some significant areas of improvement on the defense and special teams that need help right away.

I worry about Omar and Rush getting offers as well.

Omar is certainly a possibility but he already transferred once, plays a lot, and seems to be close to some of the MSU coaches and is active in the community. He could go to a Texas school if he is actively courted. Rush probably could have left after last season and didn’t. If Rush has or will graduate (I know, not a requirement) though, it is certainly possible.

Would Omar be considered a transfer player? He committed to Army and then spent a year at a prep school, but then switched his commitment to MSU and came here as a true freshman.

[LTown Cat]

Strictly my opinion but of all that has happened in Vigen’s tenure I think losing Freddie Banks and Jimmy Beal are the biggest. I just don’t feel they were replaced at their same level. I think they were both great recruiters and talented up and coming coaches. I just don’t see those on the staff right now. It’s part of why I’m dead set that at least one coordinator needs to see the door. We need one or two of those younger, fiery types that the kids relate to. Especially out of state kids. Daly is great but he’s a MT kid. We need a guy or two that can draw these portal kids or high school kids out of the city and to Bozeman. I’m hoping I’m wrong but I’m worried about recruiting taking a step back. We need another Banks, Beal, Alexander type. Even if just for a year and then they move up.

Who on this staff might get poached to move up? Daly possibly just because of his Choate connection??

[Catsrgrood]

Strictly my opinion but of all that has happened in Vigen’s tenure I think losing Freddie Banks and Jimmy Beal are the biggest. I just don’t feel they were replaced at their same level. I think they were both great recruiters and talented up and coming coaches. I just don’t see those on the staff right now. It’s part of why I’m dead set that at least one coordinator needs to see the door. We need one or two of those younger, fiery types that the kids relate to. Especially out of state kids. Daly is great but he’s a MT kid. We need a guy or two that can draw these portal kids or high school kids out of the city and to Bozeman. I’m hoping I’m wrong but I’m worried about recruiting taking a step back. We need another Banks, Beal, Alexander type. Even if just for a year and then they move up.

Who on this staff might get poached to move up? Daly possibly just because of his Choate connection??

Department of corrections might grab a coordinator or two.





I’ll see myself out…

[technoCat]

Strictly my opinion but of all that has happened in Vigen’s tenure I think losing Freddie Banks and Jimmy Beal are the biggest. I just don’t feel they were replaced at their same level. I think they were both great recruiters and talented up and coming coaches. I just don’t see those on the staff right now. It’s part of why I’m dead set that at least one coordinator needs to see the door. We need one or two of those younger, fiery types that the kids relate to. Especially out of state kids. Daly is great but he’s a MT kid. We need a guy or two that can draw these portal kids or high school kids out of the city and to Bozeman. I’m hoping I’m wrong but I’m worried about recruiting taking a step back. We need another Banks, Beal, Alexander type. Even if just for a year and then they move up.

Who on this staff might get poached to move up? Daly possibly just because of his Choate connection??

As much as we don't like him, I could see Housewright getting snagged by a team that gets starry-eyed looking at the raw numbers.

[PapaG]

So do we think we start hearing anything today on some guys going to the portal? Is today the last day to enter during this period?

We’ll lose someone, probably a few, I’m just holding out hope it’s not as bad as some speculate.

There will be a lot of returning talent no matter what, hopefully we can add some real contributors as well and have a net gain, or at least net neutral outcome to the whole portal business.

I expect we lose anywhere from 5-8 players with the majority being backups not getting the playing time they expected and they're either going into their junior or senior seasons. I do expect that group to also include 2-3 of our best players going into their senior seasons who will have NIL decisions to make.

I don’t expect actual answers here, we’ll know soon enough, but just speculating on who some likely targets will be.

If we’re thinking we lose a couple of our best players, that will be seniors, I’d say a short list of possibilities would be:

Simeon Woodard
Grebe
Danny U
Reimer
Wehr
Valdez

I’d consider those our best, biggest contributors that will be seniors next year.
I’d hate to lose any of those guys, but reality is we likely do.

Davis and Hall will be seniors also and are huge contributors, but I’d be surprised if they turned around and left again after one year of being here and having great seasons.

*edit: don’t want to leave out Tommy, he’s obviously as important as any of them, but between being such a MT guy and the now unknown injury/recovery status, I’d be very surprised if he was one to leave as well.

Kind of an insult to Ortt there who basically was the secondary at times.

[Catsrgrood]

So do we think we start hearing anything today on some guys going to the portal? Is today the last day to enter during this period?

We’ll lose someone, probably a few, I’m just holding out hope it’s not as bad as some speculate.

There will be a lot of returning talent no matter what, hopefully we can add some real contributors as well and have a net gain, or at least net neutral outcome to the whole portal business.

I expect we lose anywhere from 5-8 players with the majority being backups not getting the playing time they expected and they're either going into their junior or senior seasons. I do expect that group to also include 2-3 of our best players going into their senior seasons who will have NIL decisions to make.

I don’t expect actual answers here, we’ll know soon enough, but just speculating on who some likely targets will be.

If we’re thinking we lose a couple of our best players, that will be seniors, I’d say a short list of possibilities would be:

Simeon Woodard
Grebe
Danny U
Reimer
Wehr
Valdez

I’d consider those our best, biggest contributors that will be seniors next year.
I’d hate to lose any of those guys, but reality is we likely do.

Davis and Hall will be seniors also and are huge contributors, but I’d be surprised if they turned around and left again after one year of being here and having great seasons.

*edit: don’t want to leave out Tommy, he’s obviously as important as any of them, but between being such a MT guy and the now unknown injury/recovery status, I’d be very surprised if he was one to leave as well.

Kind of an insult to Ortt there who basically was the secondary at times.

You’re right, oversight by me. He’s absolutely in that conversation for top contributors entering their senior year.

I’d be surprised to see him go, but yes, should absolutely be included in my list.

[AFCAT]

I’d be semi-surprised if Wehr and Grebe leave, not because they aren’t talented but because they are such Montana boys. Grebe also has his brother on the team. Money talks though and I guess I couldn’t blame them if they were offered some decent NIL money to play their last year somewhere else. The only real player that I could see really testing the waters is Valdez, especially if he was offered something closer to home. Connor Moore too, I guess.

Vigen does need to hit the portal more this year than he has in the past. I know he wants to develop talent in house, but there are some significant areas of improvement on the defense and special teams that need help right away.

I worry about Omar and Rush getting offers as well.

Omar is certainly a possibility but he already transferred once, plays a lot, and seems to be close to some of the MSU coaches and is active in the community. He could go to a Texas school if he is actively courted. Rush probably could have left after last season and didn’t. If Rush has or will graduate (I know, not a requirement) though, it is certainly possible.

Would Omar be considered a transfer player? He committed to Army and then spent a year at a prep school, but then switched his commitment to MSU and came here as a true freshman.

Probably not, but I just meant for the whole recruiting and transfer portion of it. Moving and getting adjusted to different people, coaching staffs, schemes, etc., is a pain. NIL money could make it less painful though.

Edit. And a few seconds after I post he goes in the portal.

[PapaG]

College football recruiting is so much different from what it was 5 years ago. Now you have to recruit high school players, you have to recruit the portal, and you have to recruit your own players. I'd think for some programs, recruiting high schoolers is the lowest priority of the three.

Larger programs pay multiple individual analysts to focus on those specific avenues and direct the coaches who can contact players to already evaluated players for transfers/offers. It’s probably overwhelming for FCS programs to evaluate the massive amount of players available to bring into a program.