When asked about relatively unknown players that are going to have an impact on the Montana State football team in 2026 one name that persistently pops up from Bobcat’ coaches and player is Xavier Ahrens. Ahrens may be relatively unknown right now, but the expectation is that he’ll be a household name in Bobcat’ family abodes in short order.
The strapping 6-3, 233-pound linebacker from Tacoma, Wash. was actually making noise as a true freshman in 2025. He played in 14 games missing two – Stephen F. Austin and Montana – due to an injury against SFA in the playoffs. After cutting his teeth on special teams early in the year, he broke through with a forced fumble against Eastern Washington in the fifth game of the season. A week later he had five tackles on the road against Northern Arizona, and he was off and running from there.
The person that probably has the most expertise in evaluating Ahrens is MSU linebackers coach Jody Owens, who starred at Montana State in 2011 and 2012 earning Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year, first team All-Ameria and first team all-conference accolades his senior season, and first team All-BSC and second team All-America as a junior.
“I think Xavier could be a really special player barring really anybody that I’ve ever seen here at Montana State,” Owens said. “I don’t really take that lightly based on the guys that have come through here. I think the way he prepares himself; he comes in early, he leaves late. You can tell it’s something that’s important, so he’s making my job hard in terms of trying to find ways to get him opportunities on the field. He deserves to be on the field; he will be on the field. We’re excited about him and his progression. We just gotta keep challenging him and keep him humble and hungry.”
The Bobcats have a whole host of quality, experienced players competing for time at linebacker. With MSU running a 4-2-5 defense there’s only room for two linebackers be on the field at one time. Ahrens, along with Bryce Grebe, Neil Daily and Cole Taylor are expected to rotate in and out of games as they did a season ago. They’re getting
pushed by seniors Ryan Krahe, Brock Steel and Zac Waible. Junior Josh Woodberry, sophomore Vinnie Souza and freshman Brit Linder are in the chase.
“Xavier had a really good freshman year from a standpoint that physically he belonged out there and mentally he did as well,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “Now, saying that he’d be the first to say he can tackle better. Right place, right time a bunch, but that tackling – after a year in the weight room – can look different. He’s a real student of the game. He’s one of those younger guys on the roster that you can say I don’t know where his ceiling is, but there’s no way we can keep him off the field this year. He’s a perfect example of: if you can play, you’re going to be out there on that field.”
Ahrens had one of his best games at the right time in the regular season finale against Montana in Missoula where he had four tackles, including 0.5 tackle for loss. While he’s pushing he fellow top line linebackers for some of their minutes, they still have a lot of respect for his game.
“Xavier Ahrens is up and coming,” Great Falls linebacker Cole Taylor said. “He got thrown in their last year quite a bit due to a couple injuries. He really had a great spring
ball with Bryce out. I just tried to keep him up quite a bit in spring ball and give him confidence. I’m like, ‘dude you played quite a bit last year. Keep that confidence going.’”
Ahrens started working into the linebacker rotation with Taylor, Bryce Grebe and Ryan Krahe after starter Neil Daily was injured against Oregon. The Bobcats were intending to run a four-man rotation with Daily and Grebe starting and Taylor and Krahe backing them up. When Daily went down in Eugene, it necessitated using Ahrens to keep fresh legs on the field.
He hasn’t looked back since.
“We’ve got four starting linebackers,” Taylor said in reference to how solid and equal each player in the rotation has performed.”
Senior Bryce Grebe of Melstone also acknowledges how strong MSU is at linebacker and how important it is to have good depth at the positions.
“Having a lot of talent is good,” Grebe said. “It makes everyone in the room, everyone on the team better. Just pushing each other. They always say iron sharpens iron. It’s a good thing we have depth because linebacker is a violent position and you need depth.”
Grebe, along with Daily and Ahrens was injured, but he didn’t miss a game last season and played through several injuries that slowed him down during the season. Daily
didn’t return from his injury early in the Oregon game until the seventh game of the season against Idaho State.
“He’s grown so much since last fall camp when he first showed up here,” Grebe said. “I’d say the biggest part of his game that everybody improves on from their first to second year is just understanding the playbook and being more consistent.”
Coaches and linebackers aren’t the only ones noticing the strides Ahrens, who is mostly referred to simply as “X,” is making.
“He’s an elusive guy,” tight end Bruin Fleischman, who has lined up opposite Ahrens numerous times during fall camp, said. “He’s very good at getting around blocks without you even touching him, which as a blocker is not a very good thing.” The defensive side of football is known for having to trust everyone else on the field. When players don’t stick to their roles, it’s felt across the board.
“That’s what our coaches are looking for is the guys that can consistently make the plays they’re supposed to and be in the right spot.” Grebe said. “He’s definitely taken a big step and just knowing the playbook and being in the right spot and another big thing that we emphasize is getting takeaways.”
Cornerback Kory Boyd has noticed Ahrens as well due to in large part for his penchant to always be around the ball.
“Xavier Ahrens that boys a dog,” cornerback Kory Boyd said. “It feels like he’s all over the field. Every time you see the ball you’re going to see Xavier. If the ball is in the air I know he’s going to attack it. X is one of those guys – one of those playmakers – that you can trust him wherever he’s at. He’s gonna make the plays he’s gotta make.
Ahrens starred at Curtis High School in Tacoma, Wash. where he was a two-sport all- state performer in football and basketball. He was an All-South Puget Sound League first team safety and wide receiver, all-state safety and he was also an all-state basketball player at wing. He also played on the school’s baseball and track teams.
His hoops team won back-to-back state titles with Ahrens starting alongside current University of Washington star Zoom Diallo. Ahrens connected for 27 points in one game. On the track and field squad he posted an 11.43 time in the 100 meters.
Ahrens and the rest of the Bobcats take part in a crucial scrimmage Saturday where they make a big move in sorting out players and starters. MSU’s first game is slated for August 29 at Utah Tech.
