With the first early signing period for Division I football less than a week away, Montana State will host its second set of recruits in Bozeman this weekend.
MSU third-year head coach Jeff Choate, fifth-year recruiting coordinator Michael Pitre and the Bobcat staff will host seven prep prospects Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Bozeman. MSU will host three mid-year transfers this weekend as well with the early 72-hour signing period opening on Wednesday, December 20. At midnight on Sunday, a dead period begins, meaning no coaches can contact recruits until the signing period opens on Wednesday.
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A week after hosting all six of its verbally committed out of state prospects, Montana State will host seven in-state prospects that have given verbal commitments to MSU. The Bobcats are expecting to sign all 13 verbally committed players on Wednesday along with Coffeyville Junior College kicker Tristan Bailey, and as many as three other mid-year transfers that will join the program after the new year.
This weekend’s group of in-state visitors is headlined by Nolan Askelson, the Class AA Defensive MVP from Billings Senior. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker also earned first-team all-state honors in his first and only season playing quarterback by leading the Broncs to their second straight undefeated run to a state title. Askelson is widely considered one of the top four prospects in the state of Montana.
Bozeman High product Logan Kleinhans, Huntley Project running back Lane Sumner, Helena High safety Kaleb Winterburn, Kalispell Glacier athlete Mark Estes, Missoula Loyola lineman Joe McElroy and Bozeman High defensive end Jory Choate, the son of MSU’s head coach, will also be on the visit.
“We have this sprint right now and then we will have the sprint in the final weeks of January to try to finalize this class,” Choate said in his end of season press conference earlier this month. “I think we are in really good shape. We’ve been all over the country, got to see a lot of good kids and families. We are excited to host those young men when they get to campus and finalize this group.”
The seven visitors this weekend are among 13 verbally committed players. Minnesota linebacker/safety Onte Burns and Cathedral High (Los Angeles) cornerback Aaron Howard are no longer committed to Montana State.
During his press conference, Choate said he expects anywhere “between seven and 12 guys to sign early. Then that will determine how many guys will sign in February.” That number is not including his son, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive end who burst onto the Class AA scene and earned first-team all-state honors in his lone season starting for the Hawks’ varsity. Jory Choate will join the Bobcats as a preferred walk-on.
Last season, Jory Choate was a force. He piled up 113 tackles, including 70 solo tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as Bozeman qualified for the Class AA playoffs.
The Bobcats have three mid-year scholarships available, meaning “we will have to be very calculated” when it comes to taking FBS drop down or junior college transfers this off-season.
A source confirms that a potential transfer quarterback, running back and wide receiver will visit Bozeman this weekend. The source could not confirm who specifically will be in Bozeman. A Pac 12 drop-down defensive end was in town earlier this week, the source confirmed but did not mention the prospect’s name.
Choate and his staff extended an offer to San Diego Mesa College wide receiver Artie Henry III on Thursday. MSU offered El Camino JC wide receiver Stephon Robinson on November 27. Three days later, he received an offer from Kansas and his twitter profile lists him as a Kansas commit.
Skyline Sports confirmed former Cal wide receiver Zion Echols, who received his release on December 12 from Berkley, is a Bobcat target.
Montana State extended an offer to Gregory “Munchie” Filer III, a sophomore corner at Compton Community College, at December 5.
None of the junior college products are in Bozeman this weekend, Skyline Sports confirmed.
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