Jeff Choate sat in Balue Chapman’s home and sold the Montana Gatorade Player of the Year a vision.
Montana State has been recruiting the Bozeman High School senior since the summer before the 2014 season. The recruitment never ceased despite Rob Ash losing his head coaching job for the Bobcats in November.
[restrict paid=”true”]Chapman, who played in three state title games and led Bozeman to the 2015 Class AA title, wanted to take his time and weigh his options. He went on a visit to the University of Washington while Choate, MSU’s new head coach, was still the defensive line coach for the Huskies. Chapman also went to Missoula to check out Montana and Moscow to check out Idaho, each who offer full scholarships like the hometown Bobcats.
But when Choate and MSU recruiting coordinator Bo Beck went to Chapman’s house on Wednesday evening, Chapman just needed to hear Choate’s pitch. Once he did, it affirmed what Chapman had known all along: the only four-year letterman of Bozeman head coach Troy Purcell’s 25-year coaching career is staying home. Chapman gave his verbal commitment to Choate just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday night to become a Bobcat.
“Coach Choate talked about what he was about and what he was trying to do with the program and what direction he was trying to help take it,” Chapman said. “They laid out the expectations for what they want for the team. He is a cool dude. With them sitting there, tonight seemed as good a night as any.”
Coaches cannot comment on prospects until National Signing Day the first Wednesday of February each year. But Choate made the pitch for his vision to Chapman with clarity.
“He likes playing with a lot of energy, he likes getting guys ready to play and he sets the expectation bar high, which I like because then you don’t have any slackers,” Chapman said. “That’s how the cream rise to the top.”
Chapman will play outside linebacker or a version of a standup Bandit rush linebacker/defensive end depending on what scheme new defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak chooses to employ. Chapman is interested in environmental engineering and knows he will study some form of engineering regardless.
Chapman’s decision also helps extend a family legacy at MSU. Balue’s father, Bret Chapman, played cornerback for the Bobcats from 1978 until 1982. Brett started two years for the Bobcats, and drew praise for his toughness and physical play.
“It definitely feels special being a Bozeman kid and being in the Bozeman family and everybody knows who you are but all that didn’t help or hurt my decision where I was going to play,” Balue said.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete was a standout running back and defensive end for the Hawks’ 2015 Class AA state title team. Offensively, Chapman rushed for 833 yards and 12 touchdowns on 132 carries as Bozeman finished 12-1. On defense, Chapman recorded 70 tackles, 27 quarterback hurries, 10 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. The three-time Eastern AA selection was a second-team all-state selection defensive end as a junior.
“Chapman is a game-changer,” Flathead High head coach Kyle Samson told USA Today for an article about Chapman’s Gatorade Player of the Year honor. “He’s a good running back and you really had to game-plan for him on the defensive side of the ball.”
Wednesday’s decision brings Chapman’s recruitment to a close. He said his college choice has been a popular topic of conversation around town and around the state. He first received an offer from MSU as a junior. Chapman underwent surgery on both his shoulders and on his hip in preparation for his senior season. In Bozeman’s season opener, he scored three touchdowns despite tearing a ligament in his foot. The two-way talent capped his career with a state title and huge accolades. His commitment brings a sense of relief.
“You definitely don’t want to get caught up in getting recruiting more than you want to play football,” Chapman said. “It’s easy to get caught up in all the recruiting. But it’s been an awesome experience. I wanted to make the best of it. The Cats, they’ve been coming after me since my junior year and it’s just been a great experience getting to know them over the years. With the other schools, it’s been cool to take some visits and enjoy what is happening.”
Chapman lettered four times at Bozeman, making appearances in the Class AA state title games in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Bozeman won the title in 2013 was well. Chapman is the fourth Hawk to earn Gatorade Player of the Year, joining Shane Collins (1986), Tanner Roderick (2010) and Will Dissly (2013). Collins played at Arizona State before being drafted into the NFL. Roderick played two seasons at Nevada before spending his next three seasons at MSU. Dissly just finished up his sophomore year as a defensive end at the University of Washington.
Since 2010, Bozeman High has claimed three Class AA titles and produced as many Division I prospects as any high school in the state.
“Coach (Troy) Purcell does a great job with the program. He really has turned it around and he really puts the players in good positions to make plays,” Chapman said. “You play against a lot of athletes in the AA that are great athletes but it’s being in the position to make the play and Coach Purcell does that.”
The Bobcat to be said he wanted to leave the door open for every potential suitor even if Chapman’s hometown team was the frontrunner all along. When Mike Kramer took the Montana State job in 2000, his first Bozeman High recruit was Dusty Daws, the son of former Bobcat All-Big Sky defensive end Brad Daws. When Rob Ash took over at MSU, Ryan Damberger, the son of Butch Damberger, was his first Bozeman High signing. Butch caught a touchdown in MSU’s 1976 national championship game win. On Wednesday, Chapman became the first Bozeman product to commit to Choate. Naturally, he already had a family legacy at Montana State.
“It’s really special because the community knows you, you already have a name out there and now I get to go play on Saturdays in front of a big crowd and you are not a stranger to people,” Chapman said. “You can walk around the community and people know who you are. Keeping that family connection going and becoming a Bobcat is pretty awesome.”
[/restrict]Photos by Jeff Krogstad. All Rights Reserved.
More of his work can be found at http://www.krogstadphotography.com/
