George Filer III bounced around high schools as a teenager, making stops at Compton High, Long Beach Jordan and Paramount. By the time the scrappy cornerback graduated, he did not hold a single Division I offer.
Filer refused to let his dream of playing college football at the highest level die, instead enrolling at Compton Community College. After gray shirting and playing in five games in 2016, the man they call “Munchie” finally had his breakthrough season. Last fall, Filer snared five interceptions, leading to a parade of suitors.
Montana State came to the table first in November. MSU cornerbacks coach Mark Orphey has been in constant contact with Filer throughout the last few months. On January 23, Filer gave his commitment to Montana State, choosing the Bobcats over offers from Portland State, Idaho State, Central Arkansas and Southeast Louisiana.
“I felt the energy and the vibe from the coaches,” Filer said. “The energy and the vibe was everything and I know when I feel it. I felt that energy. Coach O and me, we have a good relationship and he’s been the same since Day 1. I feel like I can relate to him and I feel like I can trust him and most of the coaches.”
“They have been rockin’ with me the longest. They were the first people who offered me. They are showing a lot of interest and I want to go where they want me.”
MaxPreps only displays stats from Filer’s junior year at Paramount where he played with current MSU running back Edward Vander. Those numbers include 223 rushing yards, 183 receiving yards, 153 passing yards, seven tackles and five total touchdowns. Defensive statistics beyond tackles seem to be unavailable as does any record of Filer’s senior year.
Filer had some interest from Sacramento State and received a partial scholarship offer from Division I Western New Mexico when he graduated from high school. But he knew he would have to land a full scholarship if he wanted to play on after high school.
“Paying school was never an option, honestly,” Filer said. “Me coming out of high school having no offers was for sure motivation to go harder at the next level to get offers.
“I’m not going to sit here and make a scene and make it seem like Compton is a bad place. That’s my home. I didn’t have it easy but it wasn’t hard. Did I go through it, did me and my family go through it coming up? Of course but I’m not going to sit here and complain and make it sound like a sob story. But coming from where I come from, is that motivation? Hell yeah, no doubt. That’s why I do what I do.”
At Compton CC, Filer blossomed as a player and matured as a man. His first eligible season two years ago, he had 33 tackles, two interceptions, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery for the Tartars.
Last season, Filer started 10 games, notching 39 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, seven pass breakups, a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. GridironRR ranked him as the No. 33 junior college corner in the country.
“My season last year was more about me and it speaks for itself,” Filer said. “It was me being more in shape, more in tune, demanding myself to be better. My junior college experience was about me learning me, honestly. You develop as a young man.
“The maturity part was the biggest thing for the whole process. Me maturing and getting to know me better than anyone else and actually taking it all seriously.”
Filer, who is on his official visit to Bozeman this weekend, said he liked that Orphey and MSU head coach Jeff Choate talked about continuing to cultivate that personal growth and maturity. He also liked Choate’s straightforward approach. After Choate visited Filer in Compton with Orphey and MSU offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong, Filer gave his verbal commitment to his new head coach’s face.
“He was down to earth,” Filer said. “That’s why I liked him so much. He seemed like he was real.”
Filer will join a young, talented Montana State cornerbacks group that includes several players from Southern California. Dallas native Braelen Evans will be MSU’s only senior. Covina, California product Damien Washington, a part-time starter each of the last two years, will be a junior. The group also includes Tyrel Thomas and Jalen Cole, starters as true freshmen after coming to MSU from California’s vaunted Trinity League, Thomas from St. John Bosco and Cole from Mater Dei.
“I came from where Tyrel came from in Compton too,” Filer said. “We were on the same Pop Warner team. He’s always been good. And Jalen Cole, I don’t know him personally but I have been watching him since Mater Dei. My opinion on Jalen Cole is he’s good. He’s just really little but I’ve been liking Jalen Cole for years. He’s cool and he’s really good.”
MSU will also add incoming twin freshmen Ty’Rae and Ty’Rese Gibson, both who played their final years at Paramount High as well.
Filer said he did not talk to Vander much during his recruiting process and has never met the Gibson twins. He is unsure as of right now what he will study at MSU but said there’s “no question” he intends to join the Bobcats with the mindset of trying to start right away. When he signs with MSU next week, it will be the affirmation of a long process to earn his spot on a Division I roster.
“It means everything do me,” Filer said. “I have the opportunity to take care of my family. That really means everything to me. I’m going to go up there and make the best of my opportunity.”
Photos courtesy of Filer and contributed. All Rights Reserved.
