Marcus Welnel, a two-time Class AA all-state linebacker at Helena Capital, committed to Montana early Thursday evening, adding to the Grizzlies’ haul of in-state players with a little more than seven weeks before National Signing Day.
Like most players in the age of social media, Welnel announced his commitment on Twitter. His verbal solidified Welnel as the 10th Montana product to commit to the Grizzlies and the second in three days after Billings Senior quarterback Nathan Dick committed late Tuesday night.
“Excited to announce I have verbally committed to THE University of Montana and continue my football career,” tweeted Welnel, who was a first-team Class AA all-state linebacker as a senior a year after he made the team as an honorable mention selection.
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Montana coaches are prohibited from speaking specifically about Welnel until National Signing Day on Feb. 1, but that didn’t stop an outpouring of excitement from the staff on social media, where four coaches let out Twitter’s version of a puff of white smoke. It was just a day before Welnel made his announcement that Montana defensive coordinator Jason Semore tweeted, “There is one more Montana baller out there we need to complete the super squad! LETS GO!!!!!!” presumably urging the Capital ‘backer to join a growing list of in-state commits.
The message landed squarely.
“It came clear to me that when I first came into high school my goals were to play for the Grizzlies and going to as high a level as I could possibly go,” said Welnel, who was also recruited by Carroll College, Montana Tech and Rocky Mountain College. “I just feel like I had to follow my dreams and go to the Grizzlies.”
In the last of his 2 ½ years as a starting outside linebacker, the versatile Welnel, who occasionally played safety and corner in addition to his offensive responsibilities, became one of the best linebackers in the state. He finished his senior season with 91 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, nine passes broken up and two blocked kicks.
“He’s got a tremendous amount of upside to him,” Capital coach Kyle Mihelish said. “He’s extremely strong in the weight room and for a kid who is about 215 pounds right now he’s got tremendous speed for a big guy. He did a lot for us.”
While Welnel was a terror defensively, Mihelish volunteered a few of the linebacker’s offensive stats to express Welnel’s athleticism. Welnel touched the ball 16 times during the second half of the season, picking up an average of 22 yards and scoring six touchdowns.
In the spread-it-out Big Sky Conference, that kind of athleticism and strength has come into high demand for outside linebackers.
“In certain situations we did have him in the box versus two-back and run formations,” Mihelish said. “But then in other formations when they would go 2×2 or 3×1 he was a kid we could put out in formation. As an outside linebacker he was one of our best cover guys.
“We could man him on a slot receiver and he would do a great job there. We could play a zone concept with him and he could do that. An attribute to Marcus is he is an extremely intelligent football player. He picks up on things rather quickly.”
Welnel called in his commitment to Helena native and Montana inside receivers coach Mike Ferriter to complete a life-long dream. Welnel said he used to come down to Missoula and go to games in Washington-Grizzly Stadium with his uncle.
“I wanted to stay in state and I’ve always been a Griz fan and I thought it would be one of the coolest things ever to play for the Griz,” Welnel said.
Welnel’s commitment was the latest in a wave of commits the Grizzlies have secured dating back to Saturday evening when Montana earned the pledge of Western Arizona defensive end Chris Favorso, the first of two JuCo ends to commit, the other being Diablo Valley College’s Dylan Gilfoy. Montana also earned a commitment from Payton Stoner, a right tackle for San Diego’s Mt. Carmel High.
Montana signed Favoroso and Gilfoy and Blinn College (Texas) quarterback Caleb Hill on Wednesday, the first day mid-year transfers could sign with their future school.
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