Big Sky Conference

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Running back Edward Vander

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MONTANA STATE BOBCATS

EDWARD VANDER- Running back – Saddleback Community College- Paramount, California

The Numbers: The 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back is a 3-star recruit who rushed for 1,074 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall at Saddleback Community College. He also caught 30 passes for 467 yards and broke the school records for rushes, yards and total touchdowns in a single season.

The Accolades: Vander saw his recruiting stock rise during a first-team All-Trinity League junior season in 2014 in which he rushed for 1,388 yards and 22 touchdowns. His senior year, he transferred to Paramount High and rushed for 425 yards and six touchdowns to go with 28 catches for 675 yards and five more scores while playing more receiver. With no FBS offers in hand, Vander waited until after National Signing Day last season despite holding an offer from MSU. He played at Saddleback for a season before re-committing to the Bobcats. He will join the Bobcats after the spring semester with four years to play three.

Academics: Undecided

Vander on Montana State: “At first, I didn’t end up going to Montana State because my high school coach kept telling me that bigger schools were going to offer me so I never committed. Montana State ended up pulling the offer and no one else ended up offering me. I had to go to junior college and I told Montana State if they offered me again, I would be a Bobcat.

“I was mainly disappointed I didn’t end up signing. Looking back on it, I should’ve signed with Montana State. I had to go through this last year because of it but now I’m going there and I’m happy.”

Film: Edward Vander Highlights

Coach Choate on Vander: “He rushed for over 1,000 yards at Saddleback, and is a big back, 6-1, 200-plus pound kid who I think brings the ability to be an every-down guy. He can be physical in pass protection, he has great short-area quickness but also can accelerate. I think he can be a difference-maker at tailback. He needs to finish up at Saddleback this term and we hope to have him join us this summer.”

Story on Vander’s commitment – After long wait, standout RB Vander becomes a Bobcat 

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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