Montana State landed a pair of stud defensive ends during the weekend, raising the number of commits for the Bobcats to 16 with National Signing Day fast approaching.
Following a weekend visit to Bozeman, Helena High star Chase Benson and Lewis Kidd of Fridley, Minnesota each gave their verbal commitments to the MSU coaching staff on Sunday.
[restrict paid=”true”]
“I’d like to take the time to thank God for all the opportunities He has put in my life. I’d also like to thank all the coaches who have gotten me to this point and to my family and friends for all the love and support throughout this process. With talking it over with my parents and a lot of prayers I have decided to announce my commitment to further my academic and football career at Montana State University! I would also like to wish all the other players in the class of 2016 good luck in their college careers, especially all those who I’ve played with and against. Thank you to everyone and Go Cats!,” Kidd tweeted on Sunday evening.
Benson confirmed his verbal commitment to Skyline Sports on Tuesday afternoon.
Benson is a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive lineman for a Helena High team that had one of Class AA’s best defenses the last two seasons. Benson earned two first-team all-state selections. In 2014, Helena led Class AA by allowing just 12.2 points per game.
“He’s a guy you have to know where he is at on defense because they move him around a little bit,” Great Falls CMR coach Gary Lowry told Scott Mansch of the Great Falls Tribune following Benson’s addition to the Trib’s Super State football team. “You better try to stay away from him when you are running the ball. I’m serious.”
As a senior, Benson became one of the most coveted players in the state. He holds offers from MSU and Montana along with most of the Frontier Conference. Last fall, Benson had six sacks and 22 hurries in seven games during a season cut short by an opponent forfeiting and an injury.
“He’s probably the most physical player I’ve ever coached, strength wise,” Helena High head coach Tony Arntson told Mansch in December. “Powerful, powerful.”
Kidd is a 6-foot-6, 245-pound defensive end from Totino-Grace High School just outside of Minneapolis. He held offers from Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. He made official visits to Storrs, Connecticut to check out UConn and to Missoula.
In two years as a varsity starter, Kidd piled up 105 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, five hurries and two forced fumbles. South Dakota offered Kidd as an offensive tackle. It is unknown what side of the ball he will play for Montana State.
Totino-Grace is one of Minnesota’s best football programs. The school has claimed 21 conference championships, including one in Kidd’s senior year last fall. The Catholic school also claimed its 21st sectional championship and advanced to its 25th state tournament. The school has claimed eight AAAA state championships and one AAAAA in 2012. The Eagles have two state runner-ups, including in 2014 when Kidd was a junior.
The program has produced six Division I players since 2010, including former North Dakota State and current Green Bay Packers running back John Crockett. Crockett’s little brother, Shadeed, was a walk-on receiver at Montana State earlier this decade.
[/restrict]