Jeff Choate wasted no time letting Keaton Anderson know the stud Billing Senior safety was among Montana State’s most coveted prospects.
Choate signed his first recruiting class the first Wednesday of February this year. Before the day was finished, Choate called Anderson to offer a full scholarship.
“It was eye-opening for me because I wasn’t expecting anything like that to happen,” Anderson said the second week of December. “Playing just one year of varsity and getting calls was awesome.”
Anderson mulled the offer throughout the spring and summer. He verbally committed to Montana State days after the Choate era opened with a 20-17 loss at FBS Idaho. Anderson then led Billings Senior on an undefeated run through Montana’s Class AA, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and capping his career with state championship.
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“To be honest, Coach Choate was the main reason I wanted to commit,” Anderson said. “I knew as soon as I met him, I could talk to him, have conversations with him and I really meshed with him. I really meshed with all the coaches. They are really good dudes and I really want to play for Choate. He was one of those guys that was so straight forward with me. He reminds me a lot of my high school coach (Chris Murdock) and it made me want to be a part of Montana State.”
Anderson earned first-team Class AA All-State honors at safety as a junior and senior. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder snared four interceptions his final season, averaging 30 yards per return. Although stats are inconsistent, Anderson scored four touchdowns, including taking a reverse 56 yards for a touchdown against Missoula Big Sky. In that same game, he returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown Anderson led a defense that allowed a AA-best 10.6 points per game.
The smooth, athletic Anderson — he also is a standout in track — garnered interest from Montana, North Dakota and Northern Colorado. His told the Grizzlies his commitment to Montana State was firm and his recruiting interest has dropped off other than from MSU in the last couple of months.
Anderson’s father and “a few” of his uncles went to Montana State. He grew up a Bobcat fan despite the best efforts of his grandfather, who would frequently buy him Griz gear in an effort to swing his allegiance. When Montana State posted a 24-17 win over Montana in Missoula a day after Billings Senior sewed up its state title, it only sweetened the deal for Anderson.
“Even if the Cats would’ve lost, I definitely would’ve gone to Montana State,” Anderson said. “Them winning just makes it that much better.”
Anderson was among three in-state products that Choate targeted immediately after signing his first class. Choate also extended offers to Dillon athlete Troy Andersen and Kalispell Glacier Jaxen Hashley last February. Both committed to Montana State in the summer before their senior years. Andersen led the Beavers to the Class A state title while Hashley’s Wolfpack lost to Senior in the state title game.
Anderson, Hashley and Andersen are among four talented in-state players committed to Choate and the Bobcats. Glacier quarterback/linebacker Tadan Gilman is also committed to MSU.
“I know Troy Andersen and Hashley and Gilman are really good players,” Anderson said. “Playing with them will be really fun. After the games I went to in Bozeman, I talked to a lot of the players who are committed too. I talked to some of the freshmen who are there right now too and they were really enjoying it. That’s one of the things that probably helped me make my decision.”
Billings Senior spurted to the state championship game in 2015, losing to Bozeman 35-23. Senior’s only two losses came to the Hawks. The heartbreak motivated the Senior veterans to make a perfect 13-0 run in 2016.
“That was a lot of motivation,” Anderson said. “Not just that but knowing everyone on our team was down and doing it for our brothers so we don’t feel like that again was a sweet feeling.”
Senior pounded opponents as an offense led by senior quarterback Nathan Dick, the AA Offensive Player of the Year, and electrifying junior play-maker Gabe Sulser averaged 46.4 points per game. A smothering Broncs defense led by Anderson allowed just 10.6 points per game as Senior won games by an average of five touchdowns.
“It was just awesome knowing that the year before, we got so close and this year we finally got it done,” Anderson said. “We definitely had a target on our back all year so to win all the games we did was even better.”
After finishing he senior year, Anderson will transition to Division I football. He will make his official visit to Montana State the weekend of January 13-15. He is thinking of studying business at MSU. He said he feels comfortable playing both safety spots.
By the time Anderson hits the practice field in August, almost 18 months will have passed since Choate’s first phone call. Anderson cannot wait to get started with the Bobcats.
“I just love football, love playing it and now that I get to play it in college, it’s awesome,” Anderson said. “I’ve been playing it all my life and to be able to continue to play it for a college most of my family went to is a dream come true.”
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Photos by Travis Clark, contributed. All Right Reserved.
