Travis Klundt experienced a sort of reunion when he accompanied his son Hudson on his official recruiting visit to Montana State in January.
In 1996, Jeff Choate was less than five years out of playing linebacker at Montana Western and on his second high school coaching gig. He was the defensive coordinator at Twin Falls High School in Twin Falls, Idaho. Travis Klundt was a senior on that team. He went on to play at Montana Western, albeit a decade after Choate played in Dillon.
More than two decades later, Klundt found himself in Bozeman, Montana on a recruiting trip hosted by Choate and courting Hudson Klundt.
The Klundt who is a senior offensive lineman wants to someday attend medical school. The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder had the opportunity to join Oregon State, Boise State and Utah State as preferred walk-ons. He also got a preferred walk-on invite at Cal. He received interest from football programs across the Frontier Conference.
In the end, OSU, MSU and the College of Idaho made Klundt’s final three because of their pre-med programs. The chance to play for the Bobcats rose to the top of the list.
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“It just came down to wanting to play bigger football and a good school,” Klundt said. “Montana State was just that.”
“My parents love it. My dad and my little brother came on my recruiting trip with me. They both love it. My mom and stepdad both love it. I’m excited for Bozeman.”
Klundt attended individual camp at Montana State in June before his senior year. By National Signing Day in February, he knew he would be making Bozeman his new home.
“We first saw Hudson in our team camp, but I knew of him because I coached his dad at Twin Falls High School and his head coach (Allyn Reynolds) was an assistant on that staff,” Choate said.
As a senior offensive guard, Klundt earned Idaho Class 4A first-team all-state and all-conference honors for a team that finished 7-3 after a first-round loss in the playoffs. He was also an all-league basketball player as a junior and senior. The past three springs, Klundt played baseball. This spring, he is throwing shot put and discus for the Twin Falls track team.
That diversity plus his athleticism and physicality drew Montana State’s attention.
“Hudson has very fluid hips, he’s a good basketball player with excellent feet,” Choate said. “That athleticism gives him a chance to develop into an excellent offensive lineman. That camp connection was really important in our ability to evaluate Hudson, and the family ties helped, as well.”
Montana State former offensive line coach and recently anointed recruiting coordinator Josh Taufalele served as Klundt’s primary recruiter. Taufalele told Klundt about Montana State’s solid pre-med program. Klundt will major in molecular biology as an undergrad.
Klundt’s stepfather is an anesthesiologist. His great uncle is one of the head orthopedic surgeons in Salt Lake City. Those two plus “a bunch of family in the medical field” inspired Klundt to want to pursue a career in medicine, specifically as an orthopedic surgeon.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge, definitely,” Klundt said when asked about balancing school and football. “But I think it will help me being on the football team and getting the tutors and the assistance. I think it will be a really good thing.”
His highlight film from his senior season shows a power guard who gets off the ball with aggression and finishes blocks on Twin Falls’ run-heavy offense. Klundt said his high school team thrived on inside zone concepts, very much like Montana State.
“I haven’t really gotten a deep look into Montana State’s offense but it seems pretty similar,” Klundt said. “I think it will be pretty much close to the same. They wanted me to play left guard and I played left guard all year this year so it should be good.”
Klunt was a three-year starter who’s parents helped him put a blueprint in place, Reynolds told the Times-News newspaper in Twin Falls on National Signing Day.
“He’s got the good grades, he’s played three sports, he’s done everything,” Reynolds said. “This is just the icing on the cake for him. He’s got an opportunity.”
Because of his academic dedication, Klundt had plenty of options to continue his education. But Montana State provides the opportunity Klundt has worked toward during his prep career.
“It was part of a dream come true, definitely,” Klundt said. “I’ve always wanted to play big football since I was little. It was also kind of a relief that the recruiting process was over. No more calling coaches and all that.
“Now I know I’m going to be a Bobcat. And I can’t wait.”
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Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
