Editor’s Note: intermittent photos of Bobcat players are a “Best Of” the last few seasons courtesy of Skyline senior photographer Brooks Nuanez.
The early signing period for Division I college football opens on Wednesday. Despite a completely atypical recruiting year, the Montana State Bobcats are expected to sign at least 19 players, nine from the state of Montana.
Tootell and Nuanez breaking down in-state recruiting
Here’s a look at the players expected to make up most of MSU’s fifth recruiting class under head coach Jeff Choate
Montanans
Kenneth Eiden IV, Bozeman
Position: defensive end
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 238 pounds
Accolades: Eiden was a first-team all-state selection at defensive end for three consecutive seasons and a first-team offensive selection as a senior in 2020. During the last three years, Eiden broke former Hawk tight end and current Seattle Seahawk starting tight end Will Dissley’s single-season sack record on the way piling up 43.5 sacks and 99 tackles for loss over the last three seasons.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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Bobcat connections: Eiden’s father, Ken Eiden III, was a starting offensive lineman for the Bobcats in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In their own words:
Eli Aby, Laurel
Position: Athlete/defensive back
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Accolades: Aby was a Class A first-team all-state pick on defense each of the last two seasons and a first-team all-state quarterback as a senior. He led Laurel to consecutive state championship games, including helping the Locomotives to a 34-0 win over rival Billings Central to claim their first Class A title since 2002.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Bobcat connections: Aby’s father, Bart Aby, was a graduate assistant under former MSU head coach Earle Solmonson in the late 1980s and an assistant linebackers coach the first few seasons of the Cliff Hysell era at MSU.
In their own words
Elijah Reynolds, Red Lodge
Position: Tight End
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
Accolades: Reynolds was a Class B first-team all-state selection on both sides of the ball each of the last two seasons, helping lead the Rams to the state playoffs as a senior. He was also the first commit for the Class of 2021, giving his pledge in December of 2019.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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In his own words:
Kade Cutler, Flint Creek (Drummond-Phillipsburg)
Position: Athlete
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
Accolades: Cutler was the most dominant player at the Class C 8-man level, earning first-team all-state accolades as a quarterback and safety as well as for his return skills as he helped Flint Creek to a third state championship in four seasons playing under his father, Mike Cutler, who is a Montana Western Alum
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Montana State connections: Mike Cutler played at Montana Western, the same as Jeff Choate. Cutler said on Tootell and Nuanez on 102.9 FM ESPN Missoula that he had a strong relationship with Montana head coach Bobby Hauck. Cutler had a hand in the success of Jaxon Lee, a two-time state champion with Flint Creek before transferring to Missoula Sentinel for his senior year before the 2019 season. But Coach Cutler said he was so impressed with Choate’s recruiting, and his son obviously agreed. Mike Cutler retired from coaching following his team’s most recent state championship game victory.
In his own words:
Jace Fitzgerald, Dillon
Position: Athlete/outside linebacker
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
Accolades: Fitzgerald was a first-team all-state selection as a quarterback and a linebacker while guiding the Beavers to a quarterfinal appearance in the Class A playoffs. He was an all-state wide receiver as a sophomore before missing most of his junior season with an injury.
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Bobcats connections: Fitzgerald’s father, Greg, played for the Grizzlies on Montana’s 1995 national championship team. But when Greg’s oldest son R.J. was coming out of Beaverhead County High, Greg’s alma mater didn’t give the hard-nosed, hard-hitting fullback a chance. Instead, R.J. ended up at MSU as did Brynley Fitzgerald, a women’s basketball player who has since transferred back home to Montana Western.
In their own words
Jace Fisher, Troy
Position: defensive line
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds
Accolades: Fisher missed part of the season because of a shoulder injury but still managed to total five sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
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Bobcat connections: Fisher has no direct Bobcat connections, but is the only the third football player from Troy to earn a Division I opportunity, including the first with the Bobcats. William Waters (1967-68) and Blaine McElmurry (1993-1996) are the only two Griz lettermen from Troy.
Neil Daily
Position: defensive end
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds
Accolades: Daily grew up in Missoula and attended Sentinel until his sophomore year. That second spring of his prep career, he scored points in the high jump and the 200 meters at the Class AA track meet as Sentinel claimed its first boys state track championship since 1963. His family moved to Billings shortly after but he did not compete in track this last spring because of the cancellation of the season. HIs
As a junior, Daily was a second-team all-state pick on defense. As a senior, Daily earned Class AA first-team all-state honors as a wide receiver and a defensive end/outside linebacker as the Bears went undefeated all the way until a 24-15 loss to Sentinel in the state title game in November.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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Bobcat connections: Although Daily remains friends with several of the current Spartans who are also future Grizzlies, both of his parents went to Montana State.
In their own words:
Paul Brott, Billings West
Position: defensive end
Measurables: 6-foot-3 230 pounds
Accolades: Brott was a first-team all-state selection on the offensive line and defensive end as Billings West surged to the state championship game.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Bobcat connections: Brott is the third of Craig and Gina Brott’s sons to play for the Bobcats. Wilson Brott was a standout blocking tight end who was a senior in 2018. Mich Brott started a Montana State record 50 consecutive games as an offensive tackle, earning All-American honors as a senior.
In their own words:
TOOTELL & NUANEZ IN-STATE BREAKDOWN
Luke Fedyk, Bozeman
Position: Athlete/linebacker
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Accolades: Fedyk was a second-team all-state selection each of the last two seasons, helping the Hawks to a state championship as a junior and a semifinal appearance as a senior.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Bobcat connections: Fedyk is from Bozeman and has a variety of former teammates as the Bobcats have nine former Hawks on their roster.
In their own words
Junior Bergen, Billings Senior
Position: wide receiver/defensive back
Measurables: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds
Accolades: Bergen as a first-team all-state selection as a wide receiver and a defensive back as a junior, then earned first-team all-state honors as an athletes while playing quarterback for a Senior team that advanced to the semifinals of the Class AA playoffs.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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In their own words:
Out of State
Sean Austin, Kuna, Idaho
Position: quarterback
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
Accolades: For the second year in a row, Kuna earned Southern Idaho 5A all-region and Idaho 5A all-state honors at quarterback. In 2019, he helped his team to the Idaho 4A state championship and was a first-team all-state pick.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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In his own words:
Tital Fleischmann, Century High, Pocatello, Idaho
Position: tight end
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 255 pounds
Accolades: Fleischmann was an all-district wide receiver as a junior and an all-state lineman as a senior. He is also a standout basketball player.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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Zack Black, Rocky Mountain High, Meridian, Idaho
Position: Defensive line
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
Accolades: Black earned first-team all-state honors on defense as Rocky Mountain High won the Idaho 5A state title.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
Bobcat connections: Montana State offensive linemen Zach Redd and Connor Wood both went to Rocky Mountain High School as well.
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In his own words:
Tyson Pottenger, Couer d’Alene High
Position: defensive back
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds
Accolades: Pottenger was an all-state pick as a junior in leading his team to a runner-up finish in Idaho’s 5A division. He put on 30 pounds to earn college interest entering his senior year and had similar individual and team success.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Dyse Shepherd, Thunder Basin, Gillette, Wyoming
Position: tight end
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds
Accolades: Shepherd was a first-team all-state tight end and defensive end this year, the second year in a row he’s earned first-team all-state honors offensively.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Andrew Patterson, Desert Edge in Goodyear, Arizona
Position: wide receiver
Measurables: 5-foot-10, 170 pounds
Accolades: an all-state selection two years in a row including leading Goodyear to the Arizona 4A title game as a junior.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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Bobcat connections: Patterson first landed on Montana State recruiting coordinator Jimmy Beal’s radar because Beal spent nearly a decade as an assistant at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.
Aaron Gerle, Greenway HS, Phoenix
Position: defensive line
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 255 pounds
Accolades: The District 4A Player of the year earned all-state honors as a senior as well.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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Noah Smith, Joshua, Texas
Position: Athlete
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 190
Accolades: First team all district WR 2018 and punter 2019, second team all district WR in 2019; currently starting at QB.
Recruiting ranking: 3-star
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Simeon Woodward, San Antonio
Position: cornerback
Measurables: 5-foot-10, 170 pounds
Accolades: an all-district pick from Veterans Memorial High in San Antonio.
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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Cole Snyder, Calgary, Alberta
Position: Offensive line
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 275 pounds
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In their own words:
Hunter Parsons, Spanish Springs HS, Sparks, Nevada
Position: Linebacker
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds
Recruiting ranking: 2-star
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In his own words:
