Capsules of New MSU Football Recruits
2/2/2011 5:58:14 PM | Football
A closer look at the 22 new Bobcat gridders
A look at Montana State's newest football signees...
Nate Bignell, DL
6-2, 225, Fr, Drummond, MT (Drummond)
Player Notes: Earned All-State honors as a tight end twice and defensive end once at Class C Drummond... a two-time Academic All-State choice who earned an invitation to the Montana Shrine, Class C, and Mon-Dak All-Star games... the son of Bobcat All-America Joe Bignell, brother of current Bobcat Parker Bignell, and cousin of current Bobcats Clay and Brian Bignell.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Nate comes from a great gene pool, for sure. He is from a great Bobcat family, and he becomes the fourth Bignell on our team. He'll begin his career as a defensive end, but he's a very versatile player with very good size. He has great balance and good hands. Nate is a great all-around athlete who has a great future in our program."
Jake Bleskin, QB
6-1, 165, Fr, Great Falls, MT (CM Russell)
Player Notes: Montana's Class AA Offensive MVP as a junior, earning all-conference and all-state honors that season... struggled with injuries in 2010, landing honorable mention all-state honors... threw for over 4,900 yards and 45 touchdowns, rushing for over 600 yards, as a junior and senior.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Jake has the family connection, with Tanner being here. He is a highly-skilled quarterback with a smooth, effortless release and great velocity on the ball. He has great toughness, which he showed this year. He had a lot of pressure put on him through the course of the year, but he's a proven winner and a smart young man. He's a great prospect."
Trevor Bolton, K/P
5-10, 175, Fr, Great Falls, MT (Great Falls)
Player Notes: A two-time all-state punter, first team as a junior and second team as a senior, earning second team all-state kicker honors as a senior... also honorable mention all-state receiver.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Trevor is going to specialize in kicking, although he's a very fine athlete in his own right, a receiver and DB and track guy in high school. It's nice to have that kind of athletic ability in a kicker. He wants to try to both kick and punt. He'll likely redshirt this year, and his goal is to be the replacement for Jason Cunningham. He is very talented, has a strong leg, and is really committed to being a kicker. And he's also from a great Bobcat family."
Odin Coe, DL
6-3, 250, Fr, Camas, WA (Camas)
Player Notes: Earned First Team All-State honors from a host of organizations as a defensive end... also earned GHSLFootball.com All Level and 3A Defensive Player of the Year... 28 tackles in one state playoff game... a nationally competitive weight lifter.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Odin Coe is a terrific athlete, very strong and quick. He was a defensive end in high school who we project to move inside on the defensive line. He is very athletic and we see him as a productive inside player, a Dan Ogden-type of defensive tackle. He's very strong, a great worker, and extremely explosive."
Jamarcus Darden, DB
5-9, 178, Fr, Houston, TX (Nimitz)
Player Notes: An all-district cornerback and State 5A All-Purpose Player of the Year... district leader in kick return average (31.0 yards), scored seven rushing touchdowns, and two passes.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Jamarcus Darden is a fast, explosive athlete who played Wildcat quarterback and also cornerback, where we're going to play him. He has excellent ball skills and terrific speed, and he's a very aggressive run defender, as well. He's a very talented corner."
Matthew Devereux, OL
6-3, 285, Fr, Eugene, OR (Marist)
Player Notes: Oregon's Old Spice Player of the Year, and a top 50 finalist for national honors... 5A League MVP, earning First Team All-State honors on both lines... team captain and team MVP... 53-game two-way starter who won a pair of state championships and played for a third... former teammate of Bobcat receiver Gianni Carter.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Matthew is very athletic and flexible for a big man. He could play a lot of different positions across the offensive line. He has a toughness to him, which we really like, he finishes well. He played both ways all the time in high school, but we're going to put him on the offensive side."
Alex Eekhoff, OL
6-6, 255, Fr, Reno, NV (Bishop Manogue)
Player Notes: A team captain and Bishop Manogue's offensive line MVP as a senior... Honorable Mention All-North Team and chosen for Seratoma Nevada All-Star Game.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Alex Eekhoff has fantastic upside. He's 6-6 with a big frame, and we expect him to get bigger and bigger and become an outstanding offensive tackle in the Big Sky. He has great balance and footwork. The plan is to let him redshirt and develop, and we expect that he'll become a terrific player for us."
Deonte Flowers, DB
5-11, 161, Fr, San Diego, CA (Samuel Morse)
Player Notes: A three-sport athlete who earned First Team All-Conference honors as a cornerback... honorable mention all-league basketball player a year ago... an academic all-conference choice who also played receiver and quarterback at Morse.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Deonte is another corner from San Diego. He has really good ball skills, but is a little taller than some of the corners we've brought in. He has the ability to make plays on high balls, he has long arms to get in and make plays, but he's also really physical, he we like the fact that he comes up and tackles well. He's a very good coverage player."
Monte Folsom, DL
6-3, 255, Fr, Dillon, MT (Beaverhead)
Player Notes: Earned Class A MVP honors, as well as First Team All-State and all-conference honors at linebacker... chosen for the Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star games... expected to serve a two-year church mission before enrolling at MSU.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Monte Folsom was a big linebacker and very good athlete, a good basketball player, in high school. We project Monte to move into the defensive line and play with his hand down, and bring very good athleticism to that position. Monte will be on a church mission the next two years."
Kyle Godecke, OL
6-5, 292, Fr, Dillon, MT (Beaverhead)
Player Notes: A First Team All-State offensive lineman, earning all-conference honors on both lines... chosen for the Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star games.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Kyle has great size and really good footwork. He is an outstanding young man with great character and a great work ethic. He'll work hard on his footwork and agility to match his big frame. He has terrific upside."
Kody Grelle, OL
6-4, 277, Fr, Austin, TX (Cedar Park)
Player Notes: A First Team All-District selection at Cedar Park High... also landed academic all-state honors.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Kody Grelle was the top center on our board. He has really mastered the knack of snapping the football and getting off the line quickly and making plays. He's a center and can block front side assignments after snapping the ball, which is difficult. We liked his tenacity and how he stays on blocks and finishes."
Joel Horn, OL
6-4, 255, Fr, Kalispell, MT (Glacier)
Player Notes: Earned First Team All-State honors on the offensive line for Glacier this year, and second team honors on defense... a two-time all-conference selection both ways... chosen for the Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star games.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Joel Horn has been committed to the Bobcats for a long time, several months now. He is very strong with excellent leg strength, and he's very tenacious. He moves well, he pulls, he can get to blocks on the second level, but he also has a big frame and is going to get bigger and bigger."
Heath Hunter, Athlete
6-1, 214, Fr, Bozeman, MT (Bozeman)
Player Notes: A leader on Bozeman High's 2010 undefeated state championship team, landing Great Falls Tribune Superstate honors on defense... logged 12.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hurries as a senior, while playing as one of the state's top running backs, as well... earned First Team All-State honors as a kick returner, second team honors as a running back... finished second last spring in the 110 high hurdles (14.57)... his father Alex played football at Montana.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Heath Hunter is an extremely versatile athlete, big, with excellent speed. He can play a number of different positions. We're listing him as an athlete, but he can play linebacker, he can play running back, he's returned kicks. We really like his combination of size and speed."
Shawn Johnson, RB
5-9, 185, Fr, Bakersfield, CA (Centennial)
Player Notes: A spectacular and productive offensive player, rushed for 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 266 yards and six touchdowns as a senior... 579 kick return yards, 212 punt return yards... league Offensive Player of the Year... First Team All-Area and First Team All-Conference... chosen for US Army High School area all-star game.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Shawn is a tremendously explosive, fast, home run hitter of a player. He can make plays on kickoff returns, punt returns, passes out of the backfield, plus carrying the ball. He has an outstanding ability to create big plays. He's very shifty and elusive as well as being fast."
James Nelson, DB
5-10, 192, Fr, Los Angeles, CA (Long Beach Poly)
Player Notes: Earned Second Team All-Conference honors at safety... eighth-rated safety in California by Cali-Hi Sports... All-CIF in track.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "This young man comes from a fantastic high school program where he's been well-coached. He understands coverages and techniques. He's a physical safety with good ball skills, he moves extremely well, and he's very tough. I think he's an outstanding prospect."
Jake Olson, WR
6-1, 203, Fr, Great Falls, MT (Great Falls)
Player Notes: First team all-state cornerback and return specialist and the Great Falls Tribune Superstate Team's all-purpose player as a senior... also earned all-conference honors as a cornerback and kick returner, and honorable mention all-conference kudos at receiver... Great Falls High's Derek Dawson Memorial Award winner, and a Shrine and Mon-Dak all-star choice.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "A taller wide receiver, Jake has outstanding speed and breakaway ability. He is another very versatile player who played numerous different position in high school, all very capably. We're going to let him zero in at one position, wide receiver. We look at him as an outside receiver who can be a weapon on both short and deep balls."
Michael Perryman, WR
6-2, 183, Fr, San Juan Capistrano, CA (San Juan Hills)
Player Notes: A First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-County selection... league Co-MVP... three-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and track.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "We were looking for taller receivers in this class, guys that can play on the outside with a little bit greater length who can still run, and Michael fits that description. He is an explosive, big-play receiver who can turn a short pass into a big play. He's very versatile, making plays out of the backfield and underneath and down the field. He makes plays like a slot receiver, but has the size to be an outside receiver."
Justin Pierson, Athlete
5-11, 198, Fr, Bozeman, MT (Bozeman)
Player Notes: Earned Great Falls Tribune Superstate honors at running back, rushing for 970 yards and 15 touchdowns for undefeated state champion Bozeman... also caught 25 passes for 591 yards, logging 129 tackles, 19 for a loss, with three sacks and an interception... First Team All-State and All-Conference at both running back and linebacker, earning league defensive MVP honors... also a Hawk Team Award winner.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "I keep using the word versatile, but Justin is definitely a versatile player with outstanding skills. He has a great knack for the ball on defense and excellent nose for daylight when the ball is in his hands. He has very good size with the potential to get bigger, but what we like best is that he is fast and athletic and can play a number of different positions."
Taylor Sheridan, DL
6-3, 255, Fr, Littleton, CO (Rock Canyon)
Player Notes: Rock Canyon's team MVP as a senior who earned All-Conference South Metro and Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year honors... ranked as the 12th overall recruit in Colorado by Coloradopreps.com... began his high school career at Bozeman High as a freshman before moving to Colorado.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Taylor started at Bozeman High as a freshman, so he has Bozeman connections, but we recruited him for his athletic ability. He's a bigger defensive end with good range, good height, and good size, but he has a really good motor and the ability to make big plays. He was the defensive MVP at his level in Colorado and he's a guy we've been recruiting for a long time."
Alex Singleton, LB
6-2, 201, Fr, Thousand Oaks, CA (Thousand Oaks)
Player Notes: Earned all-conference and all-county honors as a linebacker... All-CIF Northern Division... also earned Thousand Oaks High's Defensive MVP honors.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Alex played a number of different positions, but he is a little bit bigger linebacker. We wanted to find a guy with a little more height who has a chance to get bigger, and I think we found that guy in Alex. He has a great work ethic, he plays hard from the beginning of every play to the end of every play, and he's extremely productive."
Trace Timmer, DB
5-11, 170, Fr, Great Falls, MT (Great Falls)
Player Notes: An honorable mention all-state defensive back who earned second team all-conference honors, as well... an Academic All-State choice with 145 tackles and four interceptions as a senior... earned Great Falls High's Tim Hodge Award... the son of former Bobcat student-athletes Kirk (football) and Kelly (women's basketball) Timmer.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "Trace Timmer is a terrific prospect at safety, a physical, hard-hitting player with a good nose for the ball. He plays the football well in space and runs extremely well. He has a chance to develop into one of those tough, hard-hitting safeties that this state is famous for producing."
John Weidenaar, OL
6-7, 235, Fr, Manhattan, MT (Manhattan)
Player Notes: A dominant player for Manhattan's Class B semifinal squad... registered 82 tackles, including 31 for a loss, and 10 sacks as a senior... first team all-state offensive and defensive line and punter, who also earned all-conference honors... a Montana Shrine Bowl selection.
From MSU Coach Rob Ash: "His most noticeable factor is his height, at 6-7 he's one of the tallest players we've recruited here, and he has a terrific frame that he can grow into. He played a lot of skill positions in high school and also some tight end and defensive end, but we think his future is on the offensive line, where he can game some weight and get bigger and stronger and have that long wing-span that's so useful at offensive tackle."
