Local preps headline big MSU-Northern signing class

On the week of national signing day, Montana State University-Northern second-year head coach Jerome Souers announced the addition of a host of new signees.

Included in the list of 2023 Northern football players was a pair of local standouts in Havre High senior Crawford Terry, as well as Big Sandy standout Braydon Cline. Terry committed to the Lights after finishing his senior season as an All-Conference linebacker and tight end, while Cline helped lead the Pioneers to the 2022 Class C Six-Man State championship, as an all-state performer on both sides of the ball.

In all, Northern's initial recruiting class included nine mid-year transfers and 16 players who will be freshmen next fall.

Sixteen prospective student athletes signed their letter of intents for the fall season of 2023. Most notable are 13 prospects from the state of Montana. Western Washington also gave way to several impact players. Although signing day has come and gone, the Northern coaching staff is actively recruiting an additional 12 impact prospects that they hope to add to their young program.

"I'm really pleased with where we are at today with our recruiting," Souers said. "As the lifeblood to our program, this process is critical to our future success. Our staff spent painstaking hours researching to find the best candidates to strengthen our team chemistry and overall ability to compete. The Northern Lights supports a transformational experience; we value a balanced student-athlete experience that espouses excellence in the classroom through hard work and mandatory attendance. Successful physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development becomes the foundation of support for young people entering adulthood. Transformation is what makes our football program different."

Immediate recruiting needs were addressed at mid-semester as the Northern took two transfer quarterbacks, two junior college offensive linnemen, in addition to one tight end, one wide receiver, two additional defensive players were added giving the team much needed depth for spring semester training.

The transfers include former Northern quarterback Oakley Kopp, who returns to the program, while the Lights added Dante Mairui, a junior college transfer from Walla Walla, Washington.

"After the season ended last fall, we learned that our two senior quarterbacks would not be returning, elevating our need to find mid-year depth and experience to go with the remaining QB on our roster (Chance Fields)," Souers said. "Transfer Dante Maiuri brings size and experience behind center, and having been effective throwing in snowy conditions stands out as an attractive quality. Oakley Kopp (who has returned to the Lights program) brings good athletic ability and throwing skill who has familiarity with present members of the team."

Mid-year transfers that addressed need according to Souers included offensive linemen Tyree Ready and Fred Lundstrom, two judo transfers, while linebackers Austin Wilson and former Lewistown standout Ashton Grover, joins the team, as does tight end Allex Knaptonn, a former star for Columbia Falls. Wide receivers Ben Lehnerz and Colter Woldstad round out the mid-year signees.

Northern also bulked up its roster for next fall as well.

Montana players joining Terry and Cline include, former Class C All-Staters Tucker Aanstad and Philip Haynes from Scobey, as well as Class B All-Stater Ethan Rodriguez from Bigfork. Tight end Payton Perkins and defensive tackle Colin Avanace, both All-Conference players from Culbertson are also joining the Lights, as is quarterback Ashton Platt, who comes to MSU-N from Great Falls High, which is coached by former Blue Pony and Light's star Coda Tchida.

Northern added an out-of-state quarterback as well, in Logan James from Wickenberg, Arizona, while offensive lineman Mateo Revert comes to Northern from Burlington, Ontario. Linebacker Gio Enea hails from Pittsburgh, California, while transfer tight end Damon Bradehurst comes in from Vancouver, British Columbia. MSU-N also added a pair of defensive backs in Mason Chiles from Meridian, Idaho, and Cooper Wilson from Bonney Lake, Washington. A pair of standouts from Garfield High School in Seattle round out the class, in defensive end De’Amoni Wright and linebacker Mike Watkins.

And though Souers is thrilled with the players the initial 2023 class yielded, the work he says, is not done.

"This class reflects our philosophy to focus on the state of Montana while developing a recruiting pipeline of prospects of similar latitude to Northern Montanam," Souers said. "We have invested in young people with quality character, academic prowess, athletic ability; most importantly possessing a passionate competitive nature. Braydon Cline from Class C State Champions Big Sandy HS is a rare 'Big athlete' that has a huge upside; Crawford Terry from Havre brings great character and ability to our defensive front; gems from eastern Montana include Colin Avance at DL and Payton Perkins, a talented TE both from Culbertson, Montana; Tucker Aanstad and Phillip Haynes are two big OL candidates from Scobey, Montana. Ethan Rodriguez an athletic, talented DL joins us from Bigfork as does Ashton Platt QB from Great Falls HS.

"Additional recruiting will be taking place until we have a complete roster for the Fall of 2023," he added. "My deepest appreciation to our entire coaching staff who spend tireless hours at recruiting and developing our team. To all the people at our university who supported the recruiting process with tours, information and anything we asked for; a special thanks to the community of Havre who have opened their arms to this mission of rebuilding the Montana State University–Northern Lights football program."