Montana Grizzlies Class of 2014

Josh Buss, LB, 6-3, 195, Fr., HS, Boise, Idaho (Mountain View HS): Josh rushed for a 5A Southern Idaho Conference-best 1,939 yards and 25 touchdowns…senior team was 7-3 and reached the state quarterfinals…earned three letters in football, four in lacrosse, and one in wrestling…Southern Idaho “Player of the Year”… first team all-state running back as a junior and senior…freshman and junior lacrosse teams won state titles, and he was tabbed an All-American in that sport as a junior… team MVP in football as a senior; offensive player of the year as a junior; and outstanding wide receiver as a sophomore…team captain in football for head coach Judd Benedick…major is business or criminal justice…birth date: Dec. 4, 1995…Josh’s parents are Kristi Tippetts of Boise and Joe Buss of Meridian.

Reese Carlson, WR, 6-4, 215, Fr., HS, Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS): A three-year letterman in football…team captain as a junior and voted “Most Promising Junior” by his teammates…second team all-league at wide receiver as a junior…honorable mention all-conference his senior season for his 7-2 team, but he played in just four games (and had 22 catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns) because of an injury…rated number 5 receiver in Washington by Northwest Elite Index…an East-West All-Star Game alternate…his football coach was Aaron Chantler…he will major in sociology…birth date: Sept. 4, 1995…his parents are Eric and Laura Carlson of Gig Harbor.

Austin Chadderdon, FB, 6-2, 240, Fr., HS, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (Coeur d’ Alene HS): Austin has accepted an admissions offer from UM for Fall 2014… a three-year letterman in football…all-state and all-conference as a senior…led the state of Idaho with 14.5 sacks, and also had 52 tackles…a team captain his senior season…his teams won state championships in 2012, 2011, and 2013…his head coach was Shawn Amos…he will major in business administration…birth date: Jan. 26, 1996…his parents are Kim and Brian Seymour of Hayden, Idaho.

Tristen Clark, WR, 6-2, 180, Fr., HS,  Deer Lodge, Mont. (Powell County HS): Tristen has accepted an admissions offer from UM for Fall 2014…he was a four-sport letterman in football (4), golf (4), basketball (3), and track (2)…all-state in football as a senior when he caught 58 passes for 1,051 yards and 14 touchdowns…all-state and all-conference in track as a junior…also all-state pick in golf…three-time team captain in football…voted most inspirational in football as a senior…his high school football coach was Albert Cutler…he will major in education…birth date: Dec. 20, 1995…his parents are Lee and Stacey Clark of Opportunity, Montana.

Shayne Cochran, LB, 6-1, 210, Fr., HS, Culbertson, Mont. (Culbertson HS): Shane has earned 10 letters: four in football, and three in both basketball and track…a first team all-state and all-conference selection at running back and linebacker as a junior and senior…rushed for 1,589 yards and 28 touchdowns, and averaged 8.5 yards a run, and also had 85 tackles on defense…was team captain as a senior for his 8-2 team…prep coach was David Helmer his senior year, and Rob Oelkers previous three seasons…will major in business…birth date: Oct. 31, 1995…his parents are Laurie and Lary Pearson and Cory and Kathryn Cochran of Culbertson.

Ben D’Alton, DL, 6-3, 230, Fr., HS, Billings, Mont. (Billings Central Catholic HS): Ben has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…Ben was a three-year letterman in football…his 2012 football team was 12-0 and the State “A” champion…was team captain and Most Valuable Lineman as a senior…first team all-state offensive tackle as a senior..two-time first team all-league pick at OT…named to academic all-state squad…his high school football coach was Jim Stanton…will major in business (finance)…birth date: Dec. 1, 1995…his parents are Bill and Moira D’Alton of Billings.

Kyle Davis, DT, 6-1, 245, Fr., HS,  San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic HS):  Kyle has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…he earned four letters in football and two in wrestling…he was co-captain in football as a senior…Eastern League Defensive Player of the Year, first team all-league, and “Outstanding Lineman” following his senior campaign…three-time all-league selection at defensive end…all-conference wrestler…career-wise he had 180 tackles, 23 sacks, and three fumble recoveries…his head coach was Sean Doyle…he plans to major in biology and hopes to become a physician…birth date: Sept. 21, 1995…his parents are Ron and Trelli Davis of San Diego.

Evan Epperly, Safety, 5-10, 180, Fr., HS, Kalispell, Mont. (Glacier HS): Evan has 11 letters: four in basketball and track, and three in football…he was a first team all-state pick at wide receiver and cornerback…had 55 catches for 1,126 yards and 14 TDs, along with 51 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, and five interceptions  his senior season…tabbed “AA” Western offensive MVP…football team was state runner-up in 2013…team captain in football and basketball…invited to play in Montana’s East-West Shrine Game, and the Montana-Dakota All-Star Game…first team all-state in hoops and in track as a junior…all-time leader in assists and steals at Glacier High School…his football coach was former (1988-90) Griz quarterback Grady Bennett…he will major in education…birth date: Aug. 6, 1995…his parents are Jim and Heather Epperly of Bigfork…his aunt, Julie Epperly, played for the Lady Griz from 1988-92.

Sean Foley, WR, 5-10, 165, Fr., HS, Whitefish, Mont. (Whitefish HS): Sean  has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…named first team all-state at cornerback his senior year…all-conference selection at defensive back, wide receiver, and as a returner…senior season he had 35 catches for 605 yards and seven TDs; rushed for 363 yards and five scores, and had five interceptions and returned two for touchdowns…also had two kickoff returns for TDs and one punt return for a score…2013 offensive MVP and team captain his senior year…also all-league at receiver as a junior…lettered four times in football and three times in track… track team won the state title his junior year…also team captain in track…high school football coach was Chad Ross..he will major in business…birth date: April 19, 1996…his parents are Bob and Sallie Foley of Whitefish.

Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, Safety, 6-0, 180, Fr., HS,  Tigard, Ore. (Tigard Senior HS): Manu lettered three times in football and once in track…was a first team all-state selection at running back and safety as a senior, and tabbed his conference’s offensive player of the year…named to the AIGA Under Armor Polynesian All-America team that year…Rushed for 2,000-plus yards and 38 touchdowns his senior season, along with 13 pass break ups and three tackles for loss on defense…his teams won three Pacific Conference titles from 2011-13, and had an overall record of 37-4…his football coach was Craig Ruecker…he will major in business…birth date: Sept. 23, 1995…his parents are Josh and Sylvia Rasmussen of Tigard.

Carl Johnson, RB, 6-0, 180, Fr., HS, Hardin, Mont. (Hardin HS): Carl has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…he earned letters in five sports: football (3), track (4), swimming (2), wrestling (1), and basketball (1)…football captain as a junior and senior, and defensive MVP as a junior… swimming team captain as a junior, and team MVP in that sport twice…named all-conference at running back and linebacker in 2011-12-13…senior year he rushed for 715 yards and had 51 tackles and two interceptions…his prep football coach was Mike Flamm…he plans to major in physical therapy…birth date: Sept. 18, 1995…his parents are Mark and Charlene Johnson of Hardin.

Riley Kack, FB, 6-2, 240,  Fr., HS, Bozeman, Mont. (Bozeman HS): Riley has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…a key member of the Hawks’ 13-0 squad that won the state championship in 2013…ranked fifth in school history with 82 career touchdowns…on defense he had 48 knockdowns as a senior and 34 his junior year…junior squad (9-4) was state runners-up…first team all-state and all-conference as a senior…will major in business…birth date: Nov. 20, 1995…his parents are David and Jennifer Kack of Bozeman.

Caleb Lyons, WR, 5-9, 185, Fr., HS, Lakewood, Wash. (Lakes HS): Caleb has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…he was a four-year letterman in football…was team captain as a senior…named first team all-league at wide receiver, returner, and safety…his football team won two league titles in 2010 and 2011, and played in the state playoffs those seasons…first team all-state kick returner as a junior…had 1,276 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns his senior season, despite missing two games due to an injury…his prep football coach was Dave Miller…he will major in business management…birth date: Nov. 16, 1995…his parents are Sean and Christine Lyons of Lakewood.

Jake Mann, Safety, 6-0, 185, Fr., HS, Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon HS): Jake has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…letters in football, basketball, and track…twice all-league pick in football at quarterback for teams that had back-to-back 7-4 records…his high school football coach was Sean Sovacool…rushed for 1,073 yards and eight TDs as a senior, and passed for 673 yards and six scores that season…career-wise he rushed 1,503 yards, and had 2,635 all-purpose yards and 25 TDs..a business major…birth date: June 30, 1996…his parents are Kelly and Liz Mann of  Encinitas.

Milan Marrero, LB, 6-0, 200, Fr., HS, San Diego, Calif. (Francis Parker HS): Milan has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…he earned four letters in football and three in lacrosse…team captain in football his senior year…tabbed his conference’s defensive player of the year in 2013…twice named first team all-league…senior squad was 10-1 and conference champion…his senior season he had 90 tackles and nine tackles for loss…his high school football coach was John Morrison…he plans to major in business…birth date: March 1, 1996…his parents are Guillermo Marrero and Joyce Maggiore of San Diego.

Nick Mertes, DE, 6-3, 230, Fr., HS, Edina, Minn. (Edina HS): Nick has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…earned three letters in football and one in track…voted team’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman as a senior…an all-league pick…football team captain his senior season…2012 league champions, and first Edina team to advance to the state playoffs in 30 years…recipient of Hornet Leadership Award…high school football coach was Reed Boltman…major is undecided…birth date: July 29, 1995…his parents are Jack and Lori Mertes of Edina.

Evan Miksch, DE, 6-3, 255, Fr., HS, Lake Stevens, Wash. (Lake Stevens HS): Evan has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…he earned three letters in football…team captain as a senior for his 6-4 conference championship team…his senior season he had 110 tackles, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles…first team all-state on defense as a senior, and first team all-area on offense that year…all-league pick both ways as a junior…set a school record with 20 career sacks…he will major in physical therapy…birth date: Dec. 19, 1995…his parents are Jon and Connie Miksch of Lake Stevens.

David Reese, OL, 6-7, 270, Fr., HS, Clackamas, Ore. (Clackamas HS): David earned three letters in both football and basketball…he was an honorable mention all-state pick as a senior…a two-time all-league selection…team captain as a senior in football…voted his team’s Lineman of the Year in 2012 and 2013…named “Rookie of the Year” in football as a sophomore…he will major in business…birth date: March 28, 1996…his parents are Jeff and Ashley Reese of Happy Valley, Oregon.

Tyler Richtmyer, LB, 6-2, 215, Fr., HS, Missoula, Mont. (Sentinel HS): Tyler has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…earned three letters in football…first team all-conference and second team all-state at tight end his senior season…a two-time all-league pick at tight end and linebacker…team captain his junior and senior seasons…a two-time academic all-state pick…invited to play in Montana’s East-West Shrine Game…also an outstanding baseball player…his prep football coach was former (2001-03) Griz wide receiver Dane Oliver…he is undecided on a major…birth date: May 2, 1995…his parents are Gary and Susan Richtmyer of Florence.

Dylan Stenseth, LB, 6-2, 225, Fr., HS, Lewiston, Mont. (Fergus HS): Dylan has accepted an admissions offer from  UM for Fall 2014…lettered in football, basketball, and track…senior year he had 81 tackles and rushed for 341 yards…all-state at linebacker and punter as a senior, and first team all-league at fullback that season…football team captain his junior and senior seasons…team MVP on offense as a senior and on defense as a junior…a three-time all-conference pick at linebacker and punter…academic all-state as a senior…top 10 qualifier in the javelin with a PR of 171-0…prep football coach was Gary Gebhert…is interested in a career in the medical field…birth date: Nov. 2, 1995…his parents are Warren and Rhonda Stenseth of Lewistown.

Kole Swartz, TE, 6-5, 225, Fr., HS, Missoula, Mont. (Hellgate HS): Kole earned three letters in football and three in basketball…was a second team all-state selection at defensive and honorable mention at tight end his senior year…all-conference and honorable mention all-state on defense as a junior…team captain in football and defensive MVP…member Hellgate’s 21-4 state championship squad in 2012-13…his high school football coach was R.L Boyles…he will be a business administration major…birth date: Feb. 18, 1996…his parents are Sean and Jennifer Swartz of East Clinton.

Alex Thomas, LB, 6-0, 215, Fr., HS, Great Falls, Mont. (C.M. Russell HS): Alex was first team all-state as a senior, and also selected to play in the Montana Shrine Game and Bandlands Bowl…a first team all-state pick in track as a sophomore and junior…all-league in football as a junior and senior…team captain in football and track…earned four letters in track and two in football…his high school football coach was Montana Hall of Fame mentor Jack Johnson…career-wise he had 24 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries, and he blocked four field goals…he is undecided on a major…birth date: Oct. 31, 1995…his parents are David and Lisa Thomas of Great Falls.