Players to watch during the 2024 Montana high school football season
The 2023 Montana prep football season is less than two weeks away from kickoff.
With two-a-days starting around the state this week, the excitement for a new season is building to a crescendo.
C.M. Russell High opens the season against Kalispell Flathead at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 at home at Memorial Stadium, while Great Falls High starts the new campaign in Kalispell at Glacier High.
As we wait just a little longer for Friday Night Lights to begin, here’s a look at some of the top returning players hailing from the Electric City, the region and the state.
River Wasson, CMR (WR/DB): The senior earned Eastern AA honors on both sides of the ball last season, racking up 614 yards receiving while leading the Rustlers with six interceptions.
Cooper Collins, Great Falls High (DE): An all-conference performer on the defensive line as a junior, Collins was second on the Bison and sixth in Class AA with 10 sacks. Wearing the honorary No. 40 as a senior, Collins was also named a captain for Great Falls High.
Dorian White, CMR (LB): A starter since his sophomore season, White returns as the Rustlers’ leading tackler from a season ago when he had 82 stops. The all-conference performer possessed the toughness and instincts required of a linebacker from the get-go, head coach Dennis Morris said. But coming into his senior year, White has shown prowess as a defensive tactician.
“My favorite thing we’ve seen from Dorian is he’s finally directing the defense like he should,” Morris said. “He’s always been a hammer and loved the weight room and not afraid to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong, but finally over this summer, the thinking has come into play.”
Ryder English, Great Falls High (RB/DB): English had his share of heroics last season spelling former star tailback Rafe Longin, including a pair of rushing scores on top of an interception on defense in a crosstown victory over CMR last season. The Bison captain, a state finalist in the 100-meter dash in track, was also All-State as a nickel cornerback.
“Last year Ryder made so many strides and became a two-way player for us,” Great Falls High head coach Coda Tchida said. “Offensively, he’s very shifty, he’s very powerful, he’s super-fast, he’s really three-dimensional when it comes to a running back.
English racked up 480 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at tailback, averaging 7.2 yards per carry, and had two interceptions including a pick-six on defense.
“He’s a willing tackler and he’s got the speed and quickness to guard those slot receivers,” Tchida said.
Kaiden Clement, CMR (FB/EDGE): An all-Eastern AA performer last season, Clement provides versatility for the Rustlers on the defensive line in the base 3-4 defense and 4-3 packages.
“A lot of times when you see Kaiden on the defensive side of the ball wreaking havoc, it’s because we got to stand him up and let him roam free,” Morris said. “He’s such a natural athlete on the football field, that he makes things happen. I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a kid with a higher motor than Kaiden Clement.”
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds last season, Clement also played fullback and H-receiver on offense. While the opportunities weren’t as ample last season with star targets such as Gus Nunez, Tanner Grove and A.J. LaFurge, Clement is highly effective on offense wherever he’s lined up, Morris said.
Mason Kralj, Great Falls High (LB): Named a captain for the Bison this season, Kralj burst on the scene as the fourth-leading tackler in the state as a sophomore with over 10 tackles per game. His 105 tackles led the Great Falls High defense, including 63 solo stops and a forced fumble.
Tchida said Kralj is a natural leader for the Bison and displays a love for the game that reverberates throughout the team.
“Outstanding football player. Loves the game, hard-nosed and loves to be in on everything,” Tchida said. “Just a leader of this football team. He’s a great role model, the kids look up to him. He studies the game better than most and has the passion to play Bison football. You’ve never seen a guy that loves to play football as much as he does. My expectation is for Mason to be one of the best middle linebackers in the state.”
Kael Barnes, CMR (OT): The senior earned all-conference honors last season and figures to lead an offensive line that brings back four of five starters from last season.
“He’s 6-6 and lean and has good feet and he can run,” Morris said. “He’s come into his own strength and toughness. Kael also has been a very good leader in the summertime, especially in the weight room.”
Izayah Brown, Great Falls High (S/RB): The senior, also named a captain, transferred to Great Falls High after winter break last school year. Brown saw limited time last season due to injuries but will be playing free safety and complementing English on offense at running back.
“He’ll be a great leader for us and someone who I think will separate us as the games go on and he’ll be a big-time playmaker for us down the line,” Tchida said.
Caleb Taylor, CMR (QB): The Rustlers lost their All-State signal-caller Cole Taylor, now at Montana State, following graduation. But the reins of the CMR offense remain in the family as his younger brother steps in as a sophomore. Morris said Caleb already has great command of the Rustlers scheme and has demonstrated the ability to make quick and effective decisions in the passing game.
“Caleb Taylor, just watch,” Morris said. “We have something very special on our hands. We’re very fortunate for the next three years, because this kid is going to be good.”
Riley Colette, Great Falls High (QB): This fall will be Collette’s first season as the full-time starter for the Bison, but it will be far from his first varsity action. The junior saw snaps in three games last season, starting in two Great Falls High wins as former starter Ashton Platt went down with an injury. Collette’s experience as a sophomore figures to pay dividends heading into this year, Tchida said.
“He’s one to ask a lot of questions, which I like out of a quarterback,” Tchida said. “He has all the talent in the world, his arm talent is crazy good. He’s faster than people think and can step up in the pocket and run, and run on the edge as well.”
Shafer Garness, Great Falls High (OL): Garness was named all-conference at center after being thrust into the role as a sophomore last season. The junior put in a lot of work in the offseason, Tchida said, and will be pivotal in aiding classmate Collette at quarterback.
“He was probably our best offensive lineman overall,” Tchida said. “The expectation as the leader of the offensive line is he can make some calls and he’s very reliable in snapping the ball. He’s great in pass protection, he’s a great communicator and he’s really good in the run game as well with that.”
Ethan Triplett, Belt (WR/DB): The senior was a heavy contributor on Belt’s Eight-Man title run last season, the program’s first state championship in almost 30 years and second overall. Triplett was one of Class C’s top sprinters in track but had his season cut short due to injury. An All-State receiver and defensive back, Triplett has a preferred walk-on offer from the University of Montana and scholarship offers from several Frontier Conference schools, Belt head coach and father Matt Triplett said.
“He’ll do a great job leading for us but with the experience he gained last year he should be our go-to guy on offense and a leader on defense,” Coach Triplett said.
Senior Reese Paulson, a returning all-Northern C performer, will step in at quarterback this year, while Jeremy Nebel and J.D. Shepard will also be major contributors for the defending champion Huskies, Triplett said.
Cade Ball, Fort Benton: The senior was an All-State selection out of the Northern C Eight-Man for the Longhorns last season, earning the conference’s first-team nod as a linebacker and second-team as a quarterback.
“Wherever they play him, he’s going to be a threat,” Triplett said. “He’s a great defensive player, just a great overall athlete. Great runner, hard-nosed kid. I definitely see him being an impact player for Fort Benton.”
Kieran Netburn, Lewistown: The senior linebacker is the leading returning tackler for the Golden Eagles following the program’s first Class A state title since 2001 last year. Listed at 6-foot-0 and 210 pounds, Netburn racked up 115 total tackles last season. He also came through mightily in the clutch, creating two turnovers with an interception and a forced fumble in Fergus High’s 34-14 state title victory over Billings Central.
“He’s a stud,” Lewistown head coach Derek Lear said. “This year we’ll use him at running back, and he can play slot, tight end, fullback. He’s a smart kid. A one-rep type kid that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Receiver Maxx Ray, safety Brody Jenness, and linemen Jordan Jensen are also returning All-State players for a Golden Eagle team that boasts 14 seniors.
Quinn Clark, Bozeman Gallatin (WR): The 6-foot-5 University of Nebraska commit hauled in 15 touchdowns last season for the Raptors.
Jacob Kauwe, Billings West (K): A signee for the University of Kentucky, the senior was an All-State kicker and second-team punter for the Golden Bears last season.
Mason Dethman, Froid-Medicine Lake: The senior, who recently committed to Montana State, guided the Redhawks to Six-Man state titles in 2020 and 2021. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound athlete plans to play linebacker in Bozeman, according to 406 MT Sports.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Players to watch during the 2024 Montana high school football season
