The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Montana using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from Montana set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
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1 / 10#9 (tie). Brody Bulette (OT)
- National rank: #2,691 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #212
- College: Montana State
- Offers: Montana State, Montana, UTEP
- High school: Polson (Polson, MT)
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2 / 10#9 (tie). Elias Bonner (ATH)
- National rank: #2,703 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #228
- College: not committed
- Offers: Air Force, Montana, Montana State
- High school: Billings West (Billings, MT)
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3 / 10#4 (tie). Evan Pyron (TE)
- National rank: #2,582 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #142
- College: Montana
- Offers: Montana, UC Davis
- High school: Hellgate (Missoula, MT)
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4 / 10#4 (tie). Maverick Diede (IOL)
- National rank: #2,593 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #226
- College: Army
- Offers: Army
- High school: Glacier (Kalispell, MT)
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5 / 10#4 (tie). Tommy Lewis (OT)
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6 / 10#4 (tie). Wesley Ehret (WR)
- National rank: #2,593 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #351
- College: Montana
- Offers: Montana, Montana State
- High school: Belgrade (Belgrade, MT)
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7 / 10#4 (tie). Carter Dahlke (ATH)
- National rank: #2,593 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #217
- College: Montana State
- Offers: Montana State, Air Force, Montana
- High school: Gallatin (Bozeman, MT)
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8 / 10#3. Brit Linder (ATH)
- National rank: #2,411 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #195
- College: Montana State
- Offers: Montana State, Montana, Nevada, UTEP
- High school: Capital (Helena, MT)
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9 / 10#2. Jackson Presley (QB)
- National rank: #1,756 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #98
- College: Sacramento State
- Offers: Sacramento State, Arizona, Arkansas, Boise State, Colorado
- High school: Glacier (Kalispell, MT)
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10 / 10#1. Matt Ludwig (TE)
- National rank: #216 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #11
- College: Michigan
- Offers: Michigan, Arkansas, Auburn, Boise State, Boston College
- High school: Billings West (Billings, MT)
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