Montana Western head football coach Ryan Nourse has announced a second round of recruits added to the program's 2022 roster.
"I am pleased to be able to continue to bring in quality student-athletes to continue the tradition of success that has been built at UMW football," coach Nourse said. "We had a larger and incredible senior class in 2021 which has allowed us to bring in more players to compete in 2022."
"Keeping our connection alive in Hawaii was a recruiting goal for this year and getting two state champions from Kahuku to commit to being Bulldogs is another direct reflection of the work our staff is willing to do to get the best players possible from great programs around the west region."
Sione Tui Heimuli | OG/OT | 6'4 | 360 | Laie, Hawaii / Kahuku HS
Heimuli is an offensive guard from Laie, Hawaii. He helped lead his team to 2021 OIA Open Division Championship, in addition to the 2021 HHSAA State Championship. Heimuli was an all-state selection. The honor roll student intends to study business at Montana Western.
Lalio Kaluna | RB/LB | 5'10 | 200 | Palolo, Hawaii / Kahuku HS
Kaluna is a running back from Palolo, Hawaii. His team won the 2021 State Championship and Kaluna was selected as running back of the year and punter of the year. The four-year honor roll student plans to study business at Montana Western.
Deacon Boyce | WR/DB | 5'10" | 185 | Richland, Wash. / Richland HS
Boyce is a wide receiver/defensive back from Richland, Washington. He was an all-conference defensive back selection and received the NFL Week 6 Way to Play High School award. Boyce also played baseball, where he lettered on varsity and started for three years. At Montana Western, he plans to study health and human performance.
Gavin Vetter | RB | 5"9" |175 | Butte, Mont. / Butte HS
Vetter is a running back from Butte High School in Butte, Montana. As a senior, he totaled 769 all-purpose yards. In 2019, his team came in second at state, and his team made it to playoffs during his junior and senior years. Vetter was selected as second team all-conference, all-state honorable mention, and is a four-time academic all-state selection. In addition, he qualified for state in wrestling and track for two years in his career. Vetter intends to study health and human performance at Montana Western.
Ian Ferguson | DL/OL | 6'2" | 250 | Idaho Falls, Idaho / Hillcrest HS
Ferguson is a defensive lineman from Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He lettered in both 2019 and 2021. His team was named the 2021-2022 4A State Academic Champions. The National Honor Society inductee plans to study modern history and secondary education at Montana Western.
Angel Navarrete | K/P | 6'1" | 165 | Heyburn, Idaho / Minico Senior HS
Navarrete is a kicker from Heyburn, Idaho. During his senior season, he averaged 60 yards per kickoff with 10 touchbacks. Navarrete was a two-time second team all-conference selection as a kicker and an honorable mention punter. His team won a conference championship in 2021. In addition to football, Navarette was an all-conference selection for soccer. The honors student intends to major in elementary education at Montana Western.
Cooper Jones | WR/DB | 6'2" | 185 | Malad, Idaho / Malad HS
Jones is a wide receiver/defensive back from Malad, Idaho. He is a first team all-district wide receiver selection. As a wide receiver, he averaged 14.7 yards per reception and 47.8 total yards per game. At Montana Western, he plans to study ecology.
Caleb Romero | DL | 6'3" | 265 | Billings, Mont. / Billings Senior High
Romero is a defensive lineman from Billings, Montana. As a three-year starter, he totaled 177 tackles and eight sacks. Romero was selected as an all-conference and all-state defensive lineman in 2019, 2020, and 2021; an all-conference offensive lineman in 2020 and 2021; an all-state offensive lineman in 2021. The two-time academic all-state selection intends to study modern history and secondary education at Montana Western.
Keegen Muffich | LB | 5'11" | 195 | Butte, Mont. / Butte HS
Muffich is a linebacker from Butte, Montana. The team captain totaled 68 solo tackles, 33 assisted tackles (101 total), one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery as a senior at Butte High. He was a second team all-conference selection and an all-state honorable mention selection. At Montana Western, Muffich plans to study health and human performance.
Nic Saunders | DB/WR | 5'10" | 170 | Spokane Valley, Wash. / Central Valley HS
Saunders is a defensive back/wide receiver from Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, Washington. The three-year varsity player was a member of the Leadership Council and won the 2021 Skilled Player of the Year on his team. He is a two-time first team all-league defense selection and all all-league honorable mention selection on offense. Saunders plans to earn a degree in business at Montana Western.
Tyler Slaughter | DL | 6'4" | 245 | Fernley, Nev. / Fernley HS
Slaughter is a defensive end from Fernley, Nevada. His team won the 3A 2019 Nevada State Championship. This year, he was named Nevada 3A Lineman of the Year, and was selected as an all-state defensive lineman and an all-league defensive lineman. Slaughter also participated in wrestling and track, where he was a state qualifier for both. At Montana Western, he intends to study physical education and health K-12.
Dace Bennett | DB | 6'0" | 195 | Meeteetse, Wyo. / Meeteetse HS
Bennett is a defensive back from Meeteetse High School in Wyoming. In 2020, his team was the state runner-up in the 1A division. The four-year varsity player received the following honors as a senior: first team all-state, first team all-conference, 1A 6-Man Offensive player of the Year, Super 25 Second Team and offensive MVP. He also represented his team for the Shrine Bowl and the Wyoming 6-Man Allstar game. The National Honor Society student has been on "A" Honor Roll since 2018 and was selected as Academic Athlete of the Month four times. At Montana Western, Bennett intends to study physical education and health K-12.
Justice Johnson | WR | 6'4" | 210 | Browning, Mont. / Browning HS
Johnson is a wide receiver from Browning, Montana. As his team's MVP, he led in receiving yards and touchdowns on the offensive end and led his team in tackles and sacks on defense. Johnson was an all-conference selection as a tight end and defensive end. The National Honor Society member intends to study business at Montana Western.
Rye Brastrup | RB | 5'11" |190 | Joliet, Mont. / Joliet Public Schools
Brastrup is a running back from Joliet, Montana. He spent four years on the varsity football team at Joliet Public Schools. Rye was an All-Conference and All-State selection. At Montana Western, Brastrup intends to major in physical education and health K-12 and minor in physical education teaching.
Kendrick Wheeler | DB | 6'3" | 190 | Kamiah, Idaho / Kamiah HS
Wheeler is a defensive back from Kamiah, Idaho. The 2021 team captain won the Dave Fallwell Memorial award and was a second team all-conference and honorable mention all-state selection. Wheeler intends to study environmental science at Montana Western.
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