BILLINGS -- A week ago, we were talking baseball in January as the Billings Mustangs unveiled their 96-game schedule. Today, we're talking football in February.
Rocky Mountain College head coach Chris Stutzriem on Wednesday announced his latest recruiting class on this National Signing Day. It's traditionally been the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for a collegiate sport. But as of four years ago, college football implemented an early signing period in December. A significant number of top recruits still wait until the first Wednesday in February to announce.
"We had 12 guys sign with us in December at the early signing period and added another 18 the rest of December and January and through today," Stutzriem said Wednesday afternoon. "Really wanted to focus on offensive and defensive line and add in some skill positions, and I think we did that."
Asked if there was a player or two he is over the moon about?
"I think, number one, getting Jack Waddell out of Laurel (in December) was a huge get for us. His brother is on our team and apparently must really be liking it," Stutzriem said with a grin. "His brother was our scout team player of the year two falls ago. Getting Jack added to that, I think he brings a great skill set to the wide receiver position."
This is an unusual collegiate spring with a handful of small schools across the country playing their regular seasons and postseasons in a variety of fall and winter sports.
Rocky's full 2021 recruiting class can be seen here.
"We'll be out on the field Feb. 15 for our first practice, then we've got Carroll College coming to town March 20 (for the season opener)," Stutzriem said. "I feel really good about the schedule, I think this one is really going to happen."
Frontier Conference teams will have five Saturdays to play regular-season games with each eligible for playoffs.
