Carroll College Announces 26-Player 2026 Signing Class with 10 Montanans

Carroll College has confirmed an initial 2026 football signing class of 26 student-athletes, a group that local coaches and fans will watch for its heavy Montana representation and potential roster impact. Head Coach Troy Purcell announced the class Feb. 6, 2026, in Helena; the group includes 24 prep signees and two mid-year transfers and represents nine states, with Montana supplying 10 of the recruits.

The class adds depth across multiple position groups and brings a core of local products to the Fighting Saints. Receivers Joey Mergenthaler of Capital High and Hayden Paddock of East Helena High are among the announced signees. Mergenthaler arrives as a two-time state champion at Capital with a noted prep track and field background. Paddock joins Carroll as a two-time all-state performer for the Vigilantes and was a key contributor to East Helena’s first-ever playoff berth, a run that ended in the semi-finals. Helena High punter Riley Schulte also is listed among the local additions.

Additional names and measured details are available from a roster excerpt that accompanies the announcement. Defensive lineman Sam Akey is listed from Whitefish High at 5-10 and 230 pounds. Tight end Bridger Alexander is listed from Florence-Carlton High at 6-2 and 225 pounds. Defensive end Will Astle is listed from Glacier High at 6-2 and 235 pounds. Athlete Isaiah Burt of Laurel High is listed at 6-0 and 175 pounds. Defensive back Payton Cicero from West High is listed at 5-10 and 190 pounds. Running back Colton Cruchet from Central Cass High in Casselton, North Dakota, is listed at 5-11 and 180 pounds. Tight end Cooper Dighans from East Helena High is listed at 6-0 and 200 pounds. Athlete Travis Dye from Anaconda High is listed at 6-2 and 225 pounds. Quarterback Jacob Flowers from Rigby High in Idaho is listed at 6-1 and 180 pounds. Running back Curtis Fox from Laurel High is listed at 5-8 and 175 pounds.

Carroll College competes in the Frontier Conference and fields the Fighting Saints program out of Helena under Purcell’s direction. National recruiting databases did not show a complete Carroll entry at the time the announcement was compiled, so the college’s athletics communications office is the primary means to confirm the full 26-name roster and the identities of the two mid-year transfers.

For Lewis and Clark County, the composition of this class matters for several reasons. The influx of Montana recruits maintains a local pipeline that keeps area talent close to home for college development, supports community connections at Carroll home games, and may influence local high-school recruiting dynamics as prospects weigh Division II options. The additions at skill positions and on the line are likely to affect depth charts for spring practice and the fall season, creating competition for playing time and potential immediate contributors on special teams and offense.

Expect Carroll College to release a final, verified roster and enrollment details in the coming weeks as signees make enrollment decisions and prepare for spring workouts. Local fans and high-school programs will monitor who reports to campus and how these freshmen fit into Purcell’s plans for the Fighting Saints.