Billings West linebacker Lane Humphrey commits to Montana State Bobcats

Lane Humphrey committed to Montana State after a late recruiting push that again put Billings West at the center of the Bobcats’ in-state pipeline. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete from Billings is listed by 247Sports as a June 26, 2026 commit to Montana State, giving Brent Vigen’s program another Montana prospect with the size and flexibility to fit multiple spots on defense.

The decision came after both Montana schools kept pressing through the finish. 247Sports lists Montana State’s offer to Humphrey on Oct. 29, 2025, with Montana joining the battle a month later on Nov. 29, 2025. Local coverage noted that Humphrey wanted to make his commitment on his birthday, but the calls kept coming from both staffs, and the official-visit stretch left him weighing two familiar paths before settling on the Bobcats.

Humphrey’s profile helps explain why both programs wanted in. Local reporting identified him as a linebacker recruit, while Hudl lists him as a Billings West player who has worked at running back and middle linebacker. That kind of two-way versatility matters for a Montana State defense that values toughness, downhill physicality and players who can survive in more than one role, especially in the front seven and on special teams. For a program that leans on in-state development, Humphrey fits the mold of a player who could contribute early on kickoff units and then grow into a larger defensive role.

The commitment also strengthens a 2027 class that already carries a heavy Montana stamp. One public commit list puts Humphrey among five known Montanans in the class, while another shows Montana State with seven high-school commits and about 29 percent in-state representation. The names attached to that effort include Three Forks quarterback Kanon Reichman, Choteau tight end Dax Yeager, Saco running back Laytin Erickson and Laurel edge rusher Kade Leibrand, a group that shows how aggressively the Bobcats have built around homegrown talent.

Billings West has long been one of the state’s most productive programs, and Montana State has kept leaning into that corridor. The Bobcats signed Billings West offensive lineman Malachi Claunch in the 2025 class, and Humphrey’s choice extends the same Billings-to-Bozeman line that continues to matter in Montana football. For Montana State, it is another in-state commitment with a clear path from prep standout to FCS contributor.