Montana State wins in-state battle, lands Laurel lineman Kade Leibrand

Montana State landed one of the in-state recruiting wins that can shape a program for years, earning a hard commit from Laurel offensive lineman Kade Leibrand after Montana had already entered the race. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound prospect chose the Bobcats on April 11, giving Brent Vigen’s staff another Montana blocker who could help define the next wave of line play in Bozeman.

The timing tells the story. Montana offered Leibrand on Jan. 28, Montana State answered with its own offer on April 6, and Leibrand committed five days later. That sequence turned a hometown recruit into a head-to-head victory for the Bobcats, and it fits the way Montana State has recruited under Vigen, with an emphasis on identifying the right players inside the state before rivals can pull them away.

That approach is not just talk. Montana State’s 2025 early signing class included 20 players, and half of them were from Montana. Vigen said in December that the Bobcats targeted the right in-state players and felt good about that group, a message that lines up neatly with Leibrand’s decision. In a state where Montana and Montana State depend heavily on homegrown talent, each commitment like this helps sustain the identity of both the roster and the fan base.

Leibrand’s path to the commitment was built on repeat contact, not a one-time visit. He returned to Bozeman for Junior Day on April 3 after visiting campus in February, spent meaningful time with offensive line coach Matt Smith, and had a chance to talk with multiple coaches. He also met Vigen in person and came away with the sense that the relationship was strong. That connection mattered, especially with Smith in his first season as Montana State’s offensive line coach after arriving from Fresno State, where he played center and later coached. Smith’s own background as a former offensive lineman made him a natural fit for a recruit like Leibrand.

The Laurel senior still has work left at the high school level. MaxPreps lists him with 40 total tackles and 2.0 sacks during his junior season, a sign that he brought more than size to a Class A program that went 8-2 before its playoff run ended against Whitefish. For Montana State, that production and versatility matter. The Bobcats are not just filling a spot on the board; they are adding another Montana lineman to a pipeline that has become central to championship contention in Bozeman.