Interview: 2017 DE/TE Carson Katen is a One-Man Wrecking Crew for Florence-Carlton

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The state of Montana is not the typical hotbed of football recruiting activity for Division-I programs across the country but there is one Big Sky Country recruit in the 2017 class pulling attention his way – Carson Katen.

Katen did what college recruiters want to see from a player in any given year, at any given position, and in any state, dominate the competition. The 6’4”, 222 pound, playmaker came up with 94 tackles, 42 solo, with 21 tackles for a loss, 18 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and six passes defended in just eight games playing defensive end. On the other side of the ball, Katen had 12 receptions for 142 yards playing ironman football at tight end.

Regional programs and some of the Ivy League schools have already caught on to Katen. The Florence-Carlton High School standout is receiving interest from Montana, Montana State, Portland State, Cornell, and Wagner overcoming the small amount of recruiting attention given to that area of the U.S.

The Falcons started off the 2015 schedule hot winning their first four games before an injury led to an end of the season four-game skid. Katen and the Falcons have a renewed sense of urgency for the 2016 season ready to do battle in Montana’s competitive Class B division.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Katen going over his junior campaign, his off-season workouts, and received a recruiting update.

Interview

Carson, how long have you been playing varsity ball?

“Since my freshman year. I was on the offensive line and at defensive end. I did not start at end my freshman year but I played a lot.”

You have a lot of experience heading into your senior year. What are some of the strengths of your game you bring to the field?

“My intelligence – knowing what will happen. I know the different tricks offenses use. I use my hands a lot instead of just bull rushing linemen.”

Was last year your first year at tight end?

“Yes sir.”

Do you like playing tight end?

“I love it.”

What kind of tight end are you? Are you more of a blocking tight end, a pass catching tight end, or can you do both equally well?

“After spending two years on the offensive line, I know how to block and I can catch the ball. I can get extra yards after the catch. I think I can do both well.”

What have you been working on this off-season at defensive end to prepare yourself for the 2016 schedule?

“I’ve been working on using my hands even more this year. I’ve been working on getting off the ball quick and making that decision off the snap, and just getting quicker all around.”

What about at tight end? What have you been working on at that position?

“At tight end, I’ve been working on being more confident when the ball is coming to me with a cornerback or linebacker on me. I’ve been working on going to the ball to get it and not letting a defender step in front of the pass.”

Have you maxed out on any of the primary football lifts lately?

“Yes. My bench is 250, squat is 350, and my deadlift is 455.”

Will your role change on offense or defense this year?

“Not much. I’m guessing the ball will be thrown to me more this year. One of our outside receivers graduated. I should get the ball thrown to me more this year.”

What honors did you earn at the end of your junior year?

“I was All-Conference at defensive end, All-State Academic, and our Team Defensive MVP.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you right now?

“Montana, Montana State, Portland State, Cornell, and Wagner.”

When you’ve talked to the different coaches, what are they telling you they like about your skill set?

“The coaches like my aggression on defense and my hustle each play, even when the ball is on the other side of the field. Most of them like how I play on defense. At camps, coaches have told me they like the way I run my routes and how I win in one-on-ones.”

Are schools recruiting you as a defensive end, tight end, or at both?

“Cornell said they like me at defensive end. Montana likes me at defensive end. Montana State is looking at me for both but more on the offensive side of the ball. Portland State on and Wagner, I think, was on defense. I can’t remember right now.”

Did you go to any college camps this off-season?

“Yes. I went to a few. I went to the Northwest Elite; that had 30 college coaches there. There were a lot of east coast Ivy League schools there. I also went to a University of Montana camp, a Montana State camp, and I just got back from a Cornell camp. Another camp I went to was in Washington called the Rough Diamonds Camp. There were 20 colleges there, mainly west coast colleges.”

Which camp did you perform your best at this summer?

“I feel I did really well at the New England Elite (Ivy League camp) in California and at the Montana State camp.”

What did you do well at the Montana State camp?

“I felt like I caught the ball really well there. I had some nice catches, same at Montana camp probably better for that. I won the fastest lineman at Montana State camp. I feel like I really showed my pass rushing abilities at that camp.”

Do you have any visits planned coming up?

“I’m hoping to attend one of the Montana and Montana State games. I’m not sure about the others yet.”

What was your GPA during your junior year?

“My GPA last year was a 3.93. My cumulative GPA is a 3.841.”

You have that down. I like that. Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet and if so what score did you receive?

“I took the ACT and got a 25 but I am going to retake it in September.”

What is your favorite subject in school?

“I really like mathematics. I don’t know if it will count as a subject, but we have a shop class that I really like.”

Have you started thinking about what you might want to major in while in college?

“I’ve thought about mechanical engineering but that is not a set thing.”

How do the Falcons look heading into the 2016 season?

“We have a good amount of returning seniors and we have been playing well in our 7v7 tournaments. I think we can do a lot better if we keep our heads up and keep a good mental attitude. We have to work really hard but I think we can have a great season.”

When does fall camp start for you guys?

“Two-a-days starts on August 12.”

It’s coming up.

“Yes it is.”

Okay, time to educate myself and others about Montana football. Maybe you can help dispel some myths or notions about everything.

(Laughs)

How many games a year on average do you play in the snow?

“We may play one at the tail end of the season. I have not played in too many. We are in the warmest part of the state. Usually around one in the season or maybe one in state (playoffs). I have played in three in my whole life; one in seventh grade, one my freshman year, and one my sophomore year.”

One myth debunked.

(Laughs)

How far do you have to travel for some of the games?

“My freshman year we drove seven hours to play a team. Usually we play within our conference or region. The farthest went last year was four hours one-way. Most schools are three to four hours away. The closest is 45 minutes away in Missoula.”

That’s crazy. In LA, you can have four to five high schools in a two to three mile radius all over town.

How are the divisions broken down in Montana?

“There are four divisions. Class C which is eight-man, Class B, Class AA, and Class A. I think the Class B level is more competitive than the others. They breakdown the classifications on how many classes a school has and how many kids are at the school.”

Carson, you’ve educated me. I thank you, and I thank you for your time today. Good luck with fall camp.

“Thank you.”

Photo credits: ncsasports.org; No. 17 Carson Katen.