Malta’s Oxarart among 15 Montanans in Rocky recruiting class

On the flip side, the good vibes about Oxarart were mutual for the Battlin’ Bears’ coaching staff, who considered the Malta standout the “best gunslinger in the state,” per head coach Chris Stutzriem.

Their pairing together, after Oxarart verbally committed on social media to Rocky in December, was made official Wednesday as the team released its initial signing class for 2025, with the Mustangs’ multi-sport star and state championship-winning quarterback being one of 15 Montana natives in an announced list of 29.

“I’m really excited, I can’t wait to work with them this upcoming fall,” Oxarart said in a phone call Wednesday with The Billings Gazette and 406 MT Sports. “When I went on my official visit, I knew right then and there it felt like home. I had many reasons to commit there, like (how) the staff brought me in and has been treating me like family … and then I also like the academic part of it.”

Oxarart — who made the East Roster for this summer’s Montana East-West Shrine Game in Great Falls — said that he chose Rocky over offers from three current Frontier Conference programs (Carroll College, Montana Tech and Montana State-Northern), a future Frontier program (North Dakota’s Dickinson State, joining next season) and Jamestown (North Dakota), a NAIA school that will begin play in NCAA Division II next season. 

His resume on the gridiron makes it easy to see why Stutzriem and the rest of his staff were excited to get him on board.

Oxarart was a two-time Class B all-state selection under center for the Mustangs, leading them to an unbeaten 13-0 record and a state title this past fall as he accounted for a dizzying 2,822 passing yards, 344 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns (41 passing, six rushing) in 2024, per Malta’s MaxPreps season stats page.

He’s one of two of Rocky in-state recruits who played quarterback in state championship games this past season along with Bridger’s Gage Goltz, who led the Scouts to the 6-Man title game and will be a receiver with the Bears.

Throw in a host of other talents from near (such as four commits from Billings West) and far (Florence, Choteau, etc;), and Stutzriem is more than happy with the haul his team got in this year’s class.

“We solidified and got a lot of great talent from around the area at all positions on our signing class,” Stutzriem said. “(There’s) a lot of guys that played for state championships, won state championships, went deep in the playoffs (and come from) winning programs. And so I was really happy and excited to see that.” 

Stutzriem said that he expects “about five more” 2025 recruits to officially commit to Rocky in advance of the fall as they wrap up their winter sports. A total of 17 offensive players, 11 defensive players and one special teams player made up the announced list from the school Wednesday.

Rocky’s 2025 initial signing class is as follows:

Christian Allies, OL, 6-4, 295, Billings (Billings West)Kaden Barrett, OL, 6-1, 250, Billings (Billings West)Ryder Carper, WR, 5-9, 157, FairfieldKaleb Daniels, LB, 6-0, 190, Red LodgeDeegan Duffy, DB, 5-10, 157, Great Falls (Great Falls High)Cole Fowler, K/P, 5-9, 155, Florence (Florence-Carlton)Gage Goltz, WR, 6-4, 190, BridgerCohen Groener, DB, 6-0, 170, Billings (Billings West)Nathan Gunderson, RB, 5-11, 175, ChoteauPeyton Hartford, LB, 6-2, 225, LewistownWaylon Hoffman, OL, 6-2, 290, FrombergJustus McGee, DB, 6-0, 180, Butte (Butte Central)Stockton Oxarart, QB, 6-1, 185, MaltaTeagan Scherr, WR, 5-11, 165, Billings (Billings West)Colter Solomon, DB, 5-10, 160, Havre

Brady Ackerman, DL, 6-1, 215, La Habra, CaliforniaAJ Burnette, DL, 6-2, 230, Goodyear, ArizonaJayson Cady, DB, 6-0, 193, Coeur d’Alene, IdahoColton Deatherage, TE, 6-3, 205, Kuna, IdahoGarrett Deatherage, QB, 6-3, 220, Alameda, CaliforniaCamren Durfee, OL, 6-1, 305, Peoria, ArizonaCarter Hanson, OL, 6-6, 290, Coeur d’Alene, IdahoGarrett Herther, TE, 6-3, 220, Gillette, WyomingIndiana Jones, WR, 5-9, 175, Burien, WashingtonOffisong Okon, DL, 6-0, 310, PhoenixCaleb Reed, RB, 5-10, 200, Arlington, WashingtonEvan Senst, 6-3, 220, Hermantown, MinnesotaAnthony Taula’i, DL, 6-2, 315, Graham, WashingtonKaden Thompson, OL, 6-4, 270, Puyallup, Washington