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HELENA - Carroll College football coach Mike Van Diest has announced the first wave of his recruiting class for the 2012 season. Highlighting the eight student-athletes are four Montana prep stars, including two 2011 State A Champions.

Dillon quarterback J.T. Linder will join the Fighting Saints after leading his team to the Class A State Championship in November. Linder threw for 2,378 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 18 more scores his senior campaign. He was the conference MVP and an All-State selection the past two seasons. Linder has been selected for the Montana East vs. West Shrine Game and the MonDak Badlands Bowl.

Linder will be joined by teammate Zeke Koslosky in Helena next season as the linebacker has also committed to the Fighting Saints. Koslosky is a 1st-Team All-State selection as well as the conference's defensive MVP. He has been an All-Conference selection on each side of the football over the past three seasons. A multi-sport athlete, Koslosky won the State A Discus Championship in 2011 and is currently undefeated on the wrestling mats in the 215-pound class.

Savage defensive end/linebacker Braden Ler will join the Carroll College roster in 2012 after the senior led the Warriors to back-to-back State C 6-man runner-up finishes. Ler hauled in 34 receptions for 12 touchdowns in the 2011 campaign and compiled 128 tackles and two interceptions. He has been selected to compete in the 6-man All-Star Game and is an alternate for the Montana East vs. West Shrine Game.

Jacob Babcock is the 4th Treasure State athlete to sign with Carroll College. The Columbia Falls senior defensive end has been a captain the past two seasons and was named All-Conference at positions on the offensive and defensive line in 2010 and 2011. Babcock has also lettered three years in wrestling and twice for track and field.

The other four student-athletes joining the Fighting Saints are 6-foot-3 wide receiver Elliot McGill from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City; 250-pound lineman Tyson Bydler of Chadron, Nebraska; 6-foot-2 defensive back Alec Basterrechea from Gooding, Idaho; and Green River, Wyoming quarterback Colter Hamel.

"We are very excited about these 8 student-athletes joining our program," says Saints coach Mike Van Diest. "They have the qualities that have made Carroll College successful both on the football field and in the classroom. We will look to add another 18 to 20 athletes to this recruiting class in the near future."

Carroll College recently captured their 12th consecutive Frontier Conference Title and finished as the NAIA National runners-up after playing in their 8th National Championship.

ONLINE: SaintCentral.com