BOZEMAN — Ben Winters is on the verge of achieving an unprecedented milestone.
The Kalispell Glacier football team has never had a player start all four seasons of their career in the program’s 17-year history, according to Glacier head coach Grady Bennett. Unless something unexpected happens, Winters will be the first to accomplish this feat in the upcoming season.
“It’s quite rare, I believe, to have a four-year Class AA starter,” Bennett shared with 406 MT Sports last week.
Winters’ success as a lineman with the Wolfpack over the past three seasons has garnered attention from several colleges, including Montana State. After receiving a scholarship offer from the Bobcats in January, he visited the campus officially in June and committed to MSU about a month later.
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“I’m really excited,” Winters told 406 MT Sports on Tuesday, expressing, “I really appreciate their culture. It was very welcoming.”
Kalispell Glacier’s Ben Winters (right) blocks a Helena Capital player on Sept. 29, 2023, at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Winters also received an offer from Montana Tech, and MSU’s rival University of Montana expressed interest, he said.
Winters didn’t choose the Cats solely because they play in Division I and Tech is an NAIA school. He enjoyed hanging out with MSU’s players and coaches, particularly head coach Brent Vigen and offensive line coach Al Johnson.
“What I really like about Vigen is he’s a quiet dude, but he’s really passionate about the sport, he really likes it, and he’ll coach pretty hard,” Winters said. “(Johnson) will also coach me hard. He’ll push me to my limits and try to make me a better player.”
Winters called himself coachable and adept at reading defenses. Bennett said Winters is extremely athletic for his size.
“Those are the type of guys that go on and play big time college football,” Bennett added. “What’s been really cool is to watch him grow. Now coming in his senior year — we’ve really seen it this spring and summer — (he’s) become the leader, the guy that knows everything, that’s leading the crew, that’s telling everybody what to do.”
Football has come relatively easy for Winters, Bennett said, due mainly to his size and speed. Camps like the one Winters attended at the University of Utah last month, among other factors, have helped him add skills to his O-lineman toolbox.
“I’ve always tried to talk to him about dominating with the mindset that, ‘You’re preparing for someday going against that speed rusher from South Dakota State or whatever,’” Bennett said. “‘Keep working and not rest on the fact that you’re bigger and stronger and faster than everybody you’re going against.’ He’s done a good job of that the last couple years.”
Winters plans to redshirt in 2025 and play guard at MSU. He’s lined up at guard, tackle and on defense in his all-state career at Glacier, where he also plays basketball and throws for the track and field team.
“We’ve always known that he had the ability to play at the college level. He just needed to keep getting better and put it all together and end up where he’s at right now,” Bennett said. “So really happy for him, and I’m happy that he’s staying in state.”
Before he embarks for Bozeman, Winters hopes his fourth season as a starter is his best. Glacier is coming off a 35-27 loss to Bozeman in the State AA championship game.
“I’m pretty motivated to help my team go all the way,” Winters said.
