Williamette High School defensive lineman Tripp Johansen announced his commitment to Montana State on July 3, choosing the reigning FCS national champion Bobcats after an official visit to Bozeman on June 18.
Why Montana State won the race
Johansen, a three-star recruit from Eugene, said the visit and the relationships he formed with the coaching staff sealed his decision. He singled out defensive coordinator Bobby Daly, head coach Brent Vigen and defensive line coach Nick Jean-Baptiste as central to his recruitment. The coaching staff, he said, was unified in offering and recruiting him.
"My commitment came after an amazing official visit and the strong relationships with the coaches and just fitting in at Montana State," Johansen said. "I know that I will be developed there and that I will fit in and be surrounded by people who want to grow like me."
What the visit looked like
Johansen described a visit that mixed football planning with team bonding. He spent time with his player host, defensive tackle Graysen Schneider, took part in team activities — including ziplining — and socialized with teammates around a fire. He said meetings with coaches, including a conversation with Vigen that both he and his parents appreciated, reinforced the sense that he would fit into the program on and off the field.
Local impact and season résumé
Johansen arrives at Montana State with a strong junior season behind him. Williamette finished 10-1 in 2025 and reached the OSAA Class 6A quarterfinals, falling 27-20 to Central Catholic. Individually, Johansen posted numbers that drew attention across Oregon.
- 73 total tackles
- 23 tackles for loss
- 10 sacks
- Two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery
- Earned All-State Honorable Mention
| Category | 2025 Total |
|---|---|
| Tackles | 73 |
| Tackles for loss | 23 |
| Sacks | 10 |
He said last season felt like a breakout both for the team and for him personally, noting he ranked highly in the state for tackles for loss and sacks among juniors.
What this means for Eugene football
For Eugene and the Williamette program, Johansen's commitment underscores a steady pipeline of talent from the city to Division I programs — in this case, an FCS powerhouse. Local coaches and families will see this as tangible proof that strong seasons and visibility can lead to opportunities at nationally competitive programs. For Johansen, the move is positioned as a development step: he emphasized the coaching staff's role and the expectation that Montana State will help him improve as a player.
As college programs continue to court Oregon prospects, Johansen's choice also highlights a recruiting pattern in which successful FCS programs leverage recent national success and strong coaching relationships to attract out-of-state players. For the Williamette community, supporters and teammates will now follow his progress in Bozeman, where he joins a program coming off a national title.
Montana State's offer came May 28 after initial contacts with Daly, and the official visit on June 18 put the final pieces in place for Johansen's announcement. He publicly thanked the Bobcats' staff and teammates on social media following his commitment.
Johansen heads to Bozeman with expectations set by his junior-year figures and a clear message from coaches about his role and development path. Locally, his commitment is a milestone for Williamette High and a reminder of Eugene's continued presence in college recruiting conversations across the region.
