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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

The Bobcats are invading Orange County and could leave with prized football recruits on National Signing Day in February.

Montana State landed its second high-profile verbal commitment from O.C. on Monday when Mater Dei senior cornerback Jalen Cole committed to the FCS school.

Cole, a first-team All-County pick last season, joins Orange Lutheran defensive lineman Travis Yates as a Montana State pledge. Cole and Yates are ranked No. 35 and No. 38 on this year’s Hot 150.

Cole announced his commitment on Twitter, thanking his family, coaches and teammates before writing, “I am proud to announce my commitment to Montana St. University #GoCats”

The Bobcats’ roster features several California players, so Cole and Yates follow that trend. Former Sonora standouts Lukas and Jakob McCarthy are now at Montana St. along with St. John Bosco product Naijiel Hale, a cornerback.

But Montana State does have a new coach in Jeff Choate. And there is running back coach/recruiting coordinator Michael Pitre, who starred for Coach Jason Hitchens at El Modena and then played at UCLA. Pitre definitely knows O.C. football and the Trinity League. He is a former assistant at Servite and Santa Margarita.

Montana State finished 5-6 last season, 3-5 in the Big Sky.

Please send football recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter