Coupeville standout Dalton Engle will take his football talents to the University of Montana Western next year.

The senior linebacker recently signed a letter of intend to play for the NAIA school in Dillon, Montana.

Engle said he received interest from many schools, but Montana Western, which has an enrollment of about 1,500, was the most persistent and personal in the recruiting process.  That, along with several other reasons, made the decision easy.

He said when he visited the campus in January, he was intrigued by the beauty of its surrounding mountains, lakes and rivers. He added, “I grew up hunting, fishing and hiking…I can see myself living there.”

Engle said Dillon “has a small town feel, like a small Oak Harbor.” He added, “They get a lot of support from the community, both the high school and college.” Dillon has about 4,000 people, and there are about 10,000 in the immediate region.

On the academic side, the school is “very student friendly,” he said, and the fact that Montana Western is on the block system (one class at a time for 18 days) was “huge.”

Right now Engle is slated to play inside linebacker and will report Aug. 12 to begin practice.

Engle, who has a 3.76 grade point average, said he will most likely major in health and human performance, which could lead to a career as a physical trainer or physical therapist.

He said, “I am definitely thankful the way it worked out.”