Montana ranks No. 3 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Grizzlies finished 13-2 last year, reaching the FCS national championship game before losing 23-3 against South Dakota State.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Montana football squad, which has 24 seniors on its current roster.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (6)
1st Team
WR Junior Bergen
OL Brandon Casey
CB Trevin Gradney
PR Junior Bergen
2nd Team
RB Eli Gillman
LB Riley Wilson
Honorable Mention
OL Journey Grimsrud
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (4)
Pat Hayden (DL), Monmouth
Kade Cutler (DB), Montana State
Dayton Toney (WR), UIW
Andres Lehrmann (DL), Youngstown State
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (13)
Dane Parker (DB), Air Force
Stevie Rocker (RB), Arizona
Everett Johnson (OL), Cal
Cade Klimczak (OL), Central Michigan
Logan Fife (QB), Fresno State
Chrishawn Gordon (DB), Fresno State
Prince Ford (DB), Illinois
Johan Silver (K), Kent State
Tyson Simmons (DL), Navy
Vai Kaho (LB), San Diego State
Caleb Otlewski (LB), San Diego State
Kenzel Lawler (DB), Utah
Jacob Mason (DL), Washington
Transfers Lost To The FCS (4)
Nicholas Williams (WR) to Alabama State
Clifton McDowell (QB) to McNeese
Iverson Young (RB) to Missouri State
Sam Vidlak (QB) to Stephen F. Austin
Transfers Lost To The FBS (2)
Kale Edwards (DL) to New Mexico State
Vincent Genatone (LB) to Nebraska
For more FCS coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Offensive Outlook
Montana has the pieces in place to be one of the most electric offenses in the FCS this fall, except for two question marks, which happen to be the two positions that touch the ball every play.
The Griz need to find a center on an otherwise experienced offensive line. And the big offseason question is one Montana is used to facing — the starting quarterback.
For the fourth straight season, Montana will have a new starting QB (2021 Cam Humphrey, 2022 Lucas Johnson, 2023 Clifton McDowell). McDowell entered the transfer portal after the national title game and is now committed to McNeese after a brief stop at Temple. Sam Vidlak, who began last year as the starter before McDowell took over, has transferred to Stephen F. Austin.
The QB1 battle looks to be a healthy one.
Montana faithful are excited about redshirt freshman Keali’i Ah Yat, who looked the part last year when he got small windows of playing time. He’s a legacy kid as the son of Griz Hall of Fame quarterback Brian Ah Yat. Ah Yat went 9/13 for 89 yards and a touchdown against Northern Colorado and 10/15 for 131 yards at Portland State.
Fresno State transfer Logan Fife is in the mix as well. He started one game last year for the Bulldogs, finishing 22/39 for 291 yards and a touchdown. In 2022, Fife started four games for an injured Jake Haener, going 2-2 as the starter. In 10 total game appearances that fall, he finished 84/120 passing for 892 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Sophomore Kaden Huot, a Montana native with good size at 6-foot-4, could also push for playing time.
A luxury for the quarterback is the Montana offensive weapons will be as good as it gets in the FCS.
Montana’s uber-talented trio of wide receivers are back. Junior Bergen (59 catches, 791 yards, 5 TDs) is an electric playmaker, including on special teams. He had three returns for touchdowns in the 2023 playoffs. Keelan White (54 catches, 798 yards, 4 TDs) and Aaron Fontes (48 catches, 617 yards, 5 TDs) are also big-play threats that defenses need to respect. And not to mention the return of Cole Grossman, an All-American-level tight end who missed 2023 due to season-ending surgery. Grossman has 65 career receptions for 873 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Grizzlies will have a three-headed monster at running back. Last year’s Jerry Rice Award winner Eli Gillman is back after rushing for 968 yards and 12 TDs. So is the veteran Nick Ostmo, who has rushed for a combined 1,398 yards and 15 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Plus, Arizona transfer RB Stevie Rocker looks primed to be an impact player.
On the offensive linemen, Montana loses two 2023 All-Conference players (Chris Walker, AJ Forbes) and Hunter Mayginnes, a 2021-22 starter who was sidelined for most of last season.
But plenty of experience returns.
Montana brings back 70 combined career starts on the o-line — All-Big Sky First Teamer Brandon Casey (6’5” 305 lbs) with 30 starts, All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Journey Grimsrud (6’3” 291 lbs) with 20 starts, Liam Brown (6’5” 301 lbs) has 15 starts, Cannon Panfiloff (6’6” 285 lbs) has started four games, and Declan McCabe (6’4” 290 lbs) has started one game. Cal transfer Everett Johnson (6’7” 300 lbs) looks to play a key role as well.
Defensive Outlook
Montana has big names and production to replace. Yet the Griz were in the same position last offseason with several All-American players graduating, and they got even better defensively in the fall.
After allowing 17.2 points per game in 2023 to rank No. 5 in the FCS, Montana loses three of its top five tacklers.
Only four of its top 11 tacklers are back — safety Ryder Meyer finished second on the team with 91 tackles, LB Ryan Tirrell was fourth with 62 tackles, LB Riley Wilson was an All-Conference Second Team selection after totaling 53 tackles with a team-high 15 TFLs and 8.5 sacks, and safety Jaxon Lee totaled 49 tackles.
The Grizzlies bring back standout cornerback Trevin Gradney, a First Team All-Big Sky performer last year with 27 tackles, five interceptions, and seven pass breakups. Safety TJ Rausch and CB Ronald Jackson played plenty of snaps last season, a number that will increase this year as Montana graduates defensive backs Corbin Walker, TraJon Cotton, and Nash Fouch.
Hayden Harris (32 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks) returns as a starting defensive end, while Garrett Hustedt (23 tackles, 2.5 TFLs) has some starting experience as well.
Of Montana’s 15 D1 transfers coming in, 10 are on the defensive side. Several made strong impressions during spring ball.
Monmouth transfer Pat Hayden will help fill the crucial interior DL role in Montana’s defense. DBs Chrishawn Gordon (Fresno State), Prince Ford (Illinois), and Kenzel Lawler (Utah) are valuable additions. And San Diego State transfer Vai Kaho looks like he’ll man the middle at linebacker.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Montana Football Schedule
8/31 vs Missouri State
9/7 at North Dakota
9/14 vs Morehead State
9/21 vs No. 16 Western Carolina
9/28 at Eastern Washington
10/5 vs No. 22 Weber State
10/12 vs Northern Arizona
10/26 at Northern Colorado
11/2 at Cal Poly
11/9 vs No. 21 UC Davis
11/16 vs Portland State
11/23 at No. 4 Montana State
Bold indicates Big Sky games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
