Griz Camp Report – Day 1 - University of Montana Athletics

Griz Camp Report – Day 1

8/4/2015 6:42:00 PM | Football

By: gogriz.com

The Montana football team took the field at 9 a.m. this morning, before the heat of the day set in at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, for its first practice of the 2015 season.

A total of 95 players suited up for a helmets-only run through under Coach Bob Stitt, with 10 more expected to join the team once school gets underway.

As with the first day of most things in life, the excitement level was high.

"I thought the kids were flying around," said Coach Stitt of opening day. "It's great to be out here, a lot of energy, a lot of retention. They really knew what they were doing (the returners), we just need to get the new guys polished up a little bit. But I'm happy with it."

The talk of camp amongst the onlookers mostly centered on the 33 players who were not part of 2014's 9-5 Griz.

The bulk of the newcomers (20) are slotting in at the wide receiver position; pass catchers that have been brought in by Stitt to suit his pass-happy offense.

One of the new faces on the defensive side of the ball that turned heads with his 6'4", 210 frame, is safety Yamen Sanders, a transfer from the Pac-12's University of Arizona.

"I thought it was a good practice. I liked it. Finally getting to strap the helmet on and play with my new teammates," said Sanders following his first outing in maroon and silver.

Coach Stitt also saw something that every coach craves when creating a positive team culture: the experienced guys lending a hand to guide the new guys.

"A lot of our older guys were coaching up our younger guys. Just a really good vibe today."

Senior wide receiver Jamaal Jones was one of those players taking a leadership role.

"It was good. We didn't really do that much as far as running against the defense, but we did a lot of learning and a lot of install," said the senior from Spanaway, Washington.

"I think it went well and I think I was able to help new players out with a few of the raw concepts."

Players helping players certainly didn't detract from the excitement level.

"Everybody was out here flying around. Everybody was excited. Everybody showed off good, giving 100 percent effort," said Jones."

Week one of Griz football continues Wednesday morning with another helmets only walk through at 9 a.m.

The team dawns helmets and shoulder pads for the first time on Thursday and Friday before putting on full pads Saturday morning.

Remaining week one practice schedule:

Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Washington Grizzly Stadium - 9 a.m. (helmets only)
Thursday, Aug. 6 – Washington Grizzly Stadium - 8 a.m. (helmets & shoulder pads)
Friday, Aug. 7 – Washington Grizzly Stadium - 8 a.m. (helmets & shoulder pads)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Washington Grizzly Stadium - 8 a.m. (full pads)
Sunday, Aug. 9 – Washington Grizzly Stadium - 8 a.m. (full pads)

2015 Newcomers
No.            Name                          Year          Pos.          Ht.             Wt.            Hometown / High School
1                Markell Sanders      R-Fr.        CB             6-2            185           Renton, Wash. / Eastside Catholic HS
2                Keenan Curran        Fr.             WR           6-2            200           Federal Way, Wash. / Federal Way HS
4                Holden Ryan            Fr.             WR           6-3            225           Billings, Mont. / Central Catholic HS
8                Jeremy Calhoun      Fr.             RB            6-0            190           Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Poly HS
8                Manu Rasmussen   So.             Safety       6-0            180           Tigard, Ore. / Tigard Senior HS
9                Justin Calhoun        Fr.             WR           5-10         175           Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Poly HS
9                Yamen Sanders        R-Jr.         S                6-4            210           Inglewood, Calif. / Culver City HS
10             Eric Prater               R-So.        QB            6-2            205           Lake Havasu City, Ariz. / Lake Havasu HS
11             Chad Chalich            Jr.              QB            6-0            205           Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / Coeur d'Alene HS
12             Danny Peoples        Fr.             K               6-0            185           Butte, Mont. / Central HS
12             Willy Pflug                Fr.             QB            6-0            185           Portland, Ore. / Sunset HS
13             Josh Sandry             Fr.             S                6-1            190           Bigfork, Mont. / Bigfork HS
16             Dalton Daum            Fr.             WR           6-2            180           Butte, Mont. / Butte HS
18             Tyler Lucas              R-Sr.         WR           6-4            220           Bellefonte, Pa. / Bellefonte HS
19             Kobey Eaton            Fr.             WR           6-3            190           Vancouver, Wash. / Evergreen HS
28             Jerrin Williams       Fr.             S                6-2            220           Vancouver, Wash. / Evergreen HS
29             Brody Martinez      Fr.             RB            5-10         196           Federal Way, Wash. / Todd Beamer HS
38             Jeffrey Salamon       So.             WR                                               Riverside, Calif. /
40             David Fa'atuiese     Fr.             LB             6-3            240           Vista, Calif. / Vista HS
49             Jesse Sims                 Fr.             DE             6-4            235           Stevensville, Mont. / Corvallis HS
53             Dante Olson             Fr.             LB             6-3            220           Medford, Ore. / Cascade Christian HS
59             Cy Sirmon                Fr.             LB             6-3            225           Wenatchee, Wash. / Wenatchee HS
64             Colin McGillivray   Fr.             OL             6-7            278           Portland, Ore. / Lincoln HS
65             Cody Meyer             Fr.             OL             6-3            270           San Marcos, Calif. / San Marcos HS
66             Dallas Hart                Fr.             OL             6-5            295           Cypress, Calif. / Pacifica HS
67             Joe Paolina               Fr.             OL             6-7            290           Poway, Calif. / Poway HS
73             Angel Villanueva     Fr.             OL             6-5            310           Duarte, Calif. / Duarte HS
81             Zack Hollenback     Fr.             WR           5-11         185           Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS
82             Jerry Louie-McGee                  Fr.             WR           5-9            170           Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / Lake City HS
84             Donovan Rooks     Fr.             WR           6-2            185           Yuma, Ariz. / Yuma Catholic HS
86             Ben Roberts            R-Sr.         WR           6-4            205           Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel HS
88             Colin Bingham        Fr.             WR           6-3            220           Missoula, Mont. / Big Sky HS
95             Andrew Harris       Fr.             DE             6-4            215           Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS

Coach Gregorak running the linebackers through footwork drills. #FallCamp #GrizFootball #PrideofMT #GoGriz #GrizD pic.twitter.com/ivJVL4KO3u
— UM Griz Football (@UMGRIZZLIES_FB) August 4, 2015