Griz tabbed seventh in Athlon Sports preseason poll
6/2/2020 11:40:00 AM | Football
The Montana Grizzlies were once again picked seventh in a Football Championship Subdivision preseason poll, with Athlon Sports slotting the Griz in the top-10. The poll is the second of the year, and the second in which Montana was picked to finish at No. 7 after HERO Sports published its preseason poll.
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UM is the third of five ranked teams from the Big Sky Conference to land on the preseason Top-25, with Weber State and Montana State coming in at Nos. 3 and 5, respectively. Athlon also slotted Sacramento State at No. 12 and Eastern Washington at No. 20.
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Montana returns eight All-America and eight All-Big Sky players this season. Samori Toure and Samuel Akem lead an offensive unit that returns 81-percent of 2019's production at wide receiver, with 3,453 combined yards, 26 touchdowns, and 263 catches. Record-breaking running back Marcus Knight is also back for his junior campaign after setting a new school record for touchdowns in a single season with 25 and becoming the first Grizzly to rush for over 1,000 yards since Jordan Canada in 2014.
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"The 73 points in a playoff win over Southeastern Louisiana underscore the Griz's offensive firepower, led by running back Marcus Knight (25 touchdowns) and wide receivers Samori Toure (87 receptions, 1,495 yards, 13 TDs) and Samuel Akem. Senior quarterback Cam Humphrey hopes to be at the controls of the potent attack. Buck Buchanan Award recipient Dante Olson is gone, but two other players who posted 100-plus tackles return in linebacker Jace Lewis (131) and safety Robbie Hauck (129)," said Athlon Sports of the Griz.
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The Grizzlies face three of the other four ranked Big Sky teams in 2020, with Weber State not falling on UM's schedule this season due to conference imbalance
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The two primary FCS preseason polls – the STATS FCS and the AFCA coaches' poll - will be announced closer to the start of the season.
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Montana entered the 2019 season ranked No. 25 in the STATS poll and unranked in the Coaches' poll before climbing as high as No. 3 and finishing the season at No. 6.
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Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top 25
1 North Dakota State
2 Northern Iowa
3 Weber State
4 James Madison
5 Montana State
6 South Dakota State
7 Montana
8 Villanova
9 Illinois State
10 Kennesaw State
11 Central Arkansas
12 Sacramento State
13 Austin Peay
14 Nicholls
15 New Hampshire
16 Sam Houston State
17 Southeastern Louisiana
18 Furman
19 Southern Illinois
20 Eastern Washington
21 The Citadel
22 Wofford
23 Albany
24 Jacksonville State
25 Towson
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UM is the third of five ranked teams from the Big Sky Conference to land on the preseason Top-25, with Weber State and Montana State coming in at Nos. 3 and 5, respectively. Athlon also slotted Sacramento State at No. 12 and Eastern Washington at No. 20.
Â
Montana returns eight All-America and eight All-Big Sky players this season. Samori Toure and Samuel Akem lead an offensive unit that returns 81-percent of 2019's production at wide receiver, with 3,453 combined yards, 26 touchdowns, and 263 catches. Record-breaking running back Marcus Knight is also back for his junior campaign after setting a new school record for touchdowns in a single season with 25 and becoming the first Grizzly to rush for over 1,000 yards since Jordan Canada in 2014.
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"The 73 points in a playoff win over Southeastern Louisiana underscore the Griz's offensive firepower, led by running back Marcus Knight (25 touchdowns) and wide receivers Samori Toure (87 receptions, 1,495 yards, 13 TDs) and Samuel Akem. Senior quarterback Cam Humphrey hopes to be at the controls of the potent attack. Buck Buchanan Award recipient Dante Olson is gone, but two other players who posted 100-plus tackles return in linebacker Jace Lewis (131) and safety Robbie Hauck (129)," said Athlon Sports of the Griz.
Â
The Grizzlies face three of the other four ranked Big Sky teams in 2020, with Weber State not falling on UM's schedule this season due to conference imbalance
Â
The two primary FCS preseason polls – the STATS FCS and the AFCA coaches' poll - will be announced closer to the start of the season.
Â
Montana entered the 2019 season ranked No. 25 in the STATS poll and unranked in the Coaches' poll before climbing as high as No. 3 and finishing the season at No. 6.
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Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top 25
1 North Dakota State
2 Northern Iowa
3 Weber State
4 James Madison
5 Montana State
6 South Dakota State
7 Montana
8 Villanova
9 Illinois State
10 Kennesaw State
11 Central Arkansas
12 Sacramento State
13 Austin Peay
14 Nicholls
15 New Hampshire
16 Sam Houston State
17 Southeastern Louisiana
18 Furman
19 Southern Illinois
20 Eastern Washington
21 The Citadel
22 Wofford
23 Albany
24 Jacksonville State
25 Towson
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