Lewis named MVP as six Griz earn preseason All-Big Sky accolades

Back in April, FCS news outlet STATS Perform ran a feature listing what they considered to be the "U. in FCS college football" over the last decade.

Considering the Grizzlies' tradition of stars like Buchanan Award-winner Dante Olson and pros Brock Coyle and Jordan Tripp, it was of little surprise then when they named Montana "Linebacker U."

That tradition is set to continue in 2020 when, for the third-straight year, a Grizzly linebacker has been named the Big Sky's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Senior Jace Lewis earned the honor after posting the third-most tackles in the league as a junior, the confrence announced Friday during its annual football kickoff event.

The next in a long line of greats at "Linebacker U," Lewis leads a list of six Preseason All-Big Sky selections for the Grizzlies – the second most of any conference team.

Also earning a spot on the preseason all-league team are the dynamic wide receiver duo of Samuel Akem and Samori Toure, senior tackle Conlan Beaver, prodigious kick returner Malik Flowers, and junior safety Robby Hauck.

"I'm always pleased to see guys get recognized for their accomplishments, but like I tell them all every year in this situation, make sure you're on the postseason first-team all-conference team," said head coach Bobby Hauck.

In fact, it was Hauck who broke the news of Lewis' preseason honor to him on a recent morning from his office in the Adams Center, a call that took the senior by surprise.

"I was driving home from workouts, and I thought I was in trouble or something when I saw his name pop up," Lewis laughed. "But he told me I was preseason MVP, and I was shocked at first but pretty excited. It's a big honor, but like he said, let's make it happen at the end of the season too."

As Hauck enters the third year of his return tenure as head coach of the Griz, he's seen Lewis transform from a role player on special teams to one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league.

"Jace has done a nice job, first of all, working his way into the lineup, and now working his way into being a marquee player on our team. He's got great playmaking ability. Those guys in front of him are getting better and better, and I think that will help him continue his path to being a major playmaker for the Montana Grizzlies," Hauck said.

The Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year is a far cry from the tiny Class-B football field in Lewis' home town of Townsend, Mont., where the now-star linebacker once dominated as a high school quarterback. But for him, it's all just part of fulfilling his lifelong ambition to sport the maroon and silver.

"Coming from a small town, you always dream of coming here, making a name for yourself, and representing the town you came from. So, that's been the coolest part. I have great players and great coaches around me too. When he got here, I don't think I was that good, but Coach (Kent) Baer pushed me and saw something in me, and I have to thank him for making me the player I am. I'm very thankful for that." said Lewis.

As that next Grizzly great at "Linebacker U." Lewis has also taken plenty of inspiration from the legends that have preceded him on the field. Already carrying preseason All-America honors, he's now trying to embrace his place among those that came before him, while realizing there is more work to do.

"Growing up watching Brock Coyle, Jordan Tripp, those guys on defense, and picturing myself being here and representing the state like they did makes this even more special," added Lewis.

"And having guys like (Josh) Buss, (Connor) Strahm, (James) Banks, and Dante (Olson), to learn from, just taking something from each one of their games has helped me tremendously."

Lewis totaled 131 tackles last season, placing him among the top-25 in the FCS for total stops. He tied for third in the league in solo tackles with 65 and was eighth in the conference in tackles for loss with 12, and posted a career single-game high of 17 tackles at Sac St. and had six games with double-digit tackles.

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In addition to Lewis' spot on the preseason all-conference team, the Griz placed five more standouts among the league's elite in the leadup to the 2020 season.

Akem and Toure, widely considered the top receiving duo in the FCS, combined for over 2,300 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns last season, with Toure becoming UM's all-time leader in single-season yards. Lest we forget Toure breaking NLF Hall of Famer Randy Moss' FCS playoff record with 303 yards receiving last year against Southeastern Louisiana.

Beaver earns a preseason nod as a stalwart on the Grizzly O-line over the past three years, helping the UM run game become a record-setting unit in itself, with running back Marcus Knight rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 25 TDs in the process.

Flowers led the Big Sky in kick return yards and yards per return last season with a school-record 882 total yards and was ranked sixth in the FCS in yards per return. He ran back a pair of kicks for TDs last year, including one for a modern school record of a full 100 yards.

Hauck posted the fourth-most tackles in the Big Sky and the fourth-most in the FCS by any sophomore with 129. He had nine games with 10-plus tackles, including six-straight in October and November. The junior was Montana's third-leading tackler behind Lewis and Olson and tallied five TFLs and three sacks – the fourth-most on the team.

Montana is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Sept. 12 at Missouri State.

2020 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team

Offensive MVP: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, QB
Defensive MVP: Jace Lewis, Montana, LB

Offense
QB: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington
WR: Samuel Akem, Montana
WR: Samori Toure, Montana
WR: Pierre Williams, Sacramento State
OL: Conlan Beaver, Montana
OL: Ben Bos, Weber State
OL: Lewis Kidd, Montana State*
OL: Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington
OL: Taylor Tuiasosopo, Montana State
OL: Ty Whitworth, Weber State*
TE: Marshel Martin, Sacramento State
RB: Josh Davis, Weber State
RB: Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State
FB: Clay Moss, Weber State
AP: BJ Perkinson, Sacramento State
K: Luis Aguilar, Northern Arizona
PR: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
KR: Malik Flowers, Montana

Defense
DT: Bryce Rodgers, UC Davis
DT: Jared Scheiss, Weber State
DE: Josiah Erickson, Sacramento State
DE: George Tarlas, Weber State
OLB: Nick Eaton, UC Davis
OLB: Christian Ellis, Idaho
ILB: Jace Lewis, Montana
ILB: Tre Walker, Idaho
DB: Anthony Adams, Portland State*
DB: Daron Bland, Sacramento State
DB: Robby Hauck, Montana
DB: Eddie Heckard, Weber State
DB: Devon King, UC Davis
P: DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona
ST: Emmanuel Daigbe, Portland State

* Denotes unanimous selection

University of Montana Athletics

Lewis named MVP as six Griz earn preseason All-Big Sky accolades

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Players Mentioned

Samuel Akem

Conlan Beaver

Malik Flowers

Robby Hauck

Marcus Knight

Jace Lewis

Dante Olson

Samori Toure

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