Four Griz named HERO Sports All-Americans

The Montana Grizzlies had four players named to one of three All-America teams by HERO Sports, the online news outlet announced Thursday.

Justin Ford was Montana's lone representative on HERO's overall All-America team, consisting of 32 players on offense, defense and special teams. HERO Sports also announced its sophomore and freshman All-America teams as well.

Cole Grossman and Junior Bergen were both named to HERO's sophomore All-America team, while Patrick Rohrbach was named to its freshman team.

They are the first FCS All-America teams to be released this season.

Ford, a unanimous All-American cornerback a year ago when he led all of college football with nine interceptions, was paid the ultimate respect by opposing coaches in 2022: don't throw his way.

UM's opponents completed 229 passes for 2,391 yards against the Griz all season. Just 12 of those passes were caught by Ford's man for a total of 163 yards. He finished the year with four shut-outs of the man he was defending, where they logged zero catches in a game.

Despite not much opportunity, Ford amassed 34 total tackles, including two for loss this season. He finished fourth on the team in pass breakups with five, and was one of four players to lead the team with two interceptions and recovered a fumble as well.

Grossman was Montana's third-leading receiver as a tight end in 2022, catching 28 passes for 397 yards, and was tied for the most touchdown catches on the team with five. Known for his big play making ability, his average of 14.18 yards per catch was third-best on the team as well.

Bergen was named a Sophomore All-American for special teams after leading the Big Sky and finishing fourth in all of FCS football in punt returns this season. The native of Billings returned 22 punts for 327 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per return, despite missing games to injury.

Another Grizzly specialist to add to his list of accolades was Rohrbach, who was named HERO's freshman All-America punter.

Rohrbach finished his first season at UM with the second-best punt average in program history at 45.2 yards on 48 attempts, a mark good enough to top the Big Sky and land him No. 3 overall in the FCS.

He's also been a catalyst for Montana's punt coverage team, with the Grizzlies finishing the year second in the FCS in net punt average at 41.52 yards per attempt, meaning the average punt return for UM's opponents is a mere 3.68 yards.

The HERO Sports All-America teams are compiled by FCS analyst Sam Herder.

HERO SPORTS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

Offensive All-America Team
QB Lindsey Scott Jr., UIW
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State
RB Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
FB Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State
WR Hayden Hatten, Idaho
WR Andrei Iosivas, Princeton
WR Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham
TE Ryan Miller, Furman
OL Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga
OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State
OL Colby Sorsdal, William & Mary
AP Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
AP Ulonzo Gilliam Jr., UC Davis

Defensive All-America Team
DL Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
DL David Walker, Central Arkansas
DL Caleb Sanders, South Dakota State
DL Spencer Waege, North Dakota State
LB Johnny Buchanan, Delaware
LB BJ Davis, South Carolina State
LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
LB Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State
DB Maxwell Anderson, Weber State
DB Alijah Huzzie, ETSU
DB Marcus Hillman, Elon
DB Justin Ford, Montana

Special Teams All-Americans
K Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa
P Jake Gerardi, Southern Utah
LS Robert Soderholm, VMI
KR Abraham Williams, Weber State
PR Jarrod Barnes, Central Arkansas

Sophomore All-America Team

Offense
QB Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
QB Miles Hastings, UC Davis
QB Tommy Mellott, Montana State
QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State
QB Paxton DeLaurent, Southeast Missouri
QB Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant
RB Kayvon Britten, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RB Sy'Veon Wilkerson, Jackson State
RB Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
RB ShunDerrick Powell, North Alabama
RB Bhayshul Tuten, North Carolina A&T
RB Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross
RB Cameron Skattebo, Sacramento State
RB Zak Wallace, UT Martin
WR Drae McCray, Austin Peay
WR Hayden Hatten, Idaho
WR Ty James, Mercer
WR Darius Cooper, Tarleton
WR Andrew Armstrong, Texas A&M-Commerce
WR Joey Hobert, Utah Tech
TE Ivan Drobocky, Southeastern Louisiana
TE Cole Grossman, Montana
OL Reid Williams, Chattanooga
OL Rush Reimer, Montana State
OL JT Reed, Montana State
OL Justus Perkins, Montana State
OL Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
OL Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL Jaison Williams, Youngstown State
OL Evan Roussel, Nicholls
AP Braedon Sloan, Eastern Kentucky

Defense
DL Brandon Roberts, Merrimack
DL Sebastian Valdez, Montana State
DL Elijah Williams, Morgan State
DL Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
DL Donnell Brown, Saint Francis
DL Zach Kennedy, UC Davis
DL Daylan Dotson, UT Martin
DL David Walker, Central Arkansas
DL Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire
LB Colton Adams, Alabama State
LB Antoine Williams, Austin Peay
LB James Conway, Fordham
LB Rodney Dansby, Houston Christian
LB Isaac Dowling, Mercer
LB Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri
LB Elijah Anderson-Taylor, Northern Colorado
LB John Pius, William & Mary
LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
DB Tamuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas
DB Marcus Harris, Idaho
DB Deontre Morris, Kennesaw State
DB Victor Nelson Jr., LIU
DB Myles Harden, South Dakota
DB Zy Alexander, Southeastern Louisiana
DB Alijah Huzzie, ETSU
DB Rylan Cole, Indiana State
DB Kamron Smith, Charleston Southern
DB Jordan Vincent, Eastern Illinois

Special Teams
K Alex Schmoke, Saint Francis
P Jeff Yurk, Elon
LS Jason Longcor, Alcorn State
KR Abraham Williams, Weber State
PR Junior Bergen, Montana

Freshman All-America Team

Offense
QB Gevani McCoy, Idaho
QB Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany
RB Jalen Hampton, Elon
RB Anthony Woods, Idaho
RB Victor Dawson, Merrimack
RB Desmond Reid, Western Carolina
WR Makai Jackson, Saint Francis
WR Elijah Sarratt, Saint Francis
WR Dominic Kibby, Presbyterian
TE Josh Cuevas, Cal Poly
TE DJ Nelson, UT Martin
OL Chandler Kirton, Austin Peay
OL Ayden Knapik, Idaho
OL Nathan Mejia, Sacramento State
OL Jarod Russell, UT Martin

Defense
DL Finn Claypool, Drake
DL Kenneth Eiden IV, Montana State
DL Eric O'Neill, LIU
DL Edward Bobino, Stephen F. Austin
LB Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah
LB Mason Woods, Towson
LB Chandler Martin, ETSU
LB Eli Ennis, Nicholls
DB Jalen Jones, William & Mary
DB Rex Connors, UC Davis
DB Wedner Cadet, Georgetown
DB Jamel Johnson, Charleston Southern
DB Travis Hunter, Jackson State

Special Teams
K Garrison Smith, McNeese
K Alejandro Mata, Jackson State
P Patrick Rohrbach, Montana
LS Jamie Wilson, Gardner-Webb
KR Keith Jenkins Jr., Morgan State
PR Chaunzavia Lewis, Texas Southern

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Junior Bergen

Justin Ford

Cole Grossman

Patrick Rohrbach

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