Griz running backs set for return to full strength

Editors Note: GoGriz.com will bring you a series of preseason position previews in the lead-up to the Sept. 3 kickoff against Northwestern State. First up: the running backs.

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When the Montana Grizzlies took the field against the Washington Huskies to open the 2021 season, they did it with a freshman starter at running back and limited options at backup.

Not the situation any college football team would want to enter the season in, let alone one about to take on the No. 20-ranked team in the nation.

But it worked out for the Grizzlies that day, with Xavier Harris rushing for a game-high 70 yards in just his third game at the collegiate level and Montana taking one of the biggest upset wins in FCS history.

Fast forward to the end of the season with UM piecing together a ground attack led by three freshmen (one a converted wide receiver) who took the lion's share of the reps as the Griz rolled to a second-straight appearance in the quarterfinals.

Fast forward again to fall camp, where the 2022 corps of Grizzly running backs has a totally different look to it. A familiar look. A deep look. And depth is the operative word.

This year's running backs bring a mix of record-breaking, award-winning, upperclassmen, and underclassmen with veteran experience and big-win savvy. A deep room that looks to set make the Grizzly ground game one of the most potent in the nation.

How Deep?

"This is probably the deepest we've been since Travon Van and Jordan Canada," said running back coach Justin Green. "Those guys were really, really, good football players, and we were able to find ways to get them on the field. So, I expect the same for this group."

High praise indeed.

In 2013 and 2014, Canada, Van, John Nguyen, and Joey Counts combined for nearly 4,000 rushing yards, led by a pair of 1,000-yard seasons from Canada.

Now, with 2019's Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Marcus Knight set to return from injury after rushing for 1,000-plus yards as a sophomore, the Griz appear set to put up more gaudy numbers in the ground game.

Also set to return from injury this year is Nick Ostmo, Knight's backup in 2019, who served admirably with 321 yards and three total touchdowns as a true freshman.

With sophomores Harris and Isiah Childs back for the year and Junior Bergen also able to move in from receiver at any time, Montana now returns 75 percent of its total rushing production dating back to 2019.

Add to the mix redshirt freshman Colter Janacaro and highly-touted true freshman Eli Gillman, and the running back group is six deep with trusted and talented ball carriers, giving the Grizzlies added firepower and versatility heading into the season.

"If we can keep healthy, this much depth allows us to maybe bring a guy like "X" (Harris) in late in the game with fresh legs, and that's a different deal. That's hard for teams to defend," said offensive coordinator Timm Rosenbach. "We also have the ability to play more than one guy at a time, which gives us a lot of versatility in what we do."

"Our goal is to win a national championship. So, when it's next man up and he doesn't fall far from the starter, that's a great opportunity. Guys don't have to take 30 reps in a game, and it helps us extend everyone's reps throughout the year," added Green.

Knight hasn't taken the field since 2019, so you'd be forgiven if it's hard to recall just how good a season he had when he first arrived in Missoula after one year at Citrus Community College.

As a sophomore, Knight made the offense go, rushing for 1,030 yards (UM's first thousand-yard rusher since Canada) and breaking Chase Reynolds' school record with 25 total touchdowns on the season for another school record 150 points scored.

"The waiting to get back has been 10-ou-of-10 tough," said Knight.

"It just feels good to be back and feels good to be doing something with the team again. The body feels good, so I'm just working on getting my game shape, game vision, strength, and speed up."

With the 2022 Griz looking to improve on a third down conversion percentage that ranked 74th in the nation last year, Knight has added plenty of size during his recovery time and has added more yards after contact ability to his game.

"He's definitely a lot bigger," said Rosenbach. "He's got to get back into football shape, he'll have to get popped once in a while in fall camp and remember how to care of the ball, but I don't really worry about him. It's like riding a bike."

His position coach also knows he's got a bigger, stronger RB on his hand with Knight but says it's his drive and what's between his ears that makes him a special player.

"First and foremost, he wants to be great," added Green. "His first year, he young, got the opportunity and took advantage of it. He's a guy with a really good skill set as running back, and I think we're going to be able to use his tools."

Ostmo is also set to make his first appearance in a game this fall after last seeing the field briefly during UM's two-game spring season and in 2019 prior to that.

He was Montana's second-leading rusher behind Knight his freshman season, picking up 319 yards on 83 carries. In two games in the spring of 2020 he impressed with 130 yards on 33 attempts with four TDs.

Now back in the mix after a pair of injuries, he's also put on size in the weight room and is ready to help move the chains for Montana.

"He's another guy who's both put on good, solid weight, but it still really fast. People forget how fast Ostmo is. When he gets going he's hard to catch. So, those are good things to have in a running back," said Rosenbach.

Harris got thrown in the deep end at Washington and came out swimming, finishing his first full season at UM as the Grizzlies' leading rusher, averaging 66.6 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. He crossed the 100-yard mark in a pair of games that year, at Eastern Washington and in the win over Dixie State.

With a wealth of experience, he'll once again be in the mix for serious minutes in Montana's rebuilt RB group.

"He's just so much more mature. Last year you were calling a play, hoping he was going get it right. But now he's dependable. I mean, he's a real dependable player. He knows what to do," said Rosenbach.

Childs, a 6-1, 205-pound transfer from Akron last year, rounds out the bulk of the experience in the group with three touchdowns from 207 total yards on 55 attempts last year.

With still three weeks until the first game, Montana's running back depth chart is a long way from being finalized. But what is certain is that the Griz will have the luxury of experience on their hands at the position this season. A luxury that should pay nothing but dividends as the season wears on, and Montana looks to bring home another championship.

"They're all competing hard for playing time, but I love these guys. They know what they're doing. They listen to their coach. They understand the scheme. And then they're just trying to get better," Rosenbach said.

And as a Griz fan, you can't ask for anything more than that.

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Junior Bergen

Isiah Childs

Eli Gillman

Xavier Harris

Colter Janacaro

Marcus Knight

Nick Ostmo

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