Bergen and Casey earn more All-America honors

A day after being named to the Associated Press team, Montana standouts Junior Bergen and Brandon Casey added to their postseason awards haul with a place on the Stats Perform FCS All-American team on Wednesday.

Bergen earned a place on the first team as a punt returner, while Casey earned a place on the second team offensive line.

Bergen seemed to be a shoo-in as an All-American punt returner after capping his legendary career tied for the most punt return touchdowns in NCAA FCS history with eight to his name.

He also now holds the UM school record for average yards per punt return at 16.71 (1,136 on 68 returns) to pass former NFL All-Pro Marc Mariani's average of 15.01. That average of 16.71 per punt return lands him third in Big Sky history behind EWU's Cooper Kupp (17.0) and Weber State's Randle Anderson (18.48).

The Billings native's average was bolstered by a pair of return TDs against Tennessee State, finishing his senior season at 24 yards per attempt (10-240), a new school record and the second-best average in Big Sky history behind Ellis Onic of UNC who averaged 24.5 (10-245) yards per return in 2015. They were also the fourth and fifth return TDs of his career in the playoffs.

As an all-purpose threat, Bergen earned All-Big Sky honors at receiver, kick returner, and punt returner in his career. He finished his time at Montana with 4,468 all-purpose yards, placing him sixth all-time in Grizzly history. All those touchdowns place him in UM's top 25 all-time in points scored as well with 164, and he finishes top 13 in total touchdowns with 26. He's also top 25 all-time at UM in receiving yards with 1,760.

Casey was a mainstay on the Grizzly offensive line as a three-year starter at right tackle with 43 career starts to his name.

The native of Sandpoint, Idaho, was at two-time first-team All-Big Sky selection as a junior and senior and to date is a three-time academic all-conference pick as well.

He's helped pave the way for the some of the most prolific rushing attacks in program history, racking-up 2,741 yards this season – the most UM has rushed for in the past four years and a top 20 rushing offense in the FCS. He also helped the Griz move the chains 305 times to date in 2024, a four-year high and the No. 7 first down offense in the FCS.

Casey opened his senior campaign as a preseason All-America pick and preseason all-conference as well.

2024 STATS PERFORM ALL-AMERICA TEAM

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 208
QB – Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 213
RB – Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 195
RB – Targhee Lambson, Southern Utah, Sr., 5-9, 200
WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11, 200
WR – Darius Cooper, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-0, 190
WR – Jalen Walthall, UIW, R-Jr., 6-2, 180
TE – Carter Runyon, Towson, R-Sr., 6-6, 235
OL – Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-7, 301
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 300
OL – Gus Miller, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 295
OL – Jackson Slater, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-4, 316
OL – Marcus Wehr, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 300
OL – Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-6, 305
DEFENSE
DL – Mi'Quise Grace, South Dakota, R-So., 6-4, 255
DL – Jeremiah Grant, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-2, 245
DL – Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 289
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-2, 243
DL – David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 260
LB – Caleb Francl, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 195
LB – David Meyer, UC Davis, R-Jr., 6-1, 230
LB – Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, So., 6-3, 240
LB – Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 220
LB – A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Jr., 6-2, 243
DB – Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 200
DB – Mason Chambers, UIW, Sr., 6-0, 210
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 210
DB – Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Jr., 6-0, 190
DB – TJ Moore, Mercer, Sr., 6-0, 185
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – DC Pippin, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 195
P – Jeff Yurk, Elon, R-Jr., 6-2, 224
LS – Caden Bolz, Missouri State, Sr., 6-0, 210
KR – Chandler Brayboy, Elon, R-Sr., 6-1, 199
PR – Junior Bergen, Montana, Sr., 5-11, 184
AP – Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr., 6-0, 195

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Zach Calzada, UIW, Grad, 6-4, 200
QB – Mile Hastings, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 225
RB – Roland Dempster, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225
RB – ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Sr., 5-9, 180
RB – J'Mari Taylor, North Carolina Central, R-Jr., 5-11, 200
WR – Dorian Anderson, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-7, 200
WR – Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-So., 6-4, 175
WR – Jeff Caldwell, Lindenwood, Jr., 6-5, 200
TE – Rohan Jones, Montana State, Jr., 6-3, 235
OL – Evan Beerntsen, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 300
OL – Brandon Casey, Montana, Sr., 6-5, 309
OL – Brock Gingrich, Delaware, Grad, 6-2, 305
OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr., 6-2, 290
OL – Luke Smith, ETSU, Grad, 6-1, 280
DEFENSE
DL – Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 248
DL – Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho, Sr., 6-2, 240
DL – Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., 6-5, 260
DL – Brayden Manley, Mercer, So., 6-2, 245
DL – Elijah Williams, Morgan State, Sr., 6-3, 270
LB – Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 225
LB – Eli Ennis, Nicholls, Jr., 6-2, 205
LB – Noah Martin, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 232
LB – Will Shaffer, Abilene Christian, R-Sr., 6-0, 224
LB – Brandon Tucker, East Texas A&M, R-So., 5-10, 225
DB – James Burgess, Alabama State, Sr., 6-3, 186
DB – Caleb Curtain, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 191
DB – Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, So., 6-2, 190
DB – Myles Redding, Mercer, Sr., 6-1, 195
DB – Dennis Shorter, South Dakota, Sr., 5-10, 195
DB – Isas Waxter, Villanova, Grad, 6-2 215
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Gabe Panikowski, Idaho State, Jr., 5-10, 189
P – Gilbert Brown, Charleston Southern, Jr., 6-0, 175
P – Sam Johnson, Valparaiso, R-Jr., 6-4, 230
LS – Jovoni Borbon, McNeese, Grad, 6-0, 194
KR – Jermaine Corbett, Merrimack, Sr., 5-9, 195
PR – Taco Dowler, Montana State, So., 5-9, 175
AP – Sam Hicks, Abilene Christian, R-Sr., 5-9, 190
AP – Michael Wortham, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-9, 177

THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Paxton DeLaurent, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-5, 229
QB – Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 225
QB – Derek Robertson, Monmouth, Sr., 6-2, 200
RB – Malachi Hosley, Penn, So., 5-10, 205
RB – Scottre Humphrey, Montana State, So., 5-11, 210
RB – Irv Mulligan, Jackson State, Grad, 5-10, 205
WR – Roy Alexander, UIW, Grad, 5-10, 200
WR – Cooper Barkate, Harvard, Jr., 6-1, 195
WR – Landon Ruggieri, Bryant, Sr., 6-1, 207
TE – Lance Mason, Missouri State, Jr., 6-4, 240
OL – Joey Lombard, South Dakota, Sr., 6-5, 305
OL – Connor Moore, Montana State, So., 6-5, 310
OL – Nick Taiste, South Carolina State, Sr., 6-3, 300
OL – Vance Van Every, UT Martin, Grad, 6-2, 285
OL – Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M, Sr., 6-6, 305
OL – Reid Williams, Chattanooga, R-Jr., 6-1, 286
DEFENSE
DL – Ejike Adele, Dartmouth, Sr., 6-2, 270
DL – Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Jr., 6-1, 232
DL – Nick Gaes, South Dakota, Sr., 6-4, 275
DL – Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., 6-2, 230
DL – Rushawn Lawrence, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-2, 270
LB – Brendan Bell, Villanova, Grad, 6-2, 230
LB – Evan DiMaggio, Furman, R-Sr., 6-3, 234
LB – Blake Gotcher, Northwestern State, Jr., 6-1, 255
LB – Gideon Lampron, Dayton, R-So., 5-11, 205
LB – Jaylon Sharpe, UT Martin, Grad., 6-3, 240
DB – Kimal Clark, Central Connecticut State, Jr., 5-10, 200
DB – Keondre Jackson, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 215
DB – Hayden McDonald, Columbia, Sr., 5-9, 180
DB – Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr., 6-1, 209
DB – TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-2, 215
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 5-11, 255
PK – James London, Murray State, So., 6-0, 170
P – Hunter Green, Northern Colorado, R-So., 6-4, 225
P – Brendon Kilpatrick, Youngstown State, Jr., 6-2, 220
LS – Sam Merryman, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-2, 215
KR – CJ Evans, Tennessee State, R-Sr., 5-8, 180
PR – Brayden Smith, Mercer, So., 5-10, 185
AP – Oshae Baker, UT Martin, Sr., 5-10, 200
AP – Ethan Greenwood, LIU, R-So., 6-0, 193
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2024 STATS PERFORM FCS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Carson Conklin, Sacramento State, 6-1, 180
QB – Elijah Owens, Indiana State, 6-2, 225
RB – CharMar Brown, North Dakota State, 5-11, 224
RB – Adam Jones, Montana State, 6-1, 200
WR – Mark Hamper, Idaho, 6-2, 210
WR – Malachi Henry, Central Arkansas, 6-1, 185
TE – Jackson Conners-McCarthy, Marist, 6-2, 235
OL – Griffin Empey, North Dakota State, 6-3, 295
OL – Carter Guillaume, Southeast Missouri, 6-2, 282
OL – Sean Kinney, Lafayette, 6-2, 295
OL – Luke Moise, Wofford, 6-2, 290
OL – Brady Norton, Cal Poly, 6-3, 275
DEFENSE
DL – Kahmari Brown, Elon, 6-2, 220
DL – Ty Gordon, William & Mary, 6-2, 285
DL – Jamond Mathis, Southern Illinois, 6-3, 245
DL – Andrew Zock, Mercer, 6-2, 250
LB – Josh Anglin, North Alabama, 6-0, 215
LB – Sanders Ellis, Tennessee State, 6-2, 225
LB – Zach Johnson, Idaho, 6-3, 225
LB – Dallas Winner-Johnson, Missouri State, 6-5, 230
DB – Cam Chapa, Northern Colorado, 6-1, 180
DB – C.J. Coombes, Wofford, 6-0, 208
DB – Derek Ganter Jr., Eastern Washington, 6-0, 188
DB – Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, 5-9, 170
DB – Matthew Traynor, Richmond, 6-1, 200
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Yousef Obeid, Missouri State, 6-0, 180
P – Finn Lappin, McNeese, 5-11, 178
LS – Tunner McLaughlin, Tennessee Tech, 6-1, 220
KR – Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State, 5-8. 165
PR – Paul Kelly, Dayton, 5-10, 165
AP – Jaden Green, Lehigh, 5-9, 195

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Junior Bergen

Brandon Casey

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