Griz return to action with start of spring ball

3/4/2024 6:22:00 PM | Football

By: Montana Sports Information

Weren't we just here?

It's a question to file under 'great problems to have' for the Montana Grizzlies, and today might have felt like Groundhog Day for the defending Big Sky champions.

Less than two months after competing for the FCS National Championship the Griz returned to the football field Monday for the first official practice of the spring season. It was a run to the title game that included a first for the Griz: a January football practice.

Seems like yesterday, and now they're right back at it.

Led by head coach Bobby Hauck – the winningest coach in Big Sky history now in his sixth season since returning in 2018 and his 13^th overall with the program – the Grizzlies opened their 15-practice spring slate on a chilly Missoula afternoon in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

While it's the first practice of spring, the Griz haven't been in hibernation since Frisco. The team has been lifting three days a week and run through five morning conditioning sessions since the start of the new semester to prepare the bodies.

With that championship feeling still buzzing around the team, now it's time to focus on the football.

"Well as usual with our guys we had great work through the winter. I thought our training was good both in terms of our agility circuit and our weight room work. We also had the benefit of having a lot of workouts over Christmas break, which was beneficial to all the guys that are back from last season's team. So, I think we're right where we need to be and everybody's excited for spring practice, including me," said Hauck.

"I think you get better football by playing it. So, I'm excited to go out there and just coach our guys in terms of individual skill and technique. It's a chance to play football, a chance to coach football. I love our spring practice. We get a lot of growth in our football team and a lot of growth collectively and individually. So, this will be a productive month for us."

Gallery: (3-4-2024) FB: Spring Practice 1

SENIOR SZN: A glimpse at the current roster should give fans plenty of reason to celebrate this season as Griz Nation collectively pulls for a return to Texas with a robust 27 seniors on the spring roster.

Among them are some household names, including running back Nick Ostmo who has a chance to become one of the most productive running backs in program history after announcing his return in January.

All American tight end Cole Grossman will give the offense a big time play maker after the senior missed last season with an injury and spend the year in Arizona rehabbing. He's joined in the tight end room by a breakout star from last year in Evan Shafer and Erik Barker, who both bring plenty of physicality to the position.

Speaking of playmakers, Junior Bergen is back, and we all know what he's capable of, as are dynamic receivers Keelan White, Aaron Fontes, Ryan Simpson, and Sawyer Racanelli, giving the Griz plenty of firepower out wide.

Up front, first-team All-Big Sky tackle Brandon Casey is back for his senior year and Dillon Botner is returning from injury and could bring some more size to the offensive front in his senior year.

Defensively, Kale Edwards is coming off another strong year at D-End and should provide speed on the edge. Hayden Harris also came on strong at the end of last year and is back for his final campaign. Garrett Hustedt has also seen plenty of minutes on the D-line as well.

Ryder Meyer was a breakout star at safety last season and with 91 stops is the team's leading returner in the tackle department. Jaxon Lee is also coming off a breakout year at safety where he scored two touchdowns off turnovers to go with 49 tackles.

FRESH FACES: The Grizzly coaches will also get their first on-field and in-person look at nine new transfers to the team during spring ball.

At the start of the semester Hauck and his staff hit the portal to add 10 transfers to the roster, nine of which are in Missoula and suiting up for the spring season – valuable reps for anyone assimilating with a new team.

Montana added six on the defense to make up for notable losses like team MVP Alex Gubner and Buchanan Award finalist Braxton Hill.

Up front, end Andres Lehrmann out of Youngstown State and tackle Pat Hayden of Monmouth bring senior level FCS experience to the D-line. Linebacker Vai Kaho out of San Diego State is a physical presence that should make an immediate impact.

In the secondary, cornerback Kenzel Lawler from Utah and safeties Chrishawn Gordon of Fresno State and Phillipsburg native Kade Cutler of Montana State will also have plenty of opportunity with the loss of Corbin Walker and Nash Fouch to graduation.

Offensively, a new signal caller will have a chance to earn the starting job with Logan Fife transferring in from Fresno State where he started five games as the backup for the Bulldogs.

Stevie Rocker Jr. adds impressive depth to the running back room as a transfer from Arizona and the offense line gets more Pac-12 (RIP) experience with the addition of Everett Johnson.

Of the nine new additions currently on campus, six come from Mountain West or Pac-12 programs and have the physical ability to match.

Hauck says he likes what he's seen from the whole group so far, however.

'I've really enjoyed having all of our new guys around. They've really worked hard to immerse themselves in our culture and install themselves on the football team. I think practice will go a long way to complete that process, but those guys have done a nice job. They're fitting in nicely and I think our staff is really excited to coach them."

Montana will cap the spring season with the annual GSA Spring Game on April 12 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.