Four Grizzlies earn NFL minicamp invites
5/6/2024 3:50:00 PM | Football
Four former Montana football players are getting their shot at the next level following the conclusion of the NFL Draft in late April.
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Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Alex Gubner, all-conference center AJ Forbes, safety Nash Fouch, and punter Travis Benham all received invites to NFL minicamps in the month of May.
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Benham received an invite from the New York Jets, and Fouch also got an invite to the Big Apple with a camp invite from the Giants. Forbes received a tryout with the Seahawks. Gubner received two invites. He attended minicamp with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the first week of May but did not make the roster. He'll get a second shot at making a team when he attends the Denver Broncos minicamp the following week.
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Gubner was UM's most decorated Grizzly following the 2023 season, named to four All-America teams and named the Big Sky Defensive MVP. He earned a place on two first team (AFCA and Associated Press) and four total All-America teams (second team All-America by Stats Perform, and third team by Phil Steele). He also finished his career as a two-time first-team all-conference pick and was a unanimous selection as a senior. Gubner was the first Grizzly D-tackle or interior lineman to ever be named the Big Sky's Defensive MVP and was the 14th Grizzly to win the award.
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After his senior season only seven interior defensive linemen had ever been named Defensive MVP by the Big Sky Conference. He won the 2023 Steve Carlson MVP Award, was a two-time team defensive MVP, and a two-time winner of the Sims/Miller award for outstanding D-lineman. He was the straw that stirred Montana's defensive drink in 2023, helping UM to a historic season on that side of the ball. The Grizzly D allowed just 108.5 yards per game rushing – the third fewest in the FCS and a Big Sky-low. UM also had the FCS's No. 3 third down defense in 2023, allowing teams to convert just 29 percent of the time. He was the team's ninth-leading tackler with 45 stops (18 solo) as a senior. He also had the third-most TFLs on the team with 9.5 and three sacks. Gubner logged two pass breakups and two QB hurries that year.
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He finished his career with 124 total tackles (48 solo) and 28.5 TFLs – among the top-20 totals in Grizzly history, along with 10.5 sacks for a loss of 77 yards, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick. His freshman season he was a nominee for the now-defunct "Piesman Award" after he picked off four passes that year. A four-year starter, he played in 58 contests and made 53 starts, a team high.
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Forbes was a first-team All-America pick by the Walter Camp Foundation in 2023. He was also a second-team All-Big Sky pick that year and earned academic all-conference honors as well. He was also the winner of the 2023 Paul Weskamp Award for the team's outstanding offensive lineman. Forbes made 42 career starts at center for the Grizzlies. He was named a team captain at the onset of the season.
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At center, he helped lead a balanced 2023 offense that threw for 2,967 yards and rushed for 2,652 yards, a combined difference of just 315 yards. The Griz were third in the nation and first in the Big Sky in first down offense this season, moving the chains 297 times while outscoring opponents 454-258. He also helped UM rack-up the fourth-most rushing yards per-game (176.8) and the second-most rushing TDs (32) this season in the Big Sky.
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Fouch finished his career with 57 career appearances and 37 starts. He was seventh on the team in tackles his senior year with 52 (28 solo) and third on the team in pass breakups with five. The Washington native totaled five TFLs for a total loss of 20 yards, picked off one pass, forced one fumble, and tallied one sack for a loss of 10 yards as a senior. He finished his five-year career with 184 total tackles (98 solo) with 12.5 TFLs for a loss of 36 yards, and logged four career interceptions and 19 pass deflections.
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In one season with the Grizzlies Benham etched his name in the record books with some all-time great stats. He led the Big Sky in punts landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line with 26 and punts resulting in a fair catch with 29 on the year. He averaged 40.5 yards per punt on 67 attempts, the eleventh-best average in Grizzly history. He also totaled 2,707 yards punting, the second-most in the Big Sky. Posted a season-long punt of 60 yards at Utah Tech. He also threw a first-down pass for 15 yards against Idaho State. Also earned Academic All-Big Sky honors while earning a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship.
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Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Alex Gubner, all-conference center AJ Forbes, safety Nash Fouch, and punter Travis Benham all received invites to NFL minicamps in the month of May.
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Benham received an invite from the New York Jets, and Fouch also got an invite to the Big Apple with a camp invite from the Giants. Forbes received a tryout with the Seahawks. Gubner received two invites. He attended minicamp with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the first week of May but did not make the roster. He'll get a second shot at making a team when he attends the Denver Broncos minicamp the following week.
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Gubner was UM's most decorated Grizzly following the 2023 season, named to four All-America teams and named the Big Sky Defensive MVP. He earned a place on two first team (AFCA and Associated Press) and four total All-America teams (second team All-America by Stats Perform, and third team by Phil Steele). He also finished his career as a two-time first-team all-conference pick and was a unanimous selection as a senior. Gubner was the first Grizzly D-tackle or interior lineman to ever be named the Big Sky's Defensive MVP and was the 14th Grizzly to win the award.
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After his senior season only seven interior defensive linemen had ever been named Defensive MVP by the Big Sky Conference. He won the 2023 Steve Carlson MVP Award, was a two-time team defensive MVP, and a two-time winner of the Sims/Miller award for outstanding D-lineman. He was the straw that stirred Montana's defensive drink in 2023, helping UM to a historic season on that side of the ball. The Grizzly D allowed just 108.5 yards per game rushing – the third fewest in the FCS and a Big Sky-low. UM also had the FCS's No. 3 third down defense in 2023, allowing teams to convert just 29 percent of the time. He was the team's ninth-leading tackler with 45 stops (18 solo) as a senior. He also had the third-most TFLs on the team with 9.5 and three sacks. Gubner logged two pass breakups and two QB hurries that year.
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He finished his career with 124 total tackles (48 solo) and 28.5 TFLs – among the top-20 totals in Grizzly history, along with 10.5 sacks for a loss of 77 yards, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick. His freshman season he was a nominee for the now-defunct "Piesman Award" after he picked off four passes that year. A four-year starter, he played in 58 contests and made 53 starts, a team high.
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Forbes was a first-team All-America pick by the Walter Camp Foundation in 2023. He was also a second-team All-Big Sky pick that year and earned academic all-conference honors as well. He was also the winner of the 2023 Paul Weskamp Award for the team's outstanding offensive lineman. Forbes made 42 career starts at center for the Grizzlies. He was named a team captain at the onset of the season.
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At center, he helped lead a balanced 2023 offense that threw for 2,967 yards and rushed for 2,652 yards, a combined difference of just 315 yards. The Griz were third in the nation and first in the Big Sky in first down offense this season, moving the chains 297 times while outscoring opponents 454-258. He also helped UM rack-up the fourth-most rushing yards per-game (176.8) and the second-most rushing TDs (32) this season in the Big Sky.
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Fouch finished his career with 57 career appearances and 37 starts. He was seventh on the team in tackles his senior year with 52 (28 solo) and third on the team in pass breakups with five. The Washington native totaled five TFLs for a total loss of 20 yards, picked off one pass, forced one fumble, and tallied one sack for a loss of 10 yards as a senior. He finished his five-year career with 184 total tackles (98 solo) with 12.5 TFLs for a loss of 36 yards, and logged four career interceptions and 19 pass deflections.
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In one season with the Grizzlies Benham etched his name in the record books with some all-time great stats. He led the Big Sky in punts landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line with 26 and punts resulting in a fair catch with 29 on the year. He averaged 40.5 yards per punt on 67 attempts, the eleventh-best average in Grizzly history. He also totaled 2,707 yards punting, the second-most in the Big Sky. Posted a season-long punt of 60 yards at Utah Tech. He also threw a first-down pass for 15 yards against Idaho State. Also earned Academic All-Big Sky honors while earning a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship.
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