Griz lead league with 6 preseason All-America honorees

The Montana Grizzlies had a Big Sky-best six players named to one of three Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Teams on Monday. All but one of Montana's six honorees also earned a place on the preseason All-Big Sky team.

Record-setting return man Junior Bergen was UM's lone first team selection, earning a spot on the list as a punt returner, to no one's surprise.

Three Grizzlies were named to the second team, with offensive tackle Brandon Casey, linebacker Riley Wilson, and tight end Cole Grossman earning a place on the squad. Casey and Wilson were both All-Big Sky preseason honorees, while Grossman earns his first preseason accolade since returning to the fold this season following a year off due to injury.

All-American defensive back and the latest to wear Montana's #37 legacy jersey Trevin Gradney earned a place on the third team. He's joined by the 2023 winner of the Jerry Rice Award for the nation's top freshman in running back Eli Gillman.

The Griz tied South Dakota State with a half-dozen honorees, second only to North Dakota State with eight. Montana State had the third-most selections with five picks.

Bergen is once again expected to be one of the most explosive receivers and punt returners in the FCS in his senior campaign. He's done a little bit of everything for the Griz in his time at Montana to earn all-purpose honors, including throwing what was the game-winning two-point conversion against NDSU in last year's semifinal.

He set a UM record with an FCS-best three punt return touchdowns in a single season and tied the Big Sky record with the fifth return TD of his career in 2023. As a receiver he was one of three Grizzly wideouts to total 600+ yards with 791 on the year and five touchdown catches.

Add it all up and Bergen is coming off a year where he posted 1,680 all-purpose yards, a top 10 single season total in program history.

Casey is a returning first-team all-conference pick from a year ago and a three-time academic all-conference pick who enters his senior year with a team-high 30 career starts at right tackle to his name.

The Sandpoint, Idaho, native was named the No. 8 best returning tackles in the nation by FCS Football Central/Sports Illustrated is one of the highest rated offensive linemen in the Big Sky by Pro Football Focus.

He helped pave the way for three 600+ yard rushers and three 600+ yard receivers on an offensive line that was No. 3 in the FCS in first downs in 2023.

Grossman returns to action at Montana after missing the 2023 season due to injury. Despite that, he's still regarded as one of the most athletic targets at tight end in FCS football.

He enters his redshirt-senior season after earning All-America and All-Big Sky honors in both his freshman and sophomore years.

He's earned other preseason accolades entering his final season at UM as well with a place on the FCS Football Central/Sports Illustrated preseason All-America second team as well as being named the "Best returning tight end in the Big Sky" by HERO Sports.

Wilson burst on the scene at linebacker in his first season at UM as the team's leader in both sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (15) in 2023. His sack total of 8.5 was fifth in the Big Sky and he led the league in solo sacks with eight. The Texan was also No. 2 in the Big Sky in total TFLs and No. 1 in solo TFLs with 13. That's all despite missing two games to injury and only starting two games as well.

He enters his junior year rated as the No. 3 overall edge rusher in the 2026 FCS draft class by Pro Football Focus with an 83.5 overall grade and was named second-team preseason All-America by FCS Football Central/Sports Illustrated.

Gillman was one of the top running backs in the Big Sky in his first full season of action, winning the Jerry Rice Award for FCS Freshman of the Year and becoming Montana's first-ever Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

The Minnesota native was just 32 shy of eclipsing the 1,000 rushing yard mark in 2023 with 968 yards, a top 16 total among all rushers in Grizzly history and the third-most for a freshman in all of D-I football.

His 12 rushing TD's last year are a top 20 mark in program history, and he set a new school record at UC Davis with an 85-yard touchdown run, the longest from scrimmage in program history.

Gradney was a Walter Camp All-American and a first-team all-league pick as a junior after leading the FCS in interceptions for much of the year. He finished the season with five picks – the most in the Big Sky after hauling in one in each of the first four games.

He finished top four in the Big Sky in total passes defended with 12 despite missing two games and had a career-high two pass breakups against Furman in the FCS playoffs, the second of which sealed the win for the Grizzlies and sent them to the semifinal.

He's played in all but two games for UM in the last three seasons and was passed down Montana's legacy #37 jersey in June. He is a two-time first-team All-Big Sky pick, one on special teams and one at defensive back, and is also a three-time Academic All-Big Sky honoree.

Montana was picked by the league's coaches and media to repeat as Big Sky champions in 2024, coming in first in both preseason polls that were announced last week. Nationally, HERO Sports slotted the Griz in at No. 3 in its preseason FCS top 25.

UM plays a seven-game home schedule for the first time since 2007 and for just the fifth time in program history this year.

New season ticket packages start at just $200 and ensure fans a seat at all seven home games this fall as well as guaranteed access to playoff tickets, which sold out for the first time ever in 2023.

Other benefits to purchasing season tickets include savings over the single game price in UM's first seven-game home slate in nearly two decades, guaranteed seats at every home game, priority access to away game tickets, and more.

Season tickets, three-game mini plans, and single game tickets are all on sale now at GrizTix.com or GoGriz.com/tickets.

2024 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 225
RB – Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 195
RB – Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., 5-8, 164
RB – Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr., 6-0, 195
WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11, 200
WR – Nick DeGennaro, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-1, 190
TE – Carter Runyon, Towson, R-Sr., 6-6, 235
OL – Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-1, 290
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 280
OL – Jared Penning, Northern Iowa, R-Sr.., 6-6, 338
OL – Jackson Slater, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-4, 316
OL – Marcus Wehr, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 292

DEFENSE
DL – Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 248
DL – Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 287
DL – Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, R-Sr., 6-3, 245
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-2, 243
DL – David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 260
LB – Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 215
LB – Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 225
LB – Micah Davey, McNeese, R-Jr., 6-2, 239
LB – Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210
LB – Noah Martin, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 232
DB – Caleb Curtain, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 191
DB – Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, Grad, 6-0, 214
DB – Tyler Morton, Nicholls, Sr., 5-10, 165
DB – TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-2, 205
DB – Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 217

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 5-11, 255
P – Aaron Trusler, Richmond, Grad, 5-8, 168
LS – Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 233
KR – Donovan Wadley, Merrimack, Jr., 5-9, 180
PR – Junior Bergen, Montana, Sr., 5-11, 180
AP – ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Sr., 5-9, 180

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SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 209
QB – Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 213
RB – Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 231
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary, Sr., 5-11, 210
WR – Bo Belquist, North Dakota, Fifth Year, 6-1, 185
WR – Jared Richardson, Penn, Jr., 6-2, 215
WR – Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, Jr., 5-10, 170
TE – Cole Grossman, Montana, Sr., 6-4, 225
OL – Brandon Casey, Montana, Sr., 6-5, 305
OL – Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-7, 301
OL – Gus Miller, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 290
OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr., 6-2, 290
OL – Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-6, 301

DEFENSE
DL – Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Jr., 6-1, 232
DL – Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., 6-2, 230
DL – Dylan Hendricks, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 247
DL – Marlon Taylor, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 6-2, 322
DL – Zach Kennedy, UC Davis, Sr., 6-6, 251
LB – James Conway, Fordham, Sr., 6-2, 225
LB – Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 217
LB – Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 220
LB – Ken Standley, Mercer, Sr., 5-11, 225
LB – Riley Wilson, Montana, Jr., 6-2, 224
DB – Oshae Baker, UT Martin, Sr., 5-10, 200
DB – Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, R-Sr., 6-0, 193
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 203
DB – Isaiah Reed, Brown, Sr., 6-0, 180
DB – Isas Waxter, Villanova, Sr., 6-2, 215

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Will Leyland, South Dakota, Jr., 5-11, 205
PK – Patrick Nations, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-0, 202
P – Brendan Hall, Montana State, Sr., 6-9, 232
LS – Caden Bolz, Missouri State, Sr., 6-0, 210
KR – Abraham Williams, Idaho, Sr., 6-1, 180
PR – Tucker Large, South Dakota State, Jr., 5-10, 180
AP – Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr., 5-10, 200

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THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina, Jr., 6-0, 195
QB – CJ Montes, Fordham, Jr., 6-2, 205
RB – Eli Gillman, Montana, R-So., 6-0, 206
RB – Mason King, Illinois State, Sr., 6-2, 215
RB – Marcus Yarns, Delaware, Grad, 5-11, 183
WR – Carter Bell, South Dakota, Sr., 5-11, 180
WR – Darius Cooper, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-0, 190
TE – JJ Galbreath, South Dakota, Sr., 6-4, 240
OL – Chandler Kirton, Austin Peay, R-Jr., 6-0, 291
OL – Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette, Sr., 6-7, 287
OL – Justus Perkins, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 282
OL – Nick Taiste, South Carolina State, R-Sr., 6-2, 300
OL – Jaison Williams, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-4, 315

DEFENSE
DL – Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State, Sr., 6-2, 260
DL – Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., 6-5, 260
DL – Caleb Williams, Lamar, Sr., 5-11, 290
DL – Elijah Williams, Morgan State, Sr., 6-3, 270
DL – Brayden Wilson, Weber State, Jr., 6-5, 260
LB – Luke Clark, Furman, Sr., 6-3, 250
LB – Isaac Dowling, Mercer, Sr., 5-9, 225
LB – Rico Dozier, Alabama State, Sr., 6-0, 221
LB – Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Jr., 6-0, 225
LB – William McRainey, ETSU, R-Sr., 6-0, 228
LB – Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 240
DB – Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 195
DB – Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-0, 198
DB – Max Epps, Texas A&M-Commerce, R-Sr., 5-11, 182
DB – Trevin Gradney, Montana, R-Sr., 6-0, 188
DB – Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr., 6-0, 201
DB – Edwin White Schultz, North Alabama, R-Jr., 6-1, 205

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Griffin Crosa, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 179
PK – Owen Zalc, Dartmouth, So., 5-10, 160
P – Grant Burkett, Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 180
LS – Bobby Cleary, Campbell, Sr., 6-1, 250
KR – Michael Wortham, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-9, 177
PR – Robert McMinn, Alabama State, Jr., 5-9, 176
AP – Tyvon Edmonds Jr., Robert Morris, Sr., 5-8, 180
AP – Amar Johnson, South Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 205

University of Montana Athletics

Griz lead league with 6 preseason All-America honorees

Players Mentioned

Junior Bergen

Brandon Casey

Eli Gillman

Trevin Gradney

Cole Grossman

Riley Wilson

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