Depend on me: Griz searching for next great cornerback in 2025

Editor's Note: As fall camp ramps up, GoGriz.com will bring you position-by-position breakdowns of the 2025 team, introducing you to new faces and returners to keep an eye on this season. Next up: The cornerbacks.

Long on talent, short on experience.

In many ways the 2025 Grizzly cornerback room is a microcosm of the defense as a whole. A lot of talent lost to graduation, but a lot of up-and-comers ready to make the most of their opportunity. And with fall camp around the corner, now is when we get the chance to see who the next great Grizzly corners are going to be.

It's also a position group that has had just that: GREAT Grizzlies.

Lockdown cornerback play has been a staple of recent Montana defenses, which have consistently ranked among some of the stingiest in the FCS. And when one graduates, another has come in the door.

All-American Justin Ford moves on? In comes another All-American in Trevin Gradney. Across from him? Corbin Walker, the guy who sealed Montana's win over NDSU with a pick in a double-overtime playoff thriller. The list goes on.

The common trait between them: elite athleticism and dependability when they're out on an island.

Cornerback coach Kim McCloud doesn't have a crystal ball but thinks this year's group has what it takes to keep UM's tradition of swarming corners alive and well.

"We're an athletic group, just young as far as experience. We've got three seniors – Kenzel Lawler, Justus Breston, and Prince Ford – and we need them to play like seniors play for the University of Montana. I saw a lot of growth out of them in spring ball, and I think they're still growing," said McCloud.

"But there are more guys in the room we can depend on now than a year ago, so that's really good."

KEY RETURNERS

Kyon Loud was a rarity in college football last season: a true freshman that, not only broke into the lineup, but made an obvious impact doing it.

A first-choice backup, he made his debut on week one and never looked back with 13 appearances and 18 tackles on the year – enough to make him the team's fourth leading returning tackler this season. Tall and rangy at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Loud also logged two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry in a breakout season.

He may not be a senior in 2025, but McCloud says he plays like it.

"Keyon doesn't perform or act like a freshman. He loves football, very competitive, and a hard worker. He came in and did a good job last year in fall camp and earned his way on the field. I wasn't counting on him playing as a freshman, but he just kept working and working and he was one of the top three guys a year ago," he said.

"He just kept making plays and he competes. You don't have to coach him on effort. Don't have to coach him on being physical. He loves to play so he tries to do whatever we ask of him."

Lawler is Montana's other returning cornerback that saw the most action in 2024, making an impact late in the year on special teams with 13 appearances and total 11 tackles.

The transfer from Utah brought FBS experience with him to Missoula when he arrived in the spring, playing in 14 games in four seasons with the Utes, logging a pass breakup against Arizona and his first career tackle in a win over No. 18 USC.

With one season left to play, now is his time to lock in a starting job.

"He had a fast start to the spring and is having a good summer, so he just needs to carry that into the fall. He's more than athletic enough to help us. I feel like he's picking up on things really well and should be a really good fit this year," McCloud said.

"He was a good player for us on special teams last year too, so I'm hoping he just keeps growing and going forward. He looks good right now though."

The last name Ford is already etched in Montana's record books. Justin was one of the best to ever play the position in his time at UM, leading the nation with nine interceptions in 2021. The ball just seemed to gravitate toward him.

Now it's his little brother Prince Ford's turn to carve out his own legacy after arriving in Missoula from Big Ten Illinois in the leadup to fall camp last year and making six appearances as a junior.

"Prince is fast, can run and has good ball skills. He's not quite as big as his brother but similar in athleticism and probably faster. He got here late last summer so it took him a little bit to get going, but I think he provides a lot of athletic ability that can help us," added McCloud.

NEW FACES

Another of the best defenders to ever patrol a Grizzly backfield was Shann Schillinger, an All-Big Sky safety who went on to a four-year NFL career. He now patrols the sidelines as the head coach at the University of Mary in Bismark, North Dakota.

Breston was a star for Schillinger at U-Mary in 2023, playing in 11 games, earning conference player of the week honors, running back a pair of pick-sixes, and logging 20 tackles on the year.

He was a known quantity then when he moved to Missoula in the spring and is now expected to play a big role in the Grizzly corner rotation as a senior.

"Justus reminds me of Keyon. He works extremely hard, he's a tough kid and has to be because he's a bit undersized. But he's physical and disciplined," said McCloud.

"He tries to do exactly what you say. He's definitely going to be in the mix."

You want speed in your corners? A pair of young Seattleites on the Montana roster appear to have speed to burn and could push for minutes as well.

Elijah Brady of West Seattle High enters his sophomore year at UM and has impressed in previous fall camps for the Griz. Incoming freshman Sage Salopek out of O'dea High was the 2025 Metro League champion in the 100M dash on the track this spring with a pace of 10.75 and could also break into the rotation at corner.

The competition for starting jobs gets underway on Thursday when the Grizzlies report to fall camp. Montana opens the season exactly a month from now on Sept. 6 against Central Washington. Season ticket packages and single game tickets are on sale now at GrizTix.com.

University of Montana Athletics

Depend on me: Griz searching for next great cornerback in 2025

Players Mentioned

Elijah Brady

Justus Breston

Prince Ford

Trevin Gradney

Kenzel Lawler

Kyon Loud

Sage Salopek

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