Eight Griz earn preseason honors from Phil Steele Magazine

MISSOULA - Eight Montana Grizzlies earned preseason recognition Monday from Phil Steele Magazine, with three players landing on the publication's All-America teams and five more on its preseason All-Big Sky squads.

Eli Gillman, the reigning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, again earned the preseason favorite designation to repeat as the league's offensive player of the year, along with a first-team All-America selection. Linebacker Peyton Wing also earned a first-team All-America nod. Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat earned a fourth-team All-America selection and a place on the all-conference second team.

Defensive end Jake Mason, sophomore receiver Brooks Davis and linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu joined the three All-Americans on Phil Steele's second-team preseason All-Big Sky squad. Mason also earned a spot on the Big Sky's preseason all-conference team last week.

Receiver Ian Finch, a fifth-year senior and Missoula native, earned a third-team all-conference selection after a standout season on special teams. Safety Tanner Huff of Butte also earned a third-team all-conference spot.

Gillman enters his senior season as one of the top returning players in the FCS, having landed on the Walter Payton Award watch list, the Shrine Bowl 1,000 watch list and multiple preseason All-America teams.

The fifth-year standout is on the cusp of becoming Montana's all-time leading rusher for a program that has historically produced some of the top rushing offenses in FCS football. He starts the year with 3,677 rushing yards, fourth on UM's all-time list, needing just 394 more to pass Hall of Famers Yohance Humphrey, Chase Reynolds and Lex Hilliard and claim the top spot in the Grizzly record books.

Wing enters 2026 as one of the top defensive players in the FCS, landing on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list, multiple preseason All-America teams and the preseason All-Big Sky team for a second consecutive year.

The Sumner, Wash., native is Montana's leading returning tackler and the Big Sky's second-leading returning interception getter heading into 2026. Wing earned all-conference honors for a second consecutive season in 2025, establishing himself as one of the most decorated linebackers in the league.

Ah Yat enters his senior season already standing as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Montana history after a breakout sophomore campaign. His 5,462 career passing yards rank 11th in program history with two seasons left to play. His career completion percentage of 66.4 (463 of 697) ranks third in program history, and his 41-career touchdown passes rank in the top 10.

Ah Yat is now 17-4 as a starter, needing 11 more wins to crack UM's top five all-time in quarterback victories. He also needs 12 more wins to match his father Brian's career total of 29, with Dave Dickenson holding the program record at 33.

Mason broke out in 2025, his second season at UM after transferring from Washington in 2023, emerging as one of the top defenders in the Big Sky and earning all-conference honorable mention as a reserve defensive end.

The native of Ferndale, Wash., appeared in all 15 of Montana's games and played a big role in the defense with 26 tackles (14 solo), and was top five on the team in TFLs with 5.5 and logged 2 sacks for a loss of 11 yards. He also blocked 2 passes and had a quarterback hurry.

Davis exploded on the scene in 2025, setting a school record for receiving yards by a freshman with 54 catches for 698 yards and 5 TDs. He finished his first season at UM as Montana's second-leading receiver and the No. 11 overall receiver in the Big Sky with 698 yards. He capped the year as a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award for FCS Freshman of the Year, was named a Freshman All-American, and was an All-Big Sky honorable mention.

Tuliaupupu grew into one of the most feared defenders in the league in his first season at UM in 2025. He returns in 2026 as one of the most physical and veteran linebackers in the FCS. He logged 43 tackles, 5 TFLs, a pair of sacks and forced fumbles last season and was a second team All-Big Sky pick at linebacker. He later became the winner of the team's Golden Helmet Award for hardest hitter.

Finch enters his fifth year with 43 receiving yards on four catches and one touchdown. A special teams standout, he has recorded five tackles and blocked a punt against South Dakota State in the 2025 playoffs. He was co-recipient of the team's Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year award after the season.

Huff enters 2026 as one of the most experienced safeties in the Big Sky. He was a key contributor on UM's Big Sky-best kickoff coverage unit, which held opponents to fewer than 19 yards per return in 2025. He posted 21 tackles — 15 solo — primarily on special teams and recovered a fumble to earn first-team All-Big Sky special teams honors. Huff is also a two-time winner of the team's Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year award.

Phil Steele Preseason All-America
First Team
Eli Gillman (RB)
Peyton Wing (LB)

Fourth Team
Keali'i Ah Yat (QB)

Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Sky
First Team
Eli Gillman (RB)*
Jake Mason (DL)
Peyton Wing (LB)

Second Team
Keali'i Ah Yat (QB)
Brooks Davis (WR)
Solomon Tuliaupupu (LB)

Third Team
Ian Finch (WR)
Tanner Huff (S)

*= Phil Steele Big Sky Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

University of Montana Athletics

Eight Griz earn preseason honors from Phil Steele Magazine

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Players Mentioned

Keali'i Ah Yat

Brooks Davis

Ian Finch

Eli Gillman

Tanner Huff

Jake Mason

Solomon Tuliaupupu

Peyton Wing

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