Eli Gillman

Class:
Freshman
Height:
6-0
Weight:
204
Position:
RB
Hometown:
Dassel, Minn.
High School:
Dassel-Cokato HS

2025:
• Named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List
• Named to the Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watch List
• Stats Perform Preseason All-America 3rd Team
• Preseason All-Big Sky
Enters his junior year ranked No. 7 in Montana history in career rushing yards with 2,137… Also ranked No. 5 in Grizzly history in rushing touchdowns with 28 and No. 7 with 30 total TDs… Tied at No. 15 all-time at UM with 180 points scored.

2024:
• Second-team All-Big Sky running back
• Preseason All-Big Sky running back
• Third-team Preseason All-America running back (Stats Perform)
• Big Sky Player of the Week (9/23)
• Academic All-Big Sky
One of the best rushing seasons in Montana history… Finished his sophomore campaign with a career-high 1,104 net rush yards on 167 carries, a top 10 season in Grizzly history and the most yards in a year for any Grizzly since Jordan Canada in 2014… Also the third-most yards in the Big Sky and a top 25 total in the FCS… Rushed for 15 touchdowns – the seventh-most in a season ever at UM, the third-most in the Big Sky in 2024 and the ninth-most in the FCS… Averaged 6.61 yards per carry, the sixth-best season average in program history and the best average since Josh Brannen averaged 6.82/carry in 1995… Also the sixth-best average in the Big Sky (min 50 attempts) and the eighth-best average in the FCS… Caught 18 passes for 176 yards and two TDs for 17 total scores, tied for the fifth- most TDs in the FCS and the second-most in the Big Sky… Led the team with 1,280 all-purpose yards, the fifth-most in the Big Sky… Scored 102 points, a top 13 total in program history…. Had a career-high day of 175 rushing yards against Western Carolina and was named Big Sky Player of the Week, a career second-best day against Tennessee State with 136 yards, and the third-best day of his career against Portland State with 134 yards… Posted fife games of 100+ rushing yards total… Also had a career-high three rushing TDs against Weber State and added a receiving TD as well for 4 total, a career best.

2023 (R-Fr.):
• Jerry Rice Award winner for FCS Freshman of the Year
• First-team Freshman All-America (STATS Perform)
• Big Sky Freshman of the Year
• Second-team All-Big Sky running back
• Academic All-Big Sky
• Named FCS National Freshman of the Week on 11/4
• Team’s Terry Dillon Award winner for best back or receiver
Gillman was a breakout star for the Grizzlies as the team’s leading rusher and the third-leading rusher in the Big Sky with 968 total yards on 194 attempts – the second-most in the league… Was a runaway winner of the 13th annual Jerry Rice Award for the FCS Freshman of the Year. A national, 56-member panel voted Gillman the winner with 203-points total, No. 1 among 22 finalists, and nearly 100 points more than the runner-up… Was also the first Grizzly to ever win the Big Sky Freshman of the Year… His 968 yards on the ground were a top-16 season among all rushers in Grizzly history and the third-most for a freshman in all D-I football… Had three 100-yard rushing games lineup and missed out on a fourth by three yards at Portland State. His 12 rushing TD's this season 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. With 65 yards and one TD his true freshman year, Gillman's career total of 1,033 yards and 13 TD puts him in the career record books as well… Added 140 receiving yards and 34 kick return yards to come in second on the team in all-purpose yards with 1,142… Broke loose for an 85-yard touchdown sprint at UC Davis to set a new school record and record the third-longest TD rush in the Big Sky that season… Started 14 of Montana’s 15 games and played in each one… Led Montana with 72 points scored.

2022 (Fr.): Impressed in two games as a true freshman, retaining his redshirt status… Totaled 65 yards rushing on 8 attempts, averaging over 8 yards per carry… Scored his first career touchdown in his collegiate debut against Eastern Washington

High School: A two-time All-District RB… Accounted for 43 TDs during his senior season and ran for more than 1,900 yards… Led Dassel-Cokato to their first undefeated season and state championship in program history… Named one of the 10 finalists for the Minnesota “Mr. Football” Award… Totaled 21 touchdowns and 1,585 total yards in 2019 as a sophomore. Went on to total 1,205 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games as a junior… Also lettered in basketball for the Chargers.

Personal: Son of Brian and Dawn Gillman… One of five children… Brother, Monte, plays football at Montana… Also held offers from Central Michigan, Northern Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Georgetown, and Dartmouth, with interest from Iowa.

Career Single Game Highs
Rushing Yards: 198 (vs Central Washington, 2025)
Longest run: 85 (at UC Davis, 2023)*
Rushing touchdowns: 3 (vs Weber State, 2024 & Central Washington, 2025)
Reception yards: 79 (vs Weber State, 2024)
Long reception: 68 (vs Weber State, 2024)
Total touchdowns: 4 (vs Weber State, 2024)
* School record