2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 8
Kenzel Lawler
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 190
- Position:
- CB
- Hometown:
- Corona, Calif.
- High School:
- Elanor Roosevelt HS
- Prev School:
- Utah
2025 (R-Sr. – Montana):
• Big Sky Co Defensive Player of the Week (10/11)
Lawler started all 15 games at corner for the Griz as a senior and made 28 appearances in two seasons of action in Missoula. In those two years he logged 69 total tackles (43 solo). He saw the bulk of his minutes as a senior, posting 58 stops (36 solo) with 2.5 TFLs, 15 PBUs, two INTs, and one fumble recovery. His 15 passes defended led the Big Sky, as did his 13 total breakups. 15 passes defended was also the seventh-most in FCS football that year and 13 PBUs were tied for fourth-most in the subdivision. He was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13 of his senior season after scoring on a 21-yard pick six against Cal Poly, one of four UM picks on the day. Lawler was also an Academic All-Big Sky pick as a senior.
2024 (R-Jr. – Montana):
• Academic All-Big Sky
Played in 13 of UM’s 14 games as a backup… Logged 11 total tackles (7 solo).
2023 (R-So. – Utah): Saw action in nine games, primarily on special teams… Made a tackle on punt coverage in the win at No. 18 USC.
2022 (R-Fr. – Utah): Five games played, seeing time on defense and special teams.... First career pass breakup came in the win over Arizona.
2021 (Fr. – Utah): Did not see game action as a redshirt.
2020 (Fr – Utah): Did not see action.
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN out of Eleanor Roosevelt HS… Moved to defensive back from quarterback as a senior, finishing with 15 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defended and one fumble recovery… Also had seven punt returns for 53 yards (7.6 ypr), 21 carries for 55 yards and five rushing touchdowns, and seven receptions for 129 yards (18.4 ypc) and two touchdowns his senior year… As a QB went 72-of-155 passing (7 INT, 10 TD) for 1,058 yards, 109 carries for 349 yards (7 TD), three receptions for 96 yards (1 TD), and three tackles as a junior… Went 72-of-146 passing (7 INT, 11 TD) for 1,004 yards and 82 carries for 517 yards (11 TD) his sophomore season…. Also played five varsity games as a freshman with 217 yards passing (13-of-25, 3 TD)… Also competed in track and field.
Personal: Son of Trudy and Kenny… Has eight siblings … Can play the piano… Earned a degree in entrepreneurship from UM in the spring of 2025
Montana Career Single-Game Highs
Tackles: 4 (at Cal Poly, 2024, and vs Idaho, 2025)
TFL: 0.5 (vs Indiana State, 2025)
INT: 1 (vs Cal Poly, 2025)
PBU (vs Idaho, 2025, and at Idaho State, 2025)
• Big Sky Co Defensive Player of the Week (10/11)
Lawler started all 15 games at corner for the Griz as a senior and made 28 appearances in two seasons of action in Missoula. In those two years he logged 69 total tackles (43 solo). He saw the bulk of his minutes as a senior, posting 58 stops (36 solo) with 2.5 TFLs, 15 PBUs, two INTs, and one fumble recovery. His 15 passes defended led the Big Sky, as did his 13 total breakups. 15 passes defended was also the seventh-most in FCS football that year and 13 PBUs were tied for fourth-most in the subdivision. He was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13 of his senior season after scoring on a 21-yard pick six against Cal Poly, one of four UM picks on the day. Lawler was also an Academic All-Big Sky pick as a senior.
2024 (R-Jr. – Montana):
• Academic All-Big Sky
Played in 13 of UM’s 14 games as a backup… Logged 11 total tackles (7 solo).
2023 (R-So. – Utah): Saw action in nine games, primarily on special teams… Made a tackle on punt coverage in the win at No. 18 USC.
2022 (R-Fr. – Utah): Five games played, seeing time on defense and special teams.... First career pass breakup came in the win over Arizona.
2021 (Fr. – Utah): Did not see game action as a redshirt.
2020 (Fr – Utah): Did not see action.
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN out of Eleanor Roosevelt HS… Moved to defensive back from quarterback as a senior, finishing with 15 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defended and one fumble recovery… Also had seven punt returns for 53 yards (7.6 ypr), 21 carries for 55 yards and five rushing touchdowns, and seven receptions for 129 yards (18.4 ypc) and two touchdowns his senior year… As a QB went 72-of-155 passing (7 INT, 10 TD) for 1,058 yards, 109 carries for 349 yards (7 TD), three receptions for 96 yards (1 TD), and three tackles as a junior… Went 72-of-146 passing (7 INT, 11 TD) for 1,004 yards and 82 carries for 517 yards (11 TD) his sophomore season…. Also played five varsity games as a freshman with 217 yards passing (13-of-25, 3 TD)… Also competed in track and field.
Personal: Son of Trudy and Kenny… Has eight siblings … Can play the piano… Earned a degree in entrepreneurship from UM in the spring of 2025
Montana Career Single-Game Highs
Tackles: 4 (at Cal Poly, 2024, and vs Idaho, 2025)
TFL: 0.5 (vs Indiana State, 2025)
INT: 1 (vs Cal Poly, 2025)
PBU (vs Idaho, 2025, and at Idaho State, 2025)
Griz Football Spring Practice - 3/2/26
Monday, March 30
Griz Football Spring Preview Press Conference
Monday, March 30
Griz Football Winter Condo - 2/20/26
Monday, March 30
Griz Football Winter Condo - 2/17/26
Monday, March 30
