Cat-Griz Extra: Tilleman Ties

The last name Tilleman certainly has strong ties to Havre, to the University of Montana and to football in the Treasure State.

After all, Havre's Mike Tilleman is in the Montana Grizzly Hall of Fame. So when Cat-Griz week rolls around, Havre, and Tilleman's hometown of Chinook, will also be deeply tied to the rivalry.

On Saturday though, in front of a sell-out crowd at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, another Tilleman will have a big impact on the rivalry - UM senior defensive end Reggie Tilleman.

Reggie is the son of former Havre High great Lee Tilleman, who went on to star at Washington State University. He's the great nephew of Mike Tilleman as well, and, a team captain for the Grizzlies.

Want even more Havre ties? Reggie Tilleman's story at Montana is extremely similar to that of another former Havre star, Marc Mariani.

Like Mariani did many years ago, Tilleman was a walk-on at UM, but has fought his way up the ranks to become a starter, a team captain, and one of the most respected Grizzlies on this year's team.

"What a special young man from a little tiny town in Idaho. He was 6-foot-4, 190 pounds maybe soaking wet. He came as a walk-on and he made himself into a really, really good football player," Former UM head coach Mick Delaney said of Tilleman this summer to 406 Sports. "We had him at tight end and obviously when (coach Bob Stitt's offense) didn't have any tight ends, they kinda switched him and he kept hanging in there and hanging in there."

"He's just the typical University of Montana Grizzly guy. Like a Colt Anderson, Marc Mariani, on and on and on, the walk-on kids just work so hard," Delaney added.

No question Tilleman worked hard. He went from being recruited as a tight end on the scout team to a 285-pound defensive tackle his junior year, and defensive end his senior year. He's started the last 15 games for the Grizzlies going back to last season, and has been as impactful as any Griz defender during that time period. Of course, he credits his work ethic and his determination to his father, his family and his background.

He came to Montana from tiny Gennesee, Idaho. His senior class had just 84 graduates, and, he wasn't on many football coaches' radar at that point. But, being a small-town kid from Idaho is part of what helped transform Tilleman into the player, and student-athlete he is today.

"I had walk-on offers here and then Eastern Washington. It was pretty straight forward for me," Tilleman told Amie Just of 406 Sports earlier this season. "I've got a couple cousins, aunts and uncles and obviously my uncle Mike played here. Just having that history and this family over here. It meant a lot to me. When you look at who I am and who my brother is, it has a lot to do with how my parents raised us. Lots of love, lot of tough love too. That was always good."

And while Tilleman certainly made a successful transformation from small-town high school football to big-time college football, though the journey wasn't an easy one, his parents also instilled in him something that will take him far beyond his playing days as a Grizzly - a strong dedication to academics.

Tilleman has already graduated from UM with honors in business administration, and he's currently working on his MBA. Earlier this season, he was also announced as a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy - known to many in the college football ranks as the "Academic Heisman."

The Campbell Trophy is presented annually to senior or graduate level football student-athletes who are in their final year of eligibility, have at least a 3.2 GPA, are a first-team player/major contributor and have demonstrated leadership and citizenship characteristics.

"Them (parents) stressing the importance of all aspects of life, not just football, not just basketball, not just track or whatever we're doing, there's always academics first and athletics second. The way my parents raised me had a lot to do with that, me and my brother. Just being competitive. A lot of it has to do with them and the great job they did raising me."

Tilleman says he plans on working in the agriculture industry in some way upon finishing school, but, first thing's first, he's focused on his senior day game against the hated Bobcats, and then, hopefully some FCS playoff football after that.

And while his playing days are indeed numbered, Tilleman's story, a walk-on becoming a star player, and a captain, and his deep family ties to Grizzly football, have, and will always mean the world to him.

"There's a history in this program of walk-on players excelling, earning scholarships and carrying the banner towards their senior year," Bobby Hauck said to 406 Sports. "Reggie falls in line with those guys. He's done a good job.

"It's the best place. We're the Griz. It was a no brainer for me to come play at this level. It was such an opportunity that I couldn't pass it up," Tilleman said. "I don't think you can ask for much more. There are definitely hard times but it's kind of a dream lived out to be out here, playing in front of these fans and just having a good time with my buddies."