Griz, Cats dominate Big Sky Preseason

Before the end of this month, the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats will be playing football. It's hard to believe since it was just eight months ago that they met for the Big Sky championship in Missoula.

Now though, UM and MSU are expected to duke it out for the Big Sky championship yet again.

At last week's annual Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, the defending champion Grizzlies were unanimously picked to win the league title in 2024, while the Cats were picked second in both the Media and Coaches Poll.

Montana State and Montana had the most and second-most selections on the preseason All-Big Sky Conference team. The Grizzlies, who were picked first in both Big Sky preseason polls, had six players earn a total of eight spots on the team. The Bobcats, who were tabbed second in both preseason polls, led the conference with nine honorees.

Montana State placed four players on the offense: quarterback Tommy Mellott, fullback Rohan Jones, and offensive linemen Marcus Wehr and Justus Perkins. Players chosen on defense were defensive lineman Brody Grebe, linebacker Danny Uluilakepa and defensive back Rylan Ortt. MSU had two special teams representatives: punter Brendan Hall and long snapper Tommy Sullivan. Grebe was also named Preseason Defensive Player of the Yesar.

Montana had three offensive players recognized: running back Eli Gillman, wide receiver Junior Bergen and offensive lineman Brandon Casey. The Grizzlies' defensive selections were linebacker Riley Wilson and defensive back Trevin Gradney. Isiah Childs was chosen as a special teams contributor while Bergen added two more honors as a punt returner and an all-purpose player.

The accolades don't end there for either team.

On Monday, the Cats and Griz combined to put 11 players on the Stats Preseason All-Amercian Team.

Earning first-team honors were Wehr, Grebe and Bergen. Making the second team were Mellott, Griz senior tight end Cole Grossman, Casey, Wilson and Cats senior punter Brendan Hall.

Landing on the third team was Gillman, Perkins and Gradney.

North Dakota State led all teams with eight players honored. Two-time defending FCS national champion South Dakota State matched Montana with six honorees.

Montana State has begun fall camp and opens its season Aug. 24 at New Mexico. The Grizzlies start fall camp next week and open the season Aug. 31 at home against Western Carolina.

2024 Big Sky Preseason

All-Conference Team

Offense

Pos. Player (School)

QB Tommy Mellott, Montana State

RB Lan Larison, UC Davis

RB Eli Gillman, Montana

FB Rohan Jones, Montana State

WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington

WR Junior Bergen, Montana

WR Jared Gipson, Sacramento State

TE Coleman Kuntz, Sacramento State

TE Jake Cox, Idaho

OL Brandon Casey, Montana

OL Marcus Wehr, Montana State

OL Jackson Slater, Sacramento State

OL Justus Perkins, Montana State

OL Jonny Bottorff, Northern Arizona

OL Nathan Mejia, Sacramento State Defense

Pos. Player (School)

DL Brody Grebe, Montana State

DL Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly

DL Brayden Wilson, Weber State

DL Zach Kennedy, UC Davis

DL Dallas Afalava, Idaho

DL Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho

LB Riley Wilson, Montana

LB Will Leota, Sacramento State

LB Michael Montgomery, Portland State

LB Danny Uluilakepa, Montana State

LB Tommy Ellis, Northern Arizona

DB Rex Connors, UC Davis

DB Trevin Gradney, Montana

DB Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona

DB Calvin Pitcher, Idaho State

DB Tommy McCormick, Idaho

DB Rylan Ortt, Montana State

Special Teams

Pos. Player (School)

K Hunter Ridley, UC Davis

P Brendan Hall, Montana State

KR Abraham Williams, Idaho

PR Junior Bergen, Montana

LS Tommy Sullivan, Montana State

ST Isiah Childs, Montana

AP Junior Bergen, Montana