Ronbo
March 11th, 2007, 06:32 PM
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/SPORTS/703110339/1006
http://missoulian.com/articles/2007/03/12/sports/griz/gr48.txt
Despite a handful of key losses, anticipation for the upcoming season will be as high, or even higher than usual, as fifth-year Griz Head Coach Bobby Hauck (41-13 overall and 24-5 in Big Sky games) returns 19-plus starters and 58 lettermen.
Montana returns 17 players who were first, second, or honorable mention All-Big Sky selections.
Two of those top returnees are senior halfback Lex Hilliard, a candidate for the FCS's (offensive player of the year) coveted Walter Payton Award, and senior defensive end Kroy Biermann, who finished 11th in the balloting for the Buck Buchanan Award (defensive player of the year) last season.
Hilliard, a first team All-Big Sky selection in 2004 and 2005, and who has rushed for 2,884 career yards and 34 touchdowns, was forced to redshirt last year when he suffered an injury in fall camp. He will participate in spring drills on a limited basis.
Key players back on offense are first-team all-conference picks Eric Allen at wide receiver; Collin Dow, guard; tackle Cody Balogh; and kicker Dan Carpenter, a second team selection. Honorable mention choices who return are wide receivers Ryan Bagley and Craig Chambers, tackle Brent Russum, fullback Kevin Klaboe, and halfback Reggie Bradshaw.
UM returns its top four receivers, as Allen, Bagley, Chambers, and Mike Ferriter combined for 175 catches, 2,521 yards and 17 touchdowns. Bradshaw rushed for a team-high 572 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Defensively the Griz have first-team all-league choices Biermann, safeties Colt Anderson and Torrey Thomas back, as well as second teamer Jimmy Wilson at cornerback. Also returning are UM's three starting linebackers, Tyler Joyce, Kyle Ryan, and Loren Utterback, and tackle Craig Mettler, all honorable mention All-Big Sky picks. Also returning for the defense is senior punter Tyson Johnson, a three-year starter who missed last season due to injury.
Joyce and Ryan tied for the team lead with 115 tackles each. They were followed by Utterback (103 total tackles), Anderson (92 TT), and Biermann (78 TT). Biermann had a team-high 13.5 stops for losses and 11 sacks.
Thomas led UM with four interceptions.
http://missoulian.com/articles/2007/03/12/sports/griz/gr48.txt
Despite a handful of key losses, anticipation for the upcoming season will be as high, or even higher than usual, as fifth-year Griz Head Coach Bobby Hauck (41-13 overall and 24-5 in Big Sky games) returns 19-plus starters and 58 lettermen.
Montana returns 17 players who were first, second, or honorable mention All-Big Sky selections.
Two of those top returnees are senior halfback Lex Hilliard, a candidate for the FCS's (offensive player of the year) coveted Walter Payton Award, and senior defensive end Kroy Biermann, who finished 11th in the balloting for the Buck Buchanan Award (defensive player of the year) last season.
Hilliard, a first team All-Big Sky selection in 2004 and 2005, and who has rushed for 2,884 career yards and 34 touchdowns, was forced to redshirt last year when he suffered an injury in fall camp. He will participate in spring drills on a limited basis.
Key players back on offense are first-team all-conference picks Eric Allen at wide receiver; Collin Dow, guard; tackle Cody Balogh; and kicker Dan Carpenter, a second team selection. Honorable mention choices who return are wide receivers Ryan Bagley and Craig Chambers, tackle Brent Russum, fullback Kevin Klaboe, and halfback Reggie Bradshaw.
UM returns its top four receivers, as Allen, Bagley, Chambers, and Mike Ferriter combined for 175 catches, 2,521 yards and 17 touchdowns. Bradshaw rushed for a team-high 572 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Defensively the Griz have first-team all-league choices Biermann, safeties Colt Anderson and Torrey Thomas back, as well as second teamer Jimmy Wilson at cornerback. Also returning are UM's three starting linebackers, Tyler Joyce, Kyle Ryan, and Loren Utterback, and tackle Craig Mettler, all honorable mention All-Big Sky picks. Also returning for the defense is senior punter Tyson Johnson, a three-year starter who missed last season due to injury.
Joyce and Ryan tied for the team lead with 115 tackles each. They were followed by Utterback (103 total tackles), Anderson (92 TT), and Biermann (78 TT). Biermann had a team-high 13.5 stops for losses and 11 sacks.
Thomas led UM with four interceptions.