Preseason honor for Hilliard

Former Flathead running back named All-American

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - Kalispell's Lex Hilliard has been named a preseason All-American.

University of Montana football players Kroy Biermann, Cody Balogh and Hilliard have been selected to the 2007 College Sporting News' Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) All-American team.

Hilliard missed the 2006 season due to injury, but the 6-foot, 235-pound senior running back begins the year ranked second in school history with 2,884 yards rushing.

Hilliard was a unanimous first team all-league selection and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2005 when he rushed for 1,322 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Hilliard needs 1,182 rushing yards to surpass Yohance Humphery as UM's career rushing leader.

Hilliard, who rushed for 972 yards as a sophomore, also needs 15 touchdowns to break Humphery's UM career record of 48. Hilliard scored 17 touchdowns as a sophomore, which tied a UM single-season record.

He is listed seven pounds heavier than a year ago.

Biermann, a 6-3, 245-pound senior defensive end from Hardin, was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference, and an All-American by the Associated Press and Walter Camp last season when he had team-highs of 13.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

A 6-7, 320-pound offensive tackle, Balogh (pronounced bay-log) was also a first team All-Big Sky selection last year and tabbed a third-team All-American by the Sports Network. A senior from Steilacoom, Wash., Balogh has started 29 straight games.

Biermann, Balogh, and Hilliard were also named to the Big Sky's 2007 preseason all-conference first team.

There were 42 schools, and every FCS conference was represented on this year's 2007 FCS College Sporting News All-American team.

The Southern Conference led the way with 12 selections, while the Big Sky and Great West had 11 each.

The Grizzlies were picked first by both the media and the coaches in the league's preseason polls, which were released Monday at the Summer Kickoff in Park City, Utah.

Montana finished 12-2 last season, and earned a ninth straight conference title with an 8-0 league record.