Griz 2-deep has Johnson as QB, Rohrbach as punter
After a nothing burger of a Monday press conference, things became clearer for the Montana Football Grizzlies Tuesday with the release of their two-deep roster.
Not crystal clear, mind you.
San Diego State transfer Lucas Johnson is listed as the starting quarterback for the Grizzlies’ Saturday season opener against Northwestern (La.) State at 1 p.m.
Several players will be making their first starts, including true freshman Patrick Rohrbach of Glacier High; he’s the Griz punter.
Braxton Hill of Anaconda gets the nod at outside linebacker spot held by the now-graduated Jace Lewis. Junior Garrett Graves of Eureka starts at strong safety. Malik Flowers, the kick returner wunderkind, is a starting receiver as a senior.
But running back Marcus Knight, who appeared healthy and nimble at fall camp after missing 2021 following knee surgery, is nowhere on the two-deep.
It’s worth reminding that it is a two-deep, and that Justin Ford was listed as backup for the opener last year. Also, the Griz are suddenly stacked at running back.
Xavier Harris, the top rusher in 2021, is listed as starter and Nick Ostmo as the backup. That leaves Knight (school-record 23 touchdowns in 2019), Colter Janacaro and Isiah Childs as backups.
Junior Bergen, who gained 498 yards as a true freshman, is listed No. 2 at the “F” receiver, behind fellow sophomore Keelan White.
Finally, middle linebacker Marcus Welnel is still listed as No. 10, though Lewis publicly willed his fellow Montana native the coveted No. 37 jersey.
Asked about it Monday, Grizzlies’ coach Bobby Hauck said he was “only answering questions about this week’s game.”
Hauck had very little to say about this week’s game, noting that fifth-year head coach Brad Laird has changed
coordinators since last year’s 3-8 campaign and that several transfers joined the Demons.
As for No. 37, the possibility exists that no one will wear it. That’s happened before: in 2009, Carson Bender couldn’t play in his senior season because of injury but was told to keep the number. In 2010 it went to Ryan Fetherston, but not until the Friday before Montana’s season opener at Tennessee.
Demon Dish
Northwestern State’s last trip to Missoula was a 56-7 loss to Montana in the 2004 FCS playoffs.
In fact all of the Demons’ games against the Griz came in the playoffs, and in Missoula: 2001 (a 28-19 Griz win), 2002 (45-14, Griz) and ‘04.
Thirty new faces dot the roster, though corner Shemar Bartholomew and safety PJ Herrington are holdovers and first-team picks for the preseason Southland all-conference team.
The Demons also have defensive lineman Isiah Longino and Jomard Valsin back. Longino had 9.5 sacks last season.
On offense Scooter Adams was a second-team pick at running back. Adams averaged 5.2 yards in limited action last season: He played five games and gained 286 yards, with one TD.
Also in the fold are former Syracuse running back Garrison Johnson and Kansas QB Miles Fallin, a senior who will start Saturday.
Laird hired Cody Crill and Weston Glaser as his offensive coordinators this past offseason. Then last week Crill resigned, citing family concerns. Beau Blair, who’d been hired as offensive line coach but was the OC at Division II New Mexico Highlands in 2021, was elevated.
Impressive Cats
Montana State’s two-deep came out Monday, and true sophomore “Touchdown” Tommy Mellott is listed as the starter at quarterback for Saturday’s opener against McNeese at Bobcat Stadium.
Other notable starters: Receiver Clevon Thomas, Jr.; right tackle Marcus Wehr; rush end Ben Seymour and “Mike” linebacker Danny Uluilakepa.
They’re replacing Lance McCutcheon, Lewis Kidd, Daniel Hardy and Troy Andersen, who all made NFL 53-man rosters this week.
During the Bobcats’ run to last year’s FCS title game it was noted they had a pretty good side of the bracket; moving four rookies into the NFL is even more notable.
Hardy and McCutcheon both stuck with the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams; Anderson was drafted by Atlanta and Kidd made the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
For the Griz, Samori Toure (who transferred to Nebraska for his senior year) made the Green Bay 53-man roster; offensive lineman Dylan Cook was cut by Tampa Bay, but could well end up on the Buccaneers’ practice squad.