Montana Griz Football Earns 5 All-Big Sky Preseason Selections

Public service announcement: 40 days until the Montana Grizzlies Football Team kicks off the new year. 

The Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend hailed from Spokane Saturday-Monday. The festivities consisted of the 2023 Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which included University of Montana alumnus and former NBA player Larry Krystkowiak, Big Sky Football Media Day and the unveiling of the Preseason All-Big Sky Teams. Five Griz were selected to the teams: OG Hunter Mayginnes, DL Alex Gubner, LB Levi Janacaro, PR Junior Bergen and ST Trevin Gradney.

Hunter Mayginnes

No surprise here. Hunter Mayginnes is on the heels of a first-team All-Big Sky nomination a season ago. Mayginnes is in the middle of a tenured offensive line that will be a key to the offense this year. Plus, Mayginnes rocks a healthy head of lettuce. 

Junior Bergan

Another "no surprise here" pick in dynamic returner Junior Bergan. As a sophomore, Bergan racked up two punt return touchdowns, including a 72-yarder VS Portland State, and hauled in four more scores through the air. The Billings native even threw for a score against Indiana State. Look for Bergan's name to be all over the field this fall.

Alex Gubner

Also a returning first-team all-conference lineman, Alex Gubner enters his redshirt-senior year already in the top 30 all-time with 19 tackles for loss. Gubner was named co-defensive MVP with the Griz last year and was deemed "one of the most athletic defenders in the league, by gogriz.com. I'm sure Alex is a great guy, but this dude reaks intimidation with the Chuck Liddell mohawk.

Levi Janacaro

Mr. Legacy himself. The leading tackler will rock the highly regarded #37 jersey this year. From right here in Missoula, Janacaro graduated from Big Sky High School. He enters his final year with the Griz with 106 career tackles and 87 of those coming in his junior season.

Trevin Gradney

Listed as a cornerback on the roster, Gradney has racked up special teams accolades over his first two years. As a redshirt-freshman, he was named to the first team All-Big Sky Special Teams unit and was honored with the Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year award in the program. The Billings native hasn't missed a game over his first two years either.

Griz selected 6th and 3rd in Preseason Polls

Coaches of the Big Sky Conference slated the Grizzlies 6th in the Preseason polls, while the media voted Montana 3rd in the conference. Last year the Griz finished 6th with a .500 record in league play.

The villains from Bozeman were close to a unanimous number one across both polls as the defending co-Big Sky champs.

All stats courtesy of gogriz.com