Props to a Remarkable Montana Grizzly Football Student Athlete

College football players have been known to change positions during their careers. But it's probably tough to find many that went from quarterback to offensive lineman.

That is the journey taken by Montana Grizzly lineman Dylan Cook, from Butte. Not only has Dylan excelled at his position for the Griz, he is rocking it in the classroom, too. As such, he has received a lofty honor from the National Football Foundation.

UM Sports Information Director Eric Taber informs us that Dylan has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, known around the country as the "Academic Heisman." That's a pretty lofty honor for a 6-foot-5-inch, 305-pound "quarterback."

Yep, Dylan Cook is a former college quarterback, making one of the most unusual transitions in the game and working his way into being an NFL prospect. He has also developed into one of the Grizzlies' most accomplished student athletes in the classroom.

The Griz team captain has already earned one University of Montana degree in sociology and is on his way to earning a masters degree in public administration with a 3.33 cumulative GPA. After his playing days are done, he plans to pursue a career in human resources to dedicate his life to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the workplace.

Not only has he started 16 games for the Griz since coming to Montana in 2018, he's also immersed himself in the Missoula community, helping new UM students move into their dorms rooms, reading to kids as part of the Book One community program and spending time making thank-you calls to athletic department donors.

In addition to academic achievements (minimum 3.2GPA), the Campbell Trophy also factors in the level of talent a player has shown on the field. We would have to say that Dylan has met those requirements admirably. He is one of only three players from the Big Sky Conference, and one of just 36 nominees from the Football Championship Subdivision to earn a place among the 176 semifinalists that represent all levels of college football.

Congratulations to Dylan Cook! We are proud you are a Griz.

The finalists will travel to  Las Vegas on December 7 for the awards presentation. The Campbell Trophy winner receives a postgraduate scholarship of $25,000.