MISSOULA — With the season opener less than a week away, Montana head coach Bob Stitt released his first depth chart for the 2017 season with few surprises but the confirming nod for several starting positions.
As Stitt enters his third year of what has become a rebuilding process — the Griz have just 18 players on their roster not recruited by the head coach — the depth chart is again filled with talent, both young and veteran.
Montana senior right tackle Mike Ralston (51)/ by Colter Nuanez
With Mike Ralston solidifying the right tackle position, the Griz will start four seniors up front in their opener against Valparaiso in Missoula on Saturday. Ralston, recruited as a tight end out of Sheldon, Oregon, also played defensive end and wide receiver before cracking the starting lineup in his fifth season. The 6-foot-5, 302-pounder outlasted redshirt freshman Thayne Jackson in perhaps the most heated position battle of Griz fall camp.
Senior Makena Simis, a converted quarterback who tied a school record with six touchdown passes against North Dakota two years ago, completed his transformation to a powerful H wide receiver. He won the starting job at the blocking, physical inside position in Stitt’s offense, earning the No. 1 designation over classmate Josh Horner and talented sophomore Colin Bingham. Simis put on 20 pounds in the off-season to physically prepare for his final year.
Defensively, the only delineation from the predicted first 11 is with fourth-year junior Evan Epperly listed atop the depth chart at free safety. Senior Justin Strong is not on the two-deep after reportedly suffering an injury.
Senior Connor Strahm is listed at the bottom of the middle linebacker group because of his two-game suspension for a DUI arrest in July. Redshirt sophomore Vika Fa’atuiese is the starter at Mike. Senior James Banks returns at Will while junior Josh Buss is back at UM’s Star linebacker spot after an All-Big Sky season last fall.
Stitt anointed senior Reese Phillips the winner of the quarterback battle between the Kentucky transfer, Blinn junior college transfer Caleb Hill and redshirt freshman Gresch Jensen a few weeks ago. The depth chart lists the 6-2, 212-pound Phillips first, backed up by Jenson.
Griz sophomore Vika Fa’atuiese is UM’s starting middle linebacker/by Jason Bacaj
Redshirt freshman Sammy Akem, Montana’s 2016 Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year, had a strong fall camp but junior Keenan Curran, UM’s touchdown reception last season (10), is still the NO. 1 at X wide receiver. Sophomore Kobey Eaton pushed Y incumbent Justin Calhoun and redshirt freshman Samori Toure gave sophomore Jerry Louie-McGhee a boost but Calhoun and Louie-McGee kept their starting spots.
Junior Eric Williams sewed up the starting punter and kick off specialist positions while sophomore Brandon Purdy beat out sophomore Tim Semenza for the placekicking duties.
Despite strong camps from Treshawn Favors, Cody McCombs and Josh Labrador, Washington State transfer Alijah Lee begins the season as junior Jeremy Calhoun’s primary backup.
Jackson, a 6-5, 296-pound former 3-star recruit, is listed as All-Big Sky senior David Reese’s backup at left tackle, while 6-5, 293-pound redshirt freshman Conlan Beaver is now Ralston’s backup on the right side.
Ends junior Chris Favoroso and senior Tucker Schye entered camp as starters as did senior nose tackle Brandt Davidson and sophomore defensive tackle Jesse Sims. All four held on to their No. 1 spots. Redshirt freshman Randy Rodrigues will back up Favoroso, a junior college transfer from Arizona Western. Sophomore Cy Sirmon will back up Schye while Maryland transfer David Shaw will provide depth behind Davidson and junior Reggie Tilleman will get playing time behind Sims.
Senior Ryan McKinley and junior Markell Sanders are the starting cornerbacks. Talented redshirt freshman Lewis Cowans is backing up McKinley while Dareon Nash, a redshirt freshman converted wide receiver, backs up Sanders. Fifth-year senior Mick Delaney is listed as the backup at both safety positions while sophomore Dante Olson is the backup at both outside linebacker spots.
