MISSOULA — The Montana football team has more proven depth at tight end than it did at this time last year when the Grizzlies experienced injury, players departing the program and multiple unproven transfers joining the room.
The Griz now have back Cole Grossman, an All-American who missed the 2023 campaign after offseason surgery. He’s joined by Evan Shafer, who emerged after transferring in last year. Add in Erik Barker and that’s three seniors who’ve combined to play 80 games in a position where versatility is key.
“In our offense, on any single given play, you might be running across and blocking somebody on the complete opposite side of the field or you might be just cutting off with an offensive tackle,” Shafer said. “We also have all the routes that we run.”
“With three different tight ends with three different body styles, it’s really nice to see how we can mix things up.”
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Montana’s tight ends totaled just 16 receptions across 15 games last season. Part of that was the absence of Grossman, who had been the team’s go-to, pass-catching tight end the prior two seasons.
Part of it also was the number of playmakers the Griz had at wide receiver and running back. And part of it was UM’s use of tight ends in the run game and pass blocking scheme, which will again be an emphasis for head coach Bobby Hauck.
“Protect the edge and move people off the ball certainly,” he said of what he expects from his tight ends. “We can do some pulling with them. They’re athletic enough to do that. Just physical line of scrimmage play.”
As for how that group is performing this fall, Hauck said: “I feel good about our tight ends. Their attention to detail has been good. I think they’re working hard in the run game in particular.”
Grossman could help diversify Montana’s aerial attack if he can find his form again. Hauck said Grossman “looks solid. He’s done a nice job” in fall camp.
Shafer is excited to have Grossman back this season.
“He’s an amazing receiver and he’s an amazing tight end altogether,” he said. “Working him back into the offense, it brings an added layer of difficulty to other teams coming up just because with who we have, you’re never going to know what we’re doing. With Cole and how good he is as a receiver, it’s really cool knowing what we have going into this season, especially with our three senior guys.”
Who’s back
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