(Editor’s note: Story by Montana Sports Information)
MISSOULA – Montana football head coach Bobby Hauck completed his incoming class of 2019 on National Signing Day with the addition of three student-athletes, capping the class at 26.
Joining the roster are Brian Buschini of Helena Capital, Carver Gilman of Whitefish, and Nick Guerena of Cathedral Catholic in San Diego. Buschini and Gilman were both recruited as kickers/punters, while Guerena comes to UM as a safety.
All three have accepted admissions to the University of Montana, and are expected to join the team for fall camp.
Also joining the team since the early signing period in December is Marcus Knight, a transfer running back from Citrus College in California. Knight has enrolled at UM and joined the team for the start of winter conditioning in February.
The addition of Knight and the three walk-ons completes the first full recruiting class for Hauck since returning to Montana in December of 2017.
The 26-man class is built of 13 in-state players from around Montana, four players from the state of Washington, three from Idaho, two from California and Oregon, and one each from Alaska and Arizona.
Hauck and his staff put an emphasis on recruiting up front, with nine of the 26 recruits headed for the offensive or defensive line. The rest of the class is split relatively even across various position groups, with three running backs and safeties joining the class, and two each joining the cornerbacks, specialists, linebackers, tight ends, and wide receivers. Bozeman’s Kris Brown is the lone quarterback recruit in the class.
Montana will now turn its attention to recruiting the incoming class of 2020, and winter conditioning for the current squad.
Hauck and his staff will introduce the team to the Quarterback Club in a luncheon in the Washington-Grizzly Stadium Canyon Club, and will then head north to Polson and Kalispell for the Grizzly Scholarship Association Signing Day Social events, hosted by the Mission Valley and Flathead GSA Chapters.
Incoming Griz Football Class of 2019
Hometown / Previous Schools
1 Noah Ambuehl TE 6-3 220 Great Falls, Mont. / Great Falls Central Catholic HS
2 Johnny Barthel OL 6-5 260 Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue HS
3 Dillon Botner OL/ATH 6-6 225 Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS
4 Kris Brown QB 6-4 210 Bozeman, Mont. / Bozeman HS
5 Brian Buschini KP 6-0 175 Helena, Mont. / Capital HS
6 Elias Dewaters RB 5-10 185 Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel HS
7 Colin Dreis OL 6-7 290 Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic HS
8 Kale Edwards LB 6-5 210 Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Coeur d’Alene HS
9 Joey Elwell TE 6-3 230 Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS
10 Max Feight S 6-2 180 Whitehall, Mont. / Whitehall HS
11 Carver Gilman KP 6-1 200 Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS
12 Trevin Gradney CB 6-0 170 Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS
13 Nick Guerena S 5-11 190 Encinitas, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic HS
14 Alex Hurlburt DE 6-3 220 Salem, Ore. / West Salem HS
15 Noah Kaschmitter DL 6-3 225 Grangeville, Idaho / Grangeville HS
16 Marcus Knight RB 6-1 200 San Juan Capistrano, Calif. / St. Margaret’s HS / Citrus College
17 Jacob McGourin DL 6-5 230 Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS
18 Ryder Meyer S 5-9 160 Fairfield, Mont. / Fairfield HS
19 Nick Ostmo RB 6-0 215 Portland, Ore. / Lincoln HS
20 Jesse Owens WR 5-9 175 Billings Mont. / Billings West HS
21 Kordell Pillans OL 6-6 325 Kodiak, Alaska / Kodiak HS / Mesa CC
22 Garrison Poetzl DL 6-4 250 Billings, Mont. / Billings Senior HS
23 Dumitru Salagor OL 6-6 250 Vancouver, Wash. / Union HS
24 Ryan Simpson WR 6-6 190 Bozeman, Mont. / Bozeman HS
25 Ryan Tirrell LB 6-2 205 Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart
26 Corbin Walker CB 5-11 170 Renton, Wash. / Hazen Senior HS
State Breakdown
Montana 13
Washington 4
Idaho 3
California 2
Oregon 2
Alaska 1
Arizona 1
Position Breakdown
O-Line 5
D-Line 4
RB 3
S 3
CB 2
KP 2
LB 2
TE 2
WR 2
QB 1
Griz Signing Day Bios
1 Noah Ambuehl, TE, 6-3, 220, Great Falls, Mont. / Great Falls Central Catholic HS
2019: Ambuehl will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: A three sport athlete and four-year letterman at Great Falls Central in football, basketball and track … Was football team captain his senior year … Named basketball team MVP twice … Named track team MVP twice and track rookie of the year … 2018 state runner-up in football … 2018 state shot-put champion with a distance of 50′ 8″ … All-Conference in football as a junior and senior … All-State as a senior in football … Three-time All-Conference in basketball … All-State in Basketball as a junior … Two-time All-State in track and field … Threw for 1,257 yards his senior season … Rushed for 433 yards … 29 total touchdowns as a senior … Prep coach was Greg Horton
Personal: Parents are Jon and Ann Ambuehl of Great Falls … Cousins Gabe (football) and Morgan (Track) Sulser are both Grizzly student-athletes … Plays guitar … Plans to major in business finance
2 Johnny Barthel, OL, 6-5, 260, Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue HS
2019: Barthel will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: A two-year starter … Anchored the line on a Wing-T offense that rushed for 4,196 yards and 52 touchdowns … Went 12-1 his senior season at Bellevue … Named to the 3A King County first team O-Line … Also played on the defensive line, totaling 13 tackles as a senior … Received another offer from Air Force and interest from Boise State, Nevada, Montana State, Wyoming and Eastern Washington … His prep coach was Michael Kneip
Personal: Holds a 3.5 GPA and scored a 25 on the ACT … Parents are Steve and Traci Barthel of Bellevue
3 Dillon Botner, ATH/OL, 6-6, 225, Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS
2019: Botner will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: A four-year letterman at Whitefish … Also earned three letters in basketball and track for the Bulldogs … 2018 Northwestern A second-team all-conference offensive tackle … 2018 Northwester A second-team all-conference defensive end … Also played tight end for the Bulldogs … Helped Whitefish to the State A playoffs … Prep coach was Chad Ross … Named football and basketball team captain … Was part of a state championship team at Whitefish in 2015 …
Personal: Originally from North Dakota … Carries a 3.97 GPA … Plans to attend medical school … Parents are Corey and Michelle Botner of Whitefish … Enjoys skiing, hunting, fishing, hiking and swimming … Family raises kangaroos
4 Kris Brown, QB, 6-4, 210, Bozeman, Mont. / Bozeman Senior HS
2019: Brown will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2018 AA first-team all-state quarterback … 2018 Eastern AA first-team all-conference quarterback … 499 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 2,843 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns as a senior … 5,621 career passing yards and 44 career passing touchdowns … 2018 team captain … 2018 team offensive player of the year … Won a conference championship with Bozeman and went 10-1 on the season … Lettered in football
Personal: Parents are Marnie & Kurt Brown of Bozeman … Carries a 3.9 GPA
5 Brian Buschini, KP, 6-0, 175, Helena, Mont. / Capital HS
2019: Buschini has accepted admissions to the University of Montana and will enroll in the fall of 2019.
High School: Rated the No. 7 overall K/P prospect in FCS football by HERO Sports … As a senior (2018): First team all-conference, first team all-county, first team all-region, and honorable mention all-state … As a junior (2017): first team all-count, all-region, all-area, and all-state honorable mention … Also an all-state honorable mention as a sophomore (2016) … A three-year starter …. Named special teams MVP in 2016 … Totaled 40 punts for 1,423 yards (35.6 avg.) with 10 punts inside the 20 as a senior … Career long punt of 56 yards… Made 25 PAT’s and 5 FG’s (40 points) as a senior … 93 punts for 3,217 yards in varsity career… 81 PAT’s and 12 FG’s (117 points) in career
Personal: Carries a 3.6 GPA … Has three siblings: Emily, Ben, and Abby.
6 Elias Dewaters;, RB, 5-10, 185, Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel HS
2019: Dewaters will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Three-time letter winner in football … 2018 AA first-team all-state punt returner … 2018 all-state honorable mention running back … 2018 Western AA first-team all-conference punt returner … 2018 Western AA second-team all-conference running back … 2018 Toyota Player of the Week … 913 rushing yards for 9 touchdowns, 339 receiving yards for 3 touchdowns, and 14 tackles as a senior … 2,188 career rushing yards, 388 career carries, and 23 career touchdowns … His prep coach was former Grizzly Dane Oliver
7 Colin Dreis, OL, 6-7, 290, Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic HS
2019: Dreis will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2018 4A Kino Region second-team offensive line … Received interest from the University of Arizona, Arizona Christian, La Verne, and Western New Mexico, Adams State, San Diego, Northern Arizona, and South Dakota … Ranked the No. 12 lineman in Arizona by MaxPreps … Went 13-1 with the Lancers as a senior … Put on 70 pounds between his junior and senior seasons … Prep coach was Dennis Bene
Personal: Carries a 3.7 GPA
8 Kale Edwards, LB, 6-5, 210, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Coeur d’Alene HS
2019: Edwards will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2018 5A second-team all-Idaho quarterback … 2,568 passing yards for 22 touch downs and 584 rushing yards for 18 touchdowns as a senior … On defense posted 74 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions as a senior … According to 247Sports, ranked 2nd in Idaho … Received offers from Montana State, Idaho, Idaho State and Montana State Northern … Prep coach was Shawn Amos … Advanced to the state 5A semifinal as a senior to finish 9-1
Personal: Carries a 3.9 GPA … Parents are Kim and Derek Edwards of Coeur d’Alene
9 Joey Elwell, TE, 6-3, 230, Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS
2019: Elwell will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2018 5A first-team All-Idaho tight end … Ranked as a two-star prospect by 247 Sports … Also ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in Idaho by 247 Sports … 48.5 yards receiving per game average and 11 touchdowns as a junior … Received offers from Georgetown, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Saint Francis, and UC Davis … Also played linebacker …. A first-team 5A South Idaho Conference and second-team 5A All-Idaho selection as a junior … Prep coach was Judd Benedick … Advanced to the state semifinal his senior season
10 Max Feight, S, 6-2, 180, Whitehall, Mont. / Whitehall HS
2019: Feight will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2017 all-state quarterback … Threw for 2,866 yards and 32 touchdowns as a junior …. Ran for 614 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior … Led Trojans to the Class B playoffs as a junior, going undefeated in the regular season … Prep coach was Dan lacey … Missed most of his senior season with injury … Also played basketball and ran track at Whitehall … Ran the 110 hurdles in 15.67 and the 300 hurdles in 15.67 … Received interest from Montana State, Carroll, Montana Tech, Minot State, and Montana Northern
Personal: Carries a 4.0 GPA … Enjoys golfing in his spare time … Intends to major in business … Parents are Larry Feight and Julie Kieckbusch
11 Carver Gilman, KP, 6-4, 195, Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS
2019: Gilman has accepted admissions to the University of Montana and will enroll in the fall of 2019.
High School: A three-tile letterman in football … also played receiver and safety in addition to being the Bulldog’s kicker/punter … Class A first team all-state as a kicker … Second team all-state as a safety … Connected on 27 PAT’s and four field goals in senior season (39 points kicking, 69 total points) … Career long 49-yard field goal … 22 receptions for 352 yards and five TD’s as a receiver in senior season … 40 tackles and three interceptions as a safety in senior season… 21 punts for 743 yards and a long of 51 yards in senior season (4 inside the 20)
12 Trevin Gradney;, CB, 6-0, 170, Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS
2019: Gradney will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Three-time letter winner in football, two-time letter winner in track, also earned a letter in wrestling … 2018 AA first-team all-state cornerback … 2018 Eastern AA first-team all-conference cornerback … 2018 team captain … 2018 Montana AA state champs … 9 interceptions, 87 tackles, 24 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles as a senior … 2017 second-team all-state cornerback … 2017 first-team all-conference cornerback … Set a PR in the 100 of 11.34 seconds, 22.58 in the 200, and 49.55 in the 400 … Ran on the state champion 1,600m relay … Also played baseball
Personal: Parents are Joe Gradney and Lea Ketterling of Billings … Carries a 3.3 GPA
13 Nick Guerena, S, 5-11, 190, Encinitas, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic HS
2019: Guerena has accepted admissions to the University of Montana and will enroll in the fall of 2019.
High School: Two sport athlete in baseball and football… Finished the 2018 season with 40 total tackles, 13 solo tackles, 1 interceptions, one forced fumble, 5 PBU’s in 10 games… 3 years varsity in football… 52 total tackles, 19 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble on career… Led team to 12-2 overall record (4-0 in Western League) and a No. 9 ranking in California (No. 40 in national)… Division 1-AA CIF SoCal Regional Champion… Division 1-AA CIF State Championship Runner-Up (lost in OT)
14 Alex Hurlburt, DE, 6-3, 220, Salem, Ore. / West Salem HS
2019: Hurlburt will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Rated as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Posted 117 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 8 pass breakups as a senior … Named 2018 conference Defensive Player of the Year … Named first-team all-conference linebacker … 2017 Greater Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year … 71 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries and 7 sacks as a junior … Received interest from Oregon, Portland State, Southern Oregon, and Carroll College … Ran a 4.91 40-meter sprint … Also played baseball and basketball
Personal: Carries a 3.81 GPA … Mother is Julie Hurlburt
15 Noah Kaschmitter, DL, 6-3, 225, Grangeville, Idaho / Grangeville HS
2019: Kaschmitter will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2018 2A first-team All-Idaho linebacker … 2018 second-team all-Idaho running back … 2018 Warrior Athletic Association Male Athlete of the Year nominee … 2018 CIL defensive line MVP … 2018 CIL Player of the Year … 80 tackles, 9 tackles for loss as a senior … 2017 All-Idaho D-lineman … Part of a 2015 2A state championship team … Also received interest from Idaho
Personal: Enjoys hunting and fishing … Carries a 3.0 GPA
16 Marcus Knight, RB, 6-1, 200, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. / St. Margaret’s HS / Citrus College
2019: Knight has enrolled at the University of Montana and has joined the team for spring drills
2018 (at Citrus): First team all-state RB for California Junior Colleges … First team all-conference … Helped Citrus College advance to the Western States Bowl … Led team in rushing yards, yards per carry, and yards after contact … Rushed for 912 yards on 130 carries at Citrus, averaging 82.9 yards per game and seven yards-per-carry with eight touchdowns … Played in 11 games for the Owls, breaking the 100-yard mark three times with a career-high of 184 yards and three TDs against Mt. San Jacinto.
High School: A three-time letterman … First team all-CIF running back … Orange County are all-star … First team all-league … Team offensive MVP … Team captain … As a senior rushed 146 times for 1240 yards and 17 touchdowns … Caught 46 passes for 608 yards and three touchdowns … Posted 2056 all-purpose yards and 22 total touchdowns, averaging 158.2 yards per game … Led team to a league championship and to the CIF semifinal … An all-league performer in track as a sprinter as a junior and senior … CIF semifinalist in the 100M … CIF finalist in the 4×100 … Also participated in the 200M and long jump … Track Athlete of the Year in 2018 for SMES … Also a division one prospect in lacrosse
Personal: A National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete … Carries a 4.0 GPA
17 Jacob McGourin;, DL, 6-5, 230, Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS
2019: McGourin will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Three-time letter winner in football … 2018 team captain in football and track … 2018 GNL first-team defensive line … 15 sacks and 6 touchdowns as a senior … Four-time letter winner in track … Two-time first-team all-league and league MVP in track and field … Prep coach was Bobby Byrd … Also received interest from Eastern Washington, Washington State, Boise State, Montana State, Portland State, and Idaho … Clocked at 11.3 in the 100 m sprint … Threw 176 m in discus … Part of two state champion track teams
Personal: Plans to major in education … Parents are Casey and Melissa McGourin
18 Ryder Meyer, S, 5-9, 160, Fairfield, Mont. / Fairfield HS
2019: Meyer will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Four-time letter winner at Fairfield High school … 2018 and 2017 Northern B all-state selection … 2018 all-conference first-team defensive back … 2018 all-conference first-team quarterback … 2018 Football Dynamic Playmaker of the Year … 2018 Montana State B championship winner … 112 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1,480 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 1,045 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns as a senior … Career record of 44-2 over 4 years … US Army Pro Football Award for Excellence Finalist … Two-year team captain … Three-time letter winner in basketball and four-time letter winner in track … 2017-18 basketball defensive MVP
Personal: Parents are Les and Jolyn Meyer … Father Les is the head coach at Fairfield HS … Brother Tucker Meyer is a defensive coach at Rocky Mountain College … Carries a 3.85 GPA … Plans to pursue a degree in exercise science
19 Nick Ostmo, RB, 6-0, 215, Portland, Ore. / Lincoln HS
2019: Ostmo will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 110 carries for 1,335 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior … 78 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 1 sack as a senior … Received offers from Air Force and Army, saw interest from Eastern Washington, Columbia, Bucknell, UC Davis, Navy, Penn and Tufts … 2017 first-team all-conference running back … Two-time all-conference baseball player … Clocked a 4.7 40 time … Also played linebacker
Personal: Parents are Erik and Susan Ostmo of Portland … Brother Nathan plays baseball at Dartmouth, and other brother Nolan plays football at Tufts … Carries a 3.6 GPA
20 Jesse Owens, WR, 5-9, 175, Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS
2019: Owens will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: 2018 all-state first-team wide receiver … 2018 all-state first-team cornerback … 2018 all-state honorable mention punt returner … 2018 Class AA co-offensive MVP … 2018 Eastern AA all-conference first-team wide receiver … 2018 Eastern AA all-conference first-team cornerback … 2018 Eastern AA all-conference first-team punt returner … 71 receptions for 1,126 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior … 2017 all-state basketball player
Personal: Carries a 3.44 GPA
21 Kordell Pillans, OL, 6-6, 325, Kodiak, Alaska / Kodiak HS / Mesa CC
2019: Pillans will enroll at UM in time for spring drills and will have two years of eligibility
2018: A two-star prospect at Mesa … Played in 6 games in his final season as a Thunderbird … Earned second-team all-region honors … Did not allow a sack as an offensive lineman … Received offers from Youngstown State, Missouri State, and Albany … Anchored an offense that threw for 1,822 yards and ran for 1,901 yards
2016-17: Played at Mesa Community College … Received a medical redshirt his sophomore year
High School: 2015 first-team All-USA Alaska offensive lineman … NLC first-team offensive and defensive lineman … 2016 ASAA State champion in shot-put (55′ 7.25) and discus (162′)
22 Garrison Poetzl, DL, 6-4, 250, Billings, Mont. / Billings Senior HS
2019: Poetzl will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Four-time letter winner at Billings Senior High School … 2018 all-state second-team defensive line selection … 2018 all-state honorable mention offensive tackle … 2018 Eastern AA all-conference first-team defensive line selection … 2018 Eastern AA all-conference second-team offensive tackle selection … 2016 AA state championship winner … Prep coach was Chris Murdock
Personal: Enjoys fly fishing
23 Dumitru Salagor, OL, 6-6, 250, Vancouver, Wash. / Union HS
2019: Will enroll as a true freshman in the fall of 2019
High School: 2018 All-Region offensive lineman … 9 total tackles as a senior on the defensive line … 2017 first-team all-GSHL member … Won second place in the 220lb weight class in 4A GSHL District Championship
Personal: Born in Moldova and moved to Vancouver in 2016
24 Ryan Simpson, WR, 6-6, 190, Bozeman, Mont. / Bozeman Senior HS
2019: Simpson will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Three-time letter winner in football … 2018 all-state first-team wide receiver … 2018 honorable mention all-state cornerback … 2018 Eastern AA all-conference first-team wide receiver … 2018 all-conference second-team cornerback … 65 receptions for 922 yards with 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions as a senior … 2018 conference champs … Letter winner in basketball … Received an offer from Montana State to play football and MSU-Billings to play basketball
Personal: Plans to major in business … Parents are Carol & Randy Simpson
25 Ryan Tirrell, LB, 6-2, 205, Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart
2019: Tirrell will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: Four-time letter winner in football and track … 2018 western B conference first-team all-state offense and defense selection … 176 carries, 1,251 rushing yards, and 25 rushing touchdowns as a senior … 61 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery as a senior … 2018 conference champs … 2017 first-team all-conference running back … 2017 all-state outside linebacker … 2017 defense MVP … Three-time letter winner in basketball … Third place in the long jump at the state competition
Personal: Parents are Katie & Jason Tirrell … Nephew to Coach Bobby Hauck<https://gogriz.com/coaches.aspx?rc=246> and cousin to fellow Grizzly Robby Hauck<https://gogriz.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4643>
26 Corbin Walker;, CB, 5-11, 170, Renton, Wash. / Hazen Senior HS
2019: Walker will enroll at UM in the fall of 2019 as a true freshman
High School: A Four-time letter winner in football … 2 time 1st-team NPSL all-league wide receiver and defensive back … 2018 NPSL offensive player of the year … 2018 News Tribune all-area 2nd-team wide receiver … 74 receptions, 1,155 yards, 34 tackles and 10 touchdowns in 10 games as a senior … 2017 all-NPSL Cascade division first-team player … 2017 division’s all-purpose player of the year … Two-time letter winner in basketball and track …Received offers from the Air Force, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona
Personal: Plans to major in Finance … Parents are mother and step-father Kathleen and Jeremy Luiten and father Vernon Walker
