MISSOULA — On Thursday afternoon, Montana Grizzlies star wide receiver Samori Toure announced that he would be leaving the football program and entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and GRIZ Nation🙏🏽🐻 pic.twitter.com/R9yXBKMz2A
— Samori Touré (@samori_toure) November 12, 2020
Toure made the announcement on his Twitter account, writing in part, "... after careful consideration and talking it over with my loved ones, I have decided to enter my name in the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer with the intention of using my final year of eligibility in the '21 season."
A UM spokesperson had no comment but did say that Toure is graduating this semester, meaning Toure will have earned a degree and would be eligible for a post-graduate season with another university.
The redshirt senior was projected to have another big year as he earned first-team All-America honors coming into the 2020 season.
In 2019, Toure had a season for the record books as he tallied 1,495 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, becoming the first Griz receiver with more than 1,000 yards in a single season since Jamal Jones in 2015. Toure helped the Griz to a 10-4 record last season and a berth in the FCS Playoffs. UM received a first-round bye and defeated Southeastern Louisiana in the second round. The Griz saw their season end with a 17-10 loss to Big Sky Conference foe Weber State in the quarterfinals.
Toure becomes another prominent player to leave the Griz in the offseason after cornerback Dareon Nash transferred to Idaho earlier this year.
The 2020 Big Sky football season was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the league recently announced a schedule for the spring of 2021. The Griz are scheduled to kick off their six-game slate on Feb. 27 at Northern Arizona.
