5 Best Montana NFL Players
Washington-Grizzly Stadium is one of the loudest buildings in FCS, and Montana has used that home field to build a genuine national program. These five Grizzlies are ranked on what they did in Missoula, from record shattering quarterback play to lockdown corner work.
1. Dave Dickenson
Quarterback · 1992 to 1995
Dickenson won the 1995 Walter Payton Award and led Montana to its first national championship, throwing for 11,080 career yards in an era when those numbers were unheard of. He was accurate, quick with his reads, and almost impossible to rattle at home. He became a Grey Cup MVP and had a stint with the Chargers.
2. Trumaine Johnson
Cornerback · 2008 to 2011
Johnson was a long, physical corner who intercepted 17 passes as a Grizzly and won Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year twice. Quarterbacks in the conference learned to avoid his side entirely. The Rams drafted him in the third round in 2012 and he later signed one of the biggest corner contracts in the league.
3. Kroy Biermann
Defensive End · 2004 to 2007
Biermann won the Buck Buchanan Award in 2007 as the best defensive player in FCS after a season with 14.5 sacks. He played with a relentless motor and beat tackles with quickness more than size. Atlanta drafted him in the fifth round and he lasted nine seasons.
4. Marc Mariani
Wide Receiver · 2006 to 2009
Mariani finished with over 2,000 receiving yards and was a nightmare on returns, which is how he made his living later. He ran precise routes and had a knack for finding soft spots in zone. As a rookie in Tennessee he made the Pro Bowl as a return man.
5. Colt Anderson
Safety · 2005 to 2008
Anderson was a walk on who became the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 with 105 tackles. He hit like a much bigger player and covered ground sideline to sideline. He went undrafted and carved out an eight year NFL career, mostly as a special teams captain.
Tough Calls
Jordan Tripp, Tuff Harris, Tyrone Holmes, Brock Coyle, and Levi Horn all belong in a wider list. Tripp in particular was a tackling machine in Missoula. This ranking favored national awards and sustained dominance in the Big Sky.
Why Montana Travels Well to the NFL
The Grizzlies play in front of full houses every week and take on FBS opponents most seasons, so the pressure is not new to them. Montana's defensive backs and edge rushers in particular show up on scouting reports because the Big Sky throws the ball a lot. That volume creates real tape.
Test Yourself on Montana Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.