#69 Kjelby Oiland
Class: Junior
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
High School: Ferris HS
Last College: UNLV
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 295
Position: Center
Experience: 1V
2012 Honors Candidate
Montana: Kjelby (pronounced: kell-bee) is a returning starter, and will start at center in 2012 for the Grizzlies.
2011: He was moved from defense to offense in the spring and played in all 14 games, and started 12 times at left guard.
2010: He played in five games on the defensive line for UNLV and had 6 tackles.
High School: A two-way starter and three-time letterman in football at Ferris High School…was named second 4-A team all-state at defensive tackle by the Associated Press…a first team All-Greater Spokane League selection…team captain as a senior in 2009 for the Saxons, who finished second in the state with a 10-4 record…also a first team all-state performer in track, where he earned four letters…track captain his senior year…high school football coach was Jim Sharkey.
Personal: His parents are Mike Oiland and Lisa Alford, both of Spokane. His major is anthropology. Birth date: April 8, 1992.
Quoting Coach Delaney: “Kjelby, technique-wise and with his knowledge of the game of football, might be the best of any player on our offensive line. The good thing about our offensive line is that there are no seniors on it except one (guard Jake Hendrickson).
“He can go back to guard if we need him there. We could put Logan Hines at center and move Kjelby to guard and not miss a beat. That’s what makes Kjelby so valuable to the offensive line. He can play both center and guard, and play both positions at a high level. He is such a strong, good, quick-footed smart guy, that he is the player we want at center.
“He understands where he’s going, and he does all of the things you want him to do at center. He is smart enough to make the calls, because our center actually directs the entire offensive line on every single offensive play. If he has a great summer, I believe our three or four offensive linemen will be as good as anybodies.”
