While closing out the toughest part of the college football year, we are finally getting close to that time of year. Anticipation looms across the country as football fans finish out the final month of the year without college football (Thank God). I am hoping to provide some sort of position by position preview for the upcoming season. I will start with where it all starts on offense...the offensive line. I have created a side-by-side chart of the 2026 Roster and the 2025 Roster. My hope is to engage and project a little to see where we stand going into next season. Players numbers, names, year in school and games played in the 2025 season are listed. Anyway, here is this weeks position group and some key points along with a far from concrete projected starting line-up.
2025 Key Points
This is a tough projection, that honestly could go many directions. I am confident in new OL coach Brent Meyers to work his magic with a very inexperienced group of returners and incoming transfers. I imagine he will find 5-8 hogs from this collection. I will do my best to provide positions, but honestly even guessing a top 5 at this point is kind of a crapshoot.
Starters Twos Threes RedShirt
LT-Wyatt Sandford Carter Bowen Quinlan Hyatt Josiah West
LG-Lucas Frietas Dylan Jemtegaard Ezra Meyer
C-Jack D’Ambra Matt Hilden Trevor Steinbach Lincoln Senter
RG-Dyllan Drummond Kaikoa Kanakaole Campbell Vandiver
RT-Austin Buehler Lincoln Hoefer Torin Jeske Owen Leichti
As stated before, I by no means think this is accurate in any way. I feel like the top 10 is likely pretty close to how the two deep will look by names, but not positions. The standouts in the Spring Game on the O-Line from what I saw were Lucas Freitas, Austin Buehler, Kaikoa Kanakaole and Dyllan Drummond. I think Kanakaole could end up at center as well, but I have a feeling about Jack D’Ambra and I don’t think he and Wyatt Sanford were brought in to sit on the bench. Of course, they will have to earn it, but they both have a ton of playing experience which is going to serve them well for their senior season with UM. Keep in mind this is mostly conjecture. I hope it creates some constructive discussion.
| # | (2026) Offensive Line (18) | GP | # | (2025) Offensive Line (22) | GP | |||
| 55 | Austin Beuhler | RJR | 10 | 72 | Cade Klicmzak (Graduated) | GSR | 13 | |
| 78 | Lucas Freitas | RJR | 13 | 79 | Liam Brown (Graduated) | RSR | 15 | |
| 65 | Dylan Jemtegaard (Cal) | GSR | 6 | 60 | Dillon Botner (Graduated) | GSR | 15 | |
| 72 | Jack D'Ambra | RSR | 62 | Everett Johnson (Graduated) | RSR | 12 | ||
| 75 | Dyllan Drummond (UNLV) | RSO | 69 | Cannon Panfiloff (Graduated) | RSR | 15 | ||
| Wyatt Sandford (Carroll) | RSR | 76 | Patrick Matan (Graduated) | GSR | 15 | |||
| 77 | Carter Bowen | RJR | 13 | 55 | Austin Beuhler | RSO | 10 | |
| 76 | Campbell Vandiver (S.C.) | RJR | 75 | Jose Balver-Mendoza (Transferred) | RFR | 4 | ||
| 68 | Torin Jeske | RSO | 6 | 78 | Lucas Freitas | RSO | 13 | |
| 64 | Matt Hilden | RSO | 4 | 70 | Colin Amick (Transferred) | RFR | 11 | |
| 73 | Trevor Steinbach | RSO | 77 | Carter Bowen | JR | 13 | ||
| 63 | Kaikoa Kanakaeole (HI)*** | RFR | 65 | Dylan Jemtegaard (Cal) | RSR | 6 | ||
| 71 | Quinlan Hyatt (WA)*** | RFR | 68 | Torin Jeske | RFR | 6 | ||
| 61 | Lincoln Hoefer (WA)*** | RFR | 64 | Matt Hilden | RFR | 4 | ||
| 66 | Ezra Meyer (M. Big Sky) | RFR | 53 | Braunson Henriksen | RJR | |||
| Josiah West (WA)*** | FR | 74 | Tate Templeton (No Longer w/Team | RSO | ||||
| Owen Liechti (IA) | FR | 73 | Trevor Steinbach | RFR | ||||
| Lincoln Senter (Great Falls) | FR | 71 | Quinlan Hyatt (WA)*** | FR | ||||
| 61 | Lincoln Hoefer (WA)*** | FR | ||||||
| 63 | Kaikoa Kanakaeole (HI)*** | FR | ||||||
| 66 | Ezra Meyer (M. Big Sky) | FR | ||||||
| 51 | Spencer Tripp (Big Sky) | FR |
2025 Key Points
- The offensive line provided the protection and running lanes for historic numbers during the 2025 Season. Grizzly QBs were able to throw for 4,282 yards, 33 TDs, while only allowing 23 sacks for 215 yards.
- UM running backs combined for 2,573 yards on 542 attempts, 4.7 YPA, and 46 TDs.
- Cannon Pantiloff was probably the most decorated OL loss with 30 starts in 41 games played. He was a 1st team All-Big Sky Conference Selection and was selected as an All-American by multiple media outlets.
- Liam Brown had 43 starts in 52 games played over his career and was a 2nd team All-Big Sky Conference selection
- Cade Klicmzak, Dillon Botner, Everett Johnson, and Patrick Matan all graduated and contributed as starters.
- RFR Colin Amick, who was likely UMs most talented underclassman with 7 starts in 11 games played, transferred to Iowa State.
- Others leaving the program include Jose Balver-Mendoza (Nevada) and Tate Templeton.
- RJR Lucas Freitas is the most experienced returning OL player with 1 start in 34 appearances.
- Other returners with career appearances for UM: Austin Beuhler (12); Dylan Jemtegaard (6); Carter Bowen (13 UM-18 games played for NDSCS); Torin Jeske (6); Matt Hilden (4)
- Trevor Steinbach saw no action his first two seasons, but will be looking to find the field.
- Red Shirt Freshmen: Kaikoa Kanakaole had an outstanding spring and looked fantastic in the Spring Game, most likely to compete for a starting spot. Ezra Meyer, Lincoln Hoefer, and Quinlan Hyatt all look to find ways to get onto the field after their redshirt season.
- Jack D’Ambra (RSR; U. San Diego) has 30 games worth of experience for the Toreros.
- Campbell Vandiver (RJR; University of South Carolina) dod not log game action with the Gamecocks.
- Dyllan Drummond (RSO; UNLV) participated in 14 games as a backup for the Runnin’ Rebels.
- Wyatt Sandiford ? (RSR, Carroll College) Participated in 15 career games for the Saints. Not on roster or TBD hoping he is still coming.
- Owen Liechti, (Akeny, IA).
- Josiah West (Prosser, WA)
- Lincoln Senter (Great Falls, MT)
This is a tough projection, that honestly could go many directions. I am confident in new OL coach Brent Meyers to work his magic with a very inexperienced group of returners and incoming transfers. I imagine he will find 5-8 hogs from this collection. I will do my best to provide positions, but honestly even guessing a top 5 at this point is kind of a crapshoot.
Starters Twos Threes RedShirt
LT-Wyatt Sandford Carter Bowen Quinlan Hyatt Josiah West
LG-Lucas Frietas Dylan Jemtegaard Ezra Meyer
C-Jack D’Ambra Matt Hilden Trevor Steinbach Lincoln Senter
RG-Dyllan Drummond Kaikoa Kanakaole Campbell Vandiver
RT-Austin Buehler Lincoln Hoefer Torin Jeske Owen Leichti
As stated before, I by no means think this is accurate in any way. I feel like the top 10 is likely pretty close to how the two deep will look by names, but not positions. The standouts in the Spring Game on the O-Line from what I saw were Lucas Freitas, Austin Buehler, Kaikoa Kanakaole and Dyllan Drummond. I think Kanakaole could end up at center as well, but I have a feeling about Jack D’Ambra and I don’t think he and Wyatt Sanford were brought in to sit on the bench. Of course, they will have to earn it, but they both have a ton of playing experience which is going to serve them well for their senior season with UM. Keep in mind this is mostly conjecture. I hope it creates some constructive discussion.
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