The Numbers Game - Roster

[HookedonGriz]

I’ve seen it mentioned a few times that we have 39 seniors we need to replace….that is incorrect. We have 29 seniors who are on their way out. Here is the break down:

68 players listed on current 2026 Roster

Going out - 38 total
29 seniors
9 transfers so far

Coming in - 25 total
20 high school commits
3 confirmed transfer commits
2 unknown transfer commits

So with 93 roster spots spoken for, my best guess is we have around 10-12 more transfers, high school players, and PWOs we are trying to bring in prior to Fall to get the roster around 105 players total.

 

[GrizNut]

I think the magic number after Opting In to the House Settlement is 105 players. I am not sure however if that is the number we have to be at for 2026, or when we have to be at the magic number. Also. there is the possibility of Micah Harper returning...not sure when we would find that out. Man, I hope that one isn't a rumor.

 

[brewskis]

That’s a ton of turnover.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

That’s a ton of turnover.

Welcome to the new age (Sing it with me...)

 

[HookedonGriz]

That’s a ton of turnover.

It is, but weirdly I think last year was even worse and it turned out okay.

 

[Griz til I die]

It is, but weirdly I think last year was even worse and it turned out okay.

Ya at least we're gonna have some starters back on Defense.

 

[Oldskoolgriz]

I just briefly looked over the roster lastnight and it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I feel like our strength would obviously be the offense led by Ah Yat and Gillman. Our receivers room looks promising with Brooks, Hendrix, Finch, Dever, Monte and Bridges. Hopefully Gurnsey can step up as well coming into his junior year. Idk too much about our TE, but I know Danny Sirmon will be a sophomore and I'm guessing he's pretty good. Another legacy kid who's dad was a beast on defense as well as Gurnseys dad who was an all Big Sky receiver.
We need help on the O-line, but first we need a coach. But we have some returning guys who I believe will step up to the challenge like Buehler who is another legacy kid. I have a feeling he will be more than ok. We also have Lucas Freiras and another big Hawaiian/Samoan who is a redshirt freshman. But the main thing is we need to have a great center and only ONE center. I love Botner and the amazing kid he's become, but he should've never been center. Center isn't a position you just throw a kid into for his last year. We have a lot of big kids on the o line that need to put in the work this off season and step up there game.
Defensively we still have Wing back which is great and I hope he stays. Another LB who hopefully will step up is another legacy kid in Grady Walker. Walkers dad Travis was also an amazing receiver for the Griz. Hopefully his son can step up along with Sean Goicoechea's son Kash who is a safety. Kashs dad was another baller for the Griz in the mid 90s. I'm guessing and hoping he's ready to step up along with the Beaner bros. Hopefully Gentry can make a full recovery and help us at CB. Don't know too much about the d- line but I'm sure we need a lot of help there.
We definitely have some holes to fill but it's not as bad as it looks on paper with the amount of kids going out. I look at it as an opportunity for a lot of Montana kids/legacy kids
to step up and shine this year. A lot of them have put in the work and now it's finally there time to shine. We have 3-4 months until Spring so they better get to work. Go GRIZ!!

 

[406football]

I am excited for Goicoechea. He has potential to be a Grizzly Great.

 

[Wolf777]

I’ve seen it mentioned a few times that we have 39 seniors we need to replace….that is incorrect. We have 29 seniors who are on their way out. Here is the break down:

68 players listed on current 2026 Roster

Going out - 38 total
29 seniors
9 transfers so far

Coming in - 25 total
20 high school commits
3 confirmed transfer commits
2 unknown transfer commits

So with 93 roster spots spoken for, my best guess is we have around 10-12 more transfers, high school players, and PWOs we are trying to bring in prior to Fall to get the roster around 105 players total.

I guarantee we still have guys on the roster that were tagged as part of being grandfathered in and don’t count against the roster. I’m thinking as long as there is talent and ability they will bring in as much as possible. I’d expect closer to 17-20 guys and a roster closer to 110+

 

[alabamagrizzly]

I am excited for Goicoechea. He has potential to be a Grizzly Great.

Ive been thinking this also but I'm a bit surprised he has never seen the field in two years here.

 

[BWahlberg]

I’ve seen it mentioned a few times that we have 39 seniors we need to replace….that is incorrect. We have 29 seniors who are on their way out. Here is the break down:

68 players listed on current 2026 Roster

Going out - 38 total
29 seniors
9 transfers so far

Coming in - 25 total
20 high school commits
3 confirmed transfer commits
2 unknown transfer commits

So with 93 roster spots spoken for, my best guess is we have around 10-12 more transfers, high school players, and PWOs we are trying to bring in prior to Fall to get the roster around 105 players total.

Keep in mind these funky "designated" players from the opt-in. I think we started the season with 8 maybe - so as long as we have those designated players, or if we bring in other designated players we can have 113+

 

[HookedonGriz]

Keep in mind these funky "designated" players from the opt-in. I think we started the season with 8 maybe - so as long as we have those designated players, or if we bring in other designated players we can have 113+

Gotcha that’s a very valid point

 

[406football]

Ive been thinking this also but I'm a bit surprised he has never seen the field in two years here.

Honestly, I have no idea since I am not able to attend practices. The 3-3-5 is not the easiest defense to learn straight away and could be the reason being held back. I could be way off. He still has plenty of time to make an impact. I really like him and his potential.

 

[BWahlberg]

Gotcha that’s a very valid point

It's such a weird realm, when we did the GFP in August with Kent Haslam he pointed that out that programs who opted in in 2025 can designate guys over their limit, to save their spot in the transition. The reasoning he had, presumably by way of the NCAA's logic, is that this saves a handful of kids that otherwise would've been cut. So "bubble" kids for the roster. As long as they're eligible players their designation is in place and does not count against your 105 limit. But there was no real limitation / guidelines on who a team can designate. So what did all of the opt-in guys do? They designated a ton of freshman - because then you've got on-roster guys for 4 to 5 years that never hurt your limit!

Furthermore, if a kid hits the portal, his designation carries over - thus portal kids that got this carry "value" for teams because you can bring them in and it doesn't hurt your 105. While I have no clue who actually was designated, I do wonder if Amick was one - being he landed so quick at Iowa State.

 

[HookedonGriz]

68 were on roster
20 high school kids joining
18 transfers so far

106 total players as of today

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

68 were on roster
20 high school kids joining
18 transfers so far

106 total players as of today

I know some are grandfathered or whatever the verbiage was, so we don't actually have to be at 105. But I'm wondering if there's now a yearly deadline for meeting the roster limits or if you can't ever go above them on an ongoing basis? I feel like so much changed so fast that I can't get a handle on some of this stuff.

 

[HookedonGriz]

I know some are grandfathered or whatever the verbiage was, so we don't actually have to be at 105. But I'm wondering if there's now a yearly deadline for meeting the roster limits or if you can't ever go above them on an ongoing basis? I feel like so much changed so fast that I can't get a handle on some of this stuff.

You are correct some of them were designated and don’t technically count against your roster limits. I want to say that was like six or seven guys.

 

[Wolf777]

I know some are grandfathered or whatever the verbiage was, so we don't actually have to be at 105. But I'm wondering if there's now a yearly deadline for meeting the roster limits or if you can't ever go above them on an ongoing basis? I feel like so much changed so fast that I can't get a handle on some of this stuff.

You can go over as long as you have designated players because they don’t count against your roster. However, that will phase out after 4-5 years as they will exhaust their eligibility (maybe) and no new designations will be made after the one-time grandfathering in.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

You can go over as long as you have designated players because they don’t count against your roster. However, that will phase out after 4-5 years as they will exhaust their eligibility (maybe) and no new designations will be made after the one-time grandfathering in.

I guess I didn't ask my question very well since and nobody seemed to understand it. Lol. When I was wondering is if that limit must be maintained at all times.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

I guess I didn't ask my question very well since and nobody seemed to understand it. Lol. When I was wondering is if that limit must be maintained at all times.

I cant find a specific date but I'm gonna guess its shortly before week one, like the week before maybe. Mostly guessing though. Either that or day one of fall camp.