by A Big Sky Conference-best five Montana Grizzlies have earned All-America honors from HERO Sports, the online sports news outlet announced Monday – the first of several FCS All-America lists to be released in the coming weeks. The Griz had two first-team selections, one second-team pick, and a pair of third-team honorees to lead the league.
Recognized as first-team All-Americans were a pair of UM record-breakers in linebacker Dante Olson, who became the Big Sky’s all-time leading tackler on Friday, and wide receiver Samori Toure, who posted the most single-season receiving yards in Montana history.
Olson, a top-three finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, repeated as a HERO Sports first-team All-American after leading all of Division-I football (FCS and FBS) in total tackles for a second-straight season, capping his phenomenal senior year with a school and conference record 179 stops.
Toure also etched his name in the FCS record books, breaking Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss’ 1996 record for most receiving yards in a playoff game with 303 against Southeastern Louisiana.
Robby Hauck earned second-team honors as a sophomore after picking up a Freshman All-American nod in 2018 following his second-straight season as one of the top-ten tacklers in the Big Sky. Hauck finished the year as UM’s third-leading tackler with 129 stops, now tied with Colt Anderson and his uncle Tim Hauck for the fifth most stops in a single season in UM history.
In just two seasons, Hauck is already one of the top-40 tacklers in program history with 224 tackles in 25 games, an average of nearly nine per-game.
Electrifying punt returner and record-setting wide receiver Jerry Louie-McGee earned third-team All-America honors as a returner.
The senior finished his career tied with Marc Mariani and Levander Seagers for the most punt return touchdowns in program history (three), and No. 6 among UM’s all-time leaders in punt return yards per game. He also shattered Montana’s all-time pass reception record with 230 in his illustrious career.
Rounding-out Montana’s haul of All-America honorees was Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Marcus Knight, who also etched his name in the Grizzly record books with 1,030 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns for 150 points – the second-most in all of D-I football behind Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.
In his first year at UM, Knight became the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in single-season rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and scoring, breaking Chase Reynolds’ 2008 and 2009 school records.
Montanans on HERO SPORTS All-America Teams
First Team
WR – Samori Toure, Jr., Montana
LB – Dante Olson, Sr., Montana
Second Team
DB – Robby Hauck, So., Montana
Third Team
RB – Marcus Knight, So., Montana
PR – Jerry Louie-McGee, Sr., Montana
