3 Griz make Shrine Bowl 1,000

The East-West Shrine Bowl, one of college football’s preeminent all-star showcases, released its annual preseason list of 1,000 players to watch from all levels of the game that are eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft on Monday. 

Three Grizzlies were highlighted in this year’s list, the most of any team in the Big Sky Conference and tied for the most of any program in the FCS. 

Offensive lineman Liam Brown, running back Eli Gillman, and receiver Michael Wortham each earned a spot among the best 1,000 players in college football, and are among just 50 FCS players and eight Big Sky players on the list. 

Montana State had two players make the list: receiver Taco Dowler and offensive lineman Titan Fleischmann. 

The other Big Sky players were: guard Nate Azzopardi; UC Davis safety Rex Connors; and Weber State offensive tackle Gavin Ortega. 

One of UM’s most experienced O-linemen, Brown has made 28 career starts and 37 career appearances heading into his senior season. He started all 14 games last year, two at center and 12 at left guard on an offense that totaled 2,741 rushing yards and moved the chains 305 times – the fourth-most times in the FCS. 

Gillman, a preseason All-America and all-conference pick, enters his junior season at UM already ranked No. 7 in UM history with 2,137 rushing yards to his name and sits fifth in program history in rushing touchdowns with 28. The 2023 FCS Freshman of the Year had 1,104 net yards in his sophomore campaign, becoming the first Grizzly in a decade to tote the ball for over 1,000 in a season.  

Wortham also earned preseason All-America and all-conference honors since arriving at Montana from Eastern Washington in the spring. He was one of the most versatile and electric players in the FCS in 2024, accounting for 1,615 yards of total offense as a receiver and quarterback. He also totaled 1,093 kickoff return yards last year, breaking a program record and leading the Big Sky Conference. 

Dowler earned All-America honors as a return specialist in 2024, while also leading the Bobcats in receiving yards (597). He averaged 12.5 yards per punt return, with one touchdown. 

Fleischmann started all 16 games at right tackle for the 2024 Bobcats, earning second-team all-Big Sky honors on a team that averaged 294.6 rushing yards a game, second in the FCS. 

Each year approximately 1,000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or attend a rookie minicamp, according to the Shrine Bowl. Its annual list gives fans a look at the scouting process and a preview of the best players around the nation who Shrine Game scouts think could hear their named called as part of the 2026 NFL Draft Class.  

The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 27, 2026.