Fans can get a first look at the 2026 Montana Grizzlies Friday with the Spring Game that kicks off at 6 p.m. inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

They’ll see, among other things, three quarterbacks not named Keali’i Ah Yat. Gage Sliter of Glacier High, Cody Schweikert of Columbia Falls and freshman Drew Price out of Florida are set to take the snaps. 

“We know what Ah Yat is capable of and Luke Flowers got dinged up a little this spring. He was making really good progress,” first-year Grizzlies coach Bobby Kennedy said. “We’re excited that these other young guys are getting a bunch of reps they might not have otherwise. That’s great for our depth.” 

Nor should fans plan on reps from running back Eli Gillman, another known quantity with 3,677 career rushing yards coming into his senior season.  

In his place, Hashim Jones — a freshman that Kennedy said Wednesday could start for many teams — will share carries with Washington State transfer Dylan Paine and Whitefish’s Fynn Ridgeway, who has switched over from safety, among others. 

“Everybody knows Eli, but I really like Hashim and Dylan,” Kennedy said. “They’ve done a nice job. We added Fynn to the room as well, so I really like that group.” 

What fans will see is four, 15-minute quarters with a running clock. The Grizzlies need to replace their entire offensive line, figure out which tight ends — Titus Rohrer, Danny Sirmon and Reese Brooks are candidates — will step up to replace the graduated Evan Shafer and Jake Olson and how the defense looks under a new staff led by coordinator Eric Sanders. 

Linebackers Solomon Tuliaupupu, granted a hardship waiver this spring to be able to play in what will be his ninth year of college football, and Peyton Wing are two of the more familiar faces on defense.  

Billings Central’s Clay Oven inherited the coveted No. 37 jersey a year ago; Central teammate Kade Boyd is also back at safety. New names include Bowling Green transfer Justin Eklund at linebacker and NAIA All-America safety Braeden Orlandi, who comes in from Carroll College. 

Speaking of safety, Kennedy had encouraging words for Glacier product Kash Goicoechea, who is a redshirt sophomore.  

Goicoechea is one of a handful of Flathead Valley kids on the spring roster, including Whitefish kicker Ryder Barinowski, who transferred in from Montana Tech; Glacier’s Isaac Keim, who has bulked up to around 260 pounds and is getting reps at defensive tackle is another; Glacier product Bridger Smith, a redshirt freshman, is starting to make noise at receiver. 

The receiver room has holdover Brooks Davis and some questions. Kennedy, UM’s receivers coach, has high expectations for Jordan Dever, Lekeldrick Bridges and Legend Lyons. 

Another new face: Defensive tackle Hayden Hanks, a 285-pound redshirt sophomore out of Thompson Falls who began his collegiate career at Boise State. 

Hanks and others help make up for the loss of 26 players to graduation off a team that went 13-2 and made the FCS semifinals. Tickets are available at Griztix.com; cost is $10 and can be purchased at the Adams Center ticket office. The Grizzly Scholarship Association is having a pregame tailgate party in “The Den,” on the 200 level of the east concourse at the stadium.  

The UM Spirit Squad will sell roster cards for $1, as a team fundraiser. Gates open at 4 p.m. and fans are urged to enter to use the South entrance near the scoreboard and leave the same way. 

Sports Editor Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 406-758-4463 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.