Coaching transitions can be difficult, but a good formula for success would be already having a top-flight quarterback, running back and receiver in place. 

That Bobby Kennedy can run out of the tunnel Saturday night, ahead of his first game as a college head coach, with Keali’i Ah Yat, Eli Gillman and Brooks Davis in uniform should calm any nerves he might have. 

Also helping: refortified offensive and defensive lines. 

“I go back to spring ball and I see improvement on our offensive line,” Kennedy said Monday, ahead of Saturday night’s opener with visiting Southern Utah. “Obviously we’ve made it a point to recruit some bigger defensive linemen, and I like where both those groups are going.  

“We can show the progress we made hopefully this Saturday and throughout the season.” 

On offense nine of the 10 linemen on last season’s two-deep have moved on; Lucas Freitas, a 310-pound senior who will start at left guard, is the familiar name. 

That leaves 300-pounders Jack D’Ambra (via UNLV) and Dyllan Drummond (San Diego) at center and right guard; senior Austin Buehler and junior Torin Jeske have climbed into the depth chart to start at right and left tackle, with holdovers Carter Bowen and Kaikoa Kanakaole making the two deep along with Carroll College transfer Wyatt Sandford. 

It figures that most if not all of the above will see action in the coming weeks. 

“We’re going to play a lot of guys to see how they do in game action,” Kennedy said. “The best way to get better at football is to play football.” 

Gillman is the Big Sky’s reigning offensive player of the year; Ah Yat was first-team all-Big Sky at quarterback. They’re two reasons the 13-2 Griz piled up 615 points last season, and Davis (54 catches and five touchdowns) is another. 

Davis leads a group of seven receivers that includes fellow junior Lekeldrick Bridges, senior Landon Ransom-Goelz and backups Korbin Hendrix, Weston Adams, Jordan Dever and Ian Finch. Davis and Ransom-Goelz are also listed as punt and kick returners along with Monte Gillman. 

Eli Gillman’s backup is Washington State graduate transfer Dylan Paine, but freshman Courtney Rogers and sophomore Hashim Jones have drawn mention. 

Defensively the Grizzlies list three down-linemen under new coordinator Eric Sanders; Jake Mason, a 265-pound Washington transfer, stands out. Cooper Buffington and Manase Tupou will play nose tackle; Tyler King and Hayden Schwartz are defensive ends. 

Key will be “Buck” linebackers Solomon Tuliauppu and Justin Ecklund; they’ll move up to the front at times, and Sanders has said backers Peyton Wing and Clay Oven could do the same.  

Wing, Tuiliaupupu, Gillman and Ah Yat were named team captains last week. 

The secondary has some familiar names: Montana State transfer Kade Cutler is listed as the starter at free safety; Kade Boyd is at the nickel spot and Tanner Huff is the boundary safety with Carroll transfer Braeden Orlandi listed No. 2. 

The four corners listed at juniors Chris Johnson II and Gabe stroud on one side and sophomores Brady Beaner and Sage Salopek on the other. 

Everett O’Donnell out of Melbourne, Australia, is the No. 1 punter; Jo Silver gives the Griz a solid returning place kicker. 

Now Kennedy, who noted 24 transfers came to UM in the offseason, can see how it shakes out Saturday, against a Thunderbirds team that won its last six games in 2025. 

“Continuing to mesh those guys together is always a challenge, but I appreciate the way they’ve embraced the change,” he said. “It’s not about me, it’s about Montana, it’s about our team. The hard work these guys put in, I really admire them for it. They’ve been a great group. And we have great leadership on this team.”