The film might've gone longer than “Gone With the Wind.”
“It's a big ol' class,” said Hauck, who announced the signing of 33 players, all but two of them high school players from around the West, on Wednesday. “We have 10 returning starters off a team that went unbeaten during the regular season, and we're really in a rebuilding mode.
Hauck, sitting alongside recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach Dominic Daste, was excited about the incoming talent.
Sheer numbers are part of it. The signees outnumber the 24 seniors on last year's 11-1 team, though the two transfers - junior college linebacker Thomas Bauer, a former Northern Colorado Bear, and former Brigham Young receiver Ryan Kessman - will walk on.
Hauck and his staff were able to split some scholarships, and get some out-of-state players to commit at less than a full ride. Eight Californians signed on, and the Griz also landed four players from Arizona.
Meanwhile 12 Montanans were added to the fold, including the likely replacements for a pair of All-Americans, kicker Dan Carpenter and punter Tyson Johnson.
“This is always a great day,” Hauck, who just completed his fifth season as UM's coach, said. “I'm excited about it. I think we covered all our bases.
“There are things at both ends of the spectrum. There are guys that are tremendous diamonds in the rough that weren't recruited heavily, that I think are going to be great players down the road. And then there were some recruiting victories over schools that we probably shouldn't beat, most the time.”
Prominently mentioned was receiver Trumaine Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder out of Stockton, Calif. He was an “11th-hour addition,” committing to assistant coach Tim Hauck, Bobby's brother, at around midnight Tuesday.
“He's a guy that Arizona State was on, down to the end,” Bobby Hauck said. “We were there to pick up the change, so to speak. He's a guy a lot of people missed on, I think. He can play anything. He's really gifted.”
At the other end is defensive tackle Matt Hulse, another player who caught the eye of ASU coach Dennis Erickson. The 6-3, 260-pounder spent much of his life playing hoops, but tried football as a senior at Hamilton High in Phoenix.
“He's a guy I saw in spring practice during our May evaluation period,” Hauck said. “He's played one year of high school football. As far as his development as a football player, he's really in the infancy of it. He's a project, but he's the kind of project you want.”
In all the Grizzlies signed 21 kids from out of state, including eight from California and four from Arizona. Montana has 41 returning letter winners and some holes to fill.
To that end Hauck signed Kyle Finneman of Havre and Russell Schey of Billings West. Outstanding all-around athletes, Finneman was recruited to punt while Schey is aiming to be a place-kicker.
“Russell is in the same shoes Dan Carpenter was in four years ago, where he's trying to replace the FCS career points leader,” Hauck said. “Russell was all-state at three positions.
“Kyle Finneman won the State A 100 meters, and Š catch to kick, he's as good as any punter I've recruited over the last 18 to 20 years.”
The Grizzlies found a quarterback in Gerald Kemp out of San Diego, and took on two bruising running backs in Big Sky product Beau Donaldson and Dan Moore out of Tucson, Ariz.
“It's great to have Beau,” said Hauck. “He's a versatile athlete. He's a guy who plays multiple sports, which is something we like, and he's going to get a chance at running back. Certainly he can play fullback as well.
“We like in our program - you can see it with Donaldson, Dan Moore, etc. - the bigger back. It's great to have a local guy from Big Sky High School. Joining some of his former teammates (Ryan Schmidt and twins Jace and Tyson Palmer) on this team is a lot of fun.”
The Grizzlies haunted the small schools - Raymond DeBruycker from Choteau, Greg Hardy from Fairview, Tyzer Cady from Colstrip and Brooks Rabold from Billings Central - and the big.
Billings Senior receiver Sam Gratton is a Griz legacy, his dad Scott having played linebacker at UM from 1979-82. Josh Harris, a defensive end out of Kalispell Flathead, follows his father Greg, who lettered at Montana from 1972-74.
Another recruit, Cody Von Appen from Hawaii, is the son of Fred Von Appen, Hauck's assistant head coach in 2003-04.
It's hard to project who will excel in a program that has landed 15 straight FCS playoff berths, but the law of averages says plenty.
“Everybody in the country today who sits in my chair or Dom's chair feels like they've had a heck of a day,” said Hauck. “If they don't, and they've got to fake it, they've got to be scared to death. You're about as good a coach as the guys you bring into the program.
“I certainly hope these young men have as much success as the guys that left the program after four or five years in December. If we can, that means they'll be the winningest program at the I-AA (FCS) level.”
Thomas Bauer, LB, 6-2, 237, jr., Niwot, Colo. (Saddleback CC): Thomas comes to UM from Saddleback City College in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he was a first team All-Mission Conference pick at middle linebacker... He had 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and four forced fumbles for a 7-3 team. He played at Northern Colorado as a freshman in 2006, making the honor roll as well as 65 tackles in 10 games. Major is business.
Brandon Beecher, DB, 5-10, 175, fr., Aurora, Colo. (Overland High): Brandon was first team all-conference as a junior and all-league as a sophomore... Prep coach was Tony Manfredi, who coached former Griz standout linebacker Tyler Joyce...Lettered three times in football and basketball...Sprinter on the Overland track team, and has been timed at 4.38 seconds over 40 yards. Major is sociology/criminology.
Levi Buckles, WR, 6-3 fi, 195, fr., Post Falls, Idaho: Levi was a second team all-state pick at wide receiver, and first team all-league as a junior and senior...tabbed the Inland Empire League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior when he had 51 receptions for 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns for Post Falls... First team All-North Idaho and offensive team MVP as a junior and senior...three-year letterman in basketball and team MVP in hoops his junior year. ... Undecided on a major.
Charles Burton, OL, 6-5, 315, fr., Long Beach, Calif. (Milikan High): Charles was an All-California Interscholastic Federation pick, and was voted the Moore League co-offensive linemen of the year... He's in Milikan High's weight lifting hall of fame (benches 305 and squats 325)...his high school football coach was Kirk Diego...a four-year letterman in football and twice in track. ... Major is education.
Tyzer Cady, WR, 6-0, 180, fr., Colstrip: A team captain in football, basketball and track, he'll rack up 12 letters for the Colts. ... Team captain in all three sports... All-state in football as a senior and all-league twice, and he returned three kickoffs for TDs in 2007. ...A member of Colstrip's 2005 state-title track team, he is the reigning Class B 100-meters champ. .. Cady was all-conference in basketball his junior year...Undecided on a major.
Mike Cummings, DB, 6-1, 192, fr., Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chapparral High): Had 14 career interceptions at Chapparral, and caught 77 passes as a senior, for 1,421 yards and 18 TDs. ...All-region selection at wide receiver and at defensive back his junior and senior seasons. ... All-state at receiver as a senior and all-state at DB as a junior. ... Earned three letters in football and basketball, and was team captain in both. ... Major is business.
Ray DeBruycker, DE, 6-3, 205, fr., Choteau: All-State for Class B in 2007, he had 11 sacks on defense, and 45 catches for 450 yards and six TDs on offense. ... Two-time all-conference pick at tight end and linebacker... He's the defending Class B wrestling champ at 189 pounds. ... He's earned 10 varsity letters, including three each in track and football. ... Going to Montana's East-West Shrine Game. ... Major is forestry.
Beau Donaldson, RB, 6-1, 223, fr., Missoula (Big Sky High): Beau was named all-state three times in football, and led Class AA with 1,682 rushing yards in 2007. He scored 23 TDs last season, and on defense had 13 sacks. ... Ran for 3,749 yards and 44 touchdowns in his high school career. ... Big Sky coach Gary Ekegren is a frmer Griz player (1959-61) and defensive line coach (1977-79). ... Major is physical therapy.
Andrew Douglass, LB, 6-2, 225, fr., San Clemente, Calif.: An all-CIF first-team pick at linebacker, he had 111 tackles, four sacks, three fumbles and two interceptions as a senior for San Clemente High. ... First-team All-South Coast League as a junior and senior...tabbed South Coast League's MVP on defense his senior season, when he was team captain. Attended same high school as UM quarterback Cole Bergquist. Major is business.
Kyle Finneman, P, 6-2, 205, fr., Havre: Kyle was Class A all-state at running back and punter...An all-Central A pick at halfback and linebacker last fall. ... He's a three-sport letterman in football (3), track (4), and basketball...Class A champion in the 100 and 200 meters in 2006. ...Captain and MVP of football team in 2007. ... Undecided on his major.
Sam Gratton, WR, 6-0, 190, fr., Billings (Senior High): Sam was a three-time all-state choice at wide receiver... selected to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Knights of Columbus Mon-Dak Game... Caught 43 passes for 723 yards and seven TDs for 10-3 team that lost in State AA title game. ... Had 149 career catches for 2,155 yards and 13 TDs. .. His father Scott palyed linebacker for the Griz from 1979-82. ... Undecided on a major.
Greg Hardy, TE, 6-5, 245, fr., Fairview: Greg was an all-state and all-conference pick in football, basketball, and track, and has earned four letters in each sport. ... The Warriors play 8-man football, and his basketball team won a district title, going 20-6 in 2006-07. ... Hardy is the reigning State C champ in both the discus and shot put. ... His father Jim played football and basketball at UM-Western. ... Business major.
Josh Harris, DE, 6-5, 210, fr., Kalispell (Flathead High): Josh was all-state his senior year when he had 47 tackles, seven sacks, and 14 quarterback hurries. ... He's a two-time all-league pick in football, and his team's defensive MVP in 2007. He's been selected for the East-West Shrine and the Knights of Columbus Mon-Dak games. ... Father Greg lettered for Montana from 1972-74. ... Undecided on his major.
Eric Homec , DE, 6-5, 215, fr., HS, Bozeman: Eric was an all-state pick at defensive end as a senior when he had 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and six pass break-ups, two of which led to interceptions. ... chosen to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Mon-Dak All-Star Game...lettered in football and track... Parents are Montana grads. ... Business major.
Matt Hulse, DL, 6-3, 260, fr., Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton High): Matt earned letters in football and track...his football team was conference champion his senior year and made the state playoff semifinals. ... He had 11 tackles for loss and two sacks, in his first year of football. ... Father Sam was a small-college basketball player and mother, Alma Jo (Cobb) is a member of Army's athletic hall of fame. ... Exercise science major.
Jared Hunt, DB, 6-3, 175, fr., Helena (Capital High): An all-state and all-league pick at quarterback and punter as a junior and senior, Jared guided the Bruins to the 2007 AA state championship, their second straight. ... He passed for 1,857 yards and 17 TDs as a senior, and was the conference's player of the year. He also rushed for 366 yards and six scores. ... An avid hockey player. ... Wildlife biology major.
Trumaine Johnson, WR, 6-3, 180, fr., Stockton, Calif. (Edison High): Accounted for 22 touchdowns last fall at Edison, where he played quarterback and passed for 1,800 yards and ran for another 500. He was named first team all-league at quarterback and defensive back last season, and as a junior had 750 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. ... Turned 18 on New Year's Day. ... Business major.
Gerald Kemp, QB, 6-2, 185, fr., HS, San Diego (Rancho Bernardo High): Gerald was named team MVP in football as a senior...he was a second team All-North County pick in 2007, as well as a first team all-league choice... Ran for 1,003 yards and passed for 666 out of Rancho Bernardo's wing-T offense, according to MaxPreps. ... Was also an all-league player in basketball last season. ...
Undecided on his major.
Ryan Kessman, WR, 5-10, 210, fr., San Jacinto, Calif. (Brigham Young): Ryan spent one year at BYU last season, taking a redshirt. A standout wide receiver at San Jacinto High, he was chosen All-C.I.F., all-state, all-league, and his league's player of the year, Kessman redshirted last fall at BYU. ... Had 43 catches for 848 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he had 1,493 total yards at receiver and as a returner his senior year. ... Is walking on this season at Montana. ... Undecided on his major.
Kyle Kmet, OL, 6-5, 300, fr., Bonita, Calif. (Bonita Vista High): Kyle was a San Diego All-Country selection and first team all-conference choice as a senior...he earned three letters in both football and track (shot/discus) and one in lacrosse...he was also a three-time All-Academic Mesa League pick. ...team captain in football. ...His 2005 football team was the conference champion. ... Undecided on his major.
Blake Lebeau, OL, 6-5, 275, fr., Union City, Calif. (James Logan High): Blake was named first team All-East Bay and all-league...His senior year, his football team rushed for 3,542 yards. ... His football teams won league championships in 2006 (8-3) and 2007 (11-1). ... Served as team captain in football. ... Business major.
Matt Lipski, OL, 6-9, 320, fr., Ashland, Ore.: Matt was a first team All-Southern Conference team pick his junior and senior seasons...his third-ranked 2007 Grizzlies football team went 11-1 and advanced to the state semifinals. ... All-conference in basketball as a junior, helping team to state 5A play-offs for the first time since 1986. ... Currently averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game. ..Also lettered in water polo. .. History or business major.
Donny Lisowski, DB, 5-11, 190, fr., Seattle (O'Dea High): Donny was a first team all-league selection at quarterback and defensive back as a senior...he was chosen the game MVP of the state-semi-final football game in 2007... Named among the top 20 defensive backs in the state of Washington by Rivals.com and tabbed one of the top 100 recruits in the state by the Seattle Times. ... Track team MVP as a junior... Journalism major.
Mike McCord II, DB, 6-0, 185, fr., Phoenix, Ariz. (Maryvale High): Mike was named All-Region two-way Player of the Year as a senior...selected first team All-Region at quarterback and defensive back in 2007...In 2007 he rushed for 1,070 yards and passed for 490, and had 82 tackles and two interceptions... He earned three letters in football and two in track... Undecided on his major.
Caleb McSurdy, LB, 6-2, 240, fr., Boise, Idaho (Borah High): Caleb was a first-team all-state pick at linebacker and second team at tight end, following his senior season when he had 65 tackles (52 solos), eight for loss, and five sacks. ... Won the state championship in the shot put (56-6) and discus (166-0) in 2007, and Borah won state track titles in 2006-07. ... Holds Borah's school lifting records in bench press (390) and squat (515). ... Business major.
Dan Moore, RB, 5-11, 215, fr., Tucson, Ariz. (Mountain View High): Dan was an all-state choice in 2007, and named All-Region and all-conference three times...the 14th-ranked fullback in the nation by Scout.com...as a senior he rushed for 1,941 yards for 21 touchdowns and averaged 9.5 yards a carry, and had 2,525 all-purpose yards. ... Team MVP as a senior. ...Was a U.S.A Power-lifting champion as a freshman. ...Forestry major.
Jon Opperud II, OL, 6-7, 280, fr., Milwaukie, Ore.: Jon earned three letters in football, three in basketball, and two in track. ... Team captain and Outstanding Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior...started both ways as a senior. ... Team captain in hoops as a senior and averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. ... Placed fourth in the state in the discus last season. ... Undecided on his major.
Brooks Rabold, LB, 6-2, 205, fr., Billings (Central Catholic): Brooks was a two-time all-state and all-conference pick in football...selected to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Mon-Dak All-Star Game...His senior year he had 99 tackles, 17 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 19 QB hurries, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles for unbeaten State A champs. ... Father Pat is in Wyoming's football hall of fame. ... Criminology major.
Jabin Sainbrano, WR, 5-11, 165, fr., Temecula, Calif. (Great Oaks High): Jabin was a first team all-conference player at wide receiver and defensive back. ...Chosen football MVP as a senior, when he had 36 catches for 645 yards and eight TDs, according to MaxPreps. ...lettered in football, track, and wrestling...Served as team captain in track. ...Voted recipient of Community Service Award. ... Undecided on his major.
Russell Schey, K, 6-2, 180, fr., Billings (West High): Russell is a two-time first-team kicker for Class AA, and was also first-team at safety as a senior. ... Helped the 2006 Golden Bears to a 13-0 mark and the AA title. ... He converted 150 PATs and 10 field goals in his career, wich a career long of 43 yards. ... His 211 points are thir most in West history. ... Helped Bears win the AA state track crown last spring. ... Business major.
Alex Shaw, LB, 6-2, 220, fr., Spokane, Wash. (Lewis & Clark High): Co-Player of the Year as a senior for the 11-2 state champions. ... Was first team all-state and all-conference at running back and at linebacker in 2007... His senior season he rushed for 1,655 yards, and he gained 793 yards on 151 carries in the state playoffs. ... Greater Spokane League shot put (55-0) champion as a junior and member of winning 4x100 relay team. ... Undecided on his major.
Josh Stuberg, LB, 6-2, 190, fr., Helena (Helena High): Josh was a first team all-state pick at cornerback as a junior, and a second team pick at wide receiver and returner... Played running back during an injury-plagued senior season, and as a junior led the state in touchdowns with 15 in 2006, and was third in in all-purpose yards with 1,324. ... High school coach is former Griz QB Tony Arntson (1985-88). ... Business major.
Cody Von Appen, DB, 5-10, 180, fr., Kailua, Hawaii (Kalaheo High): Cody was a first team all-conference selection following his junior and senior seasons in high school... As a senior he passed for 975 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 537 yards and nine scores. ... Chosen his high school's “Athlete of the Year” as a freshman, sophomore, and junior. ...Father Fred was Grizzlies' assistant head coach in 2003-04. ... Undecided on his major.
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