<body><div>MISSOULA — Chief among the players to replace on Montana's defense is Alex Gubner, who is now playing for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.Gubner put together an All-American career as a four-year starter who was the 2023 Big Sky defensive player of the year. The Griz don't need a single player to be as productive as their former nose tackle, but they need to replace his productivity, which head coach Bobby Hauck called "a tall order.""Looking for big, fast guys," he said. "Guys that can hold up in the run game and rush the passer. I always feel like if you’re going to have a good defense it really starts up front. Those guys make it happen for everybody behind them, generally speaking. If you’re going to be a good pass defense, those guys are making plays and putting pressure on the passer."The Griz also lost starting defensive end Kale Edwards and return one starter from their three-man D-line in defensive end Hayden Harris. They bring back others who were on the two-deep last season and are getting back players who missed some or all of 2023 with injuries.<h2>People are also reading…</h2>"We don’t necessarily have a motto other than just go fly around to the ball and be tenacious on the defensive line because that’s key for our defense," Harris said.Montana also brought in two grad transfers who will be looking to make an immediate impact. Defensive tackle Pat Hayden and defensive end Andres Lehrmann come in having played a combined 68 games in the FCS."With new guys there, there’s some learning, but we had most of them in spring and that really went a long way," Hauck said. "So the ability to have those guys in the spring practice really helped them out. I don't know if that'll be a strength or not for us, but I think it will be."<h2>Who's back</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4fXpDY_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4fXpDY_0ux7OUEk00" width="1216" height="1703" ><figcaption>Montana defensive end Hayden Harris (48) celebrates during the FCS second round playoff game between Montana and Delaware at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Senior Hayden Harris (6-5, 255) is repping with the first-team defense after he started in 14 of 15 games at defensive end last year. He's the top returning tackler among defensive linemen. He totaled 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two passes defended last year.This is his second season at UM after he spent the previous four years at UCLA, where he played in three games. He's feeling "miles better" about his understanding of the defense this fall after going through it last year."I’m a rep guy, so it takes me a long time to really get used to something," he said. "As I got more experience under my belt, I was really able to translate that into this offseason and get in the playbook even more, be around the guys even more, learn the defense, know how to play in the defense. I think that’s really benefitted me going into my second year."<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0pm2RQ_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0pm2RQ_0ux7OUEk00" width="1704" height="1217" ><figcaption>Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Gunner Talkington (2) slips a tackle from Montana Grizzlies defensive lineman Henry Nuce (96) during the Big Sky Conference football game between the Griz and Eastern Washington at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Junior Henry Nuce (6-4, 253) of Kalispell has seen reps this fall at defensive end as he looks to reestablish himself. He had broken out in 2022 but suffered an injury in fall camp last year that forced him to miss most of the season. He returned for the playoffs and played in three games. He has appeared in 26 games over the past three years, totaling 51 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, three sacks and three forced fumbles."Any time you add a good player to the mix it’s certainly going to help the team," Hauck said. "Getting Henry back was good for us. He wasn’t as physically able just because of the lifting piece that he missed so much of. He’s a very powerful, twitchy guy. Without the lifting piece he loses something. He made some good plays in the playoffs, but I think being fully healthy coming into training camp this year will really be beneficial to him."<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=075xT2_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=075xT2_0ux7OUEk00" width="1704" height="1217" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Matai Mata'afa (98) bows his head in prayer in the end zone before kickoff during the Big Sky Conference football game between the Griz and Idaho State at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Junior Matai Mata'afa (6-1, 231) is again at defensive end after he played in 15 games as a backup last season. He had four tackles, two TFLs, one sack and one forced fumble in his first year at UM after transferring from SEC Mississippi State.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1nDQB2_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1nDQB2_0ux7OUEk00" width="1765" height="1174" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Jareb Ramos (90) celebrates with other teammates after beating Furman 35-28 in overtime in the FCS playoff quarterfinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2023. ANTONIO IBARRA OLIVARES, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Sophomore Jareb Ramos (6-4, 285) has seen elevated reps at nose tackle this fall as he vies for more playing time. He has appeared in four games at UM, all in 2023, tallying two tackles.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1qrvs1_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1qrvs1_0ux7OUEk00" width="1763" height="1176" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Kellen Detrick (47) celebrates after making a stop during the Big Sky Conference football game between Montana and Northern Colorado on Oct. 28 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Junior Kellen Detrick (6-3, 235) of Havre saw an increase in playing time last year as a backup nose tackle. He appeared in nine games with nine tackles, one TFL and one sack. He's played in 12 games total at UM with 11 tackles.Junior Noah Kaschmitter (6-3, 253) is working his way back after he was limited to two games last year because of an injury. He has totaled 11 tackles and 0.5 TFLs in 21 games as a backup nose tackle and on special teams."Kaschmitter’s the guy," Hauck said. "I think he may be the best player. ... Having Noah back is big for us because he’s got potential to be really good."<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=146f2B_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=146f2B_0ux7OUEk00" width="1763" height="1176" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Sloan McPherson runs drills during a spring football practice at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Monday, March 13, 2023. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Junior Sloan McPherson (6-4, 250) of Savage has totaled one tackle in four games.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0uNZT7_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0uNZT7_0ux7OUEk00" width="1609" height="1287" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Dylan Smith runs drills during Griz football fall camp at Dornblaser Field on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Junior Dylan Smith (6-4, 248) of Whitehall has played in one game over three seasons in Missoula. He was the 2023 co-defensive scout team player of the year.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0T45Fc_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0T45Fc_0ux7OUEk00" width="1609" height="1287" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Brendan Murphy runs drills during Griz football fall camp at Dornblaser Field on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Freshman Brendan Murphy (6-2, 228) did not play in a game while redshirting last year.<h2>Who's new</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0eGdNH_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0eGdNH_0ux7OUEk00" width="1609" height="1287" ><figcaption>Montana defensive end Andres Lehrmann runs drills during Griz football fall camp at Dornblaser Field on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>Senior Andres Lehrmann (6-2, 246) has been repping as a first-team defensive end this fall. He had joined the team in the winter as he grad transferred from FCS Youngstown State with one season of eligibility remaining. He prides himself on stopping the run and getting after the quarterback on third-and-long."Andres Lehrmann has done a really nice job of knowing what he’s doing and being real consistent, which is a good place to start," Hauck said.Lehrmann tallied 59 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 39 games while playing in the Missouri Valley. He thinks he can be even more productive playing defensive end in UM's three-man front than the four-man front in which he previously played."I love this defense way more," he said. "No shot at the previous school I was at. This defense just provides me a lot more opportunities to move around and really make more plays in the backfield."Senior Pat Hayden (6-2, 285) took to the practice field for the first time this fall earlier this week. The grad transfer from FCS Monmouth has lined up at nose tackle wearing the same No. 99 jersey Gubner wore.He had joined UM in the winter with one year of eligibility left. He has accrued 60 tackles, nine TFLs and five sacks in 29 games."He had a really, really good spring, good offseason," Hauck said. "He’s got a little sprain in one of his feet, so he’s been slowed by that a little bit, but he’s doing a nice job."Junior RB Wilson V (6-4, 241) transferred to UM over the summer and is repping at defensive end. He spent the previous two seasons at two California junior colleges, totaling 61 tackles, 16.5 TFLs and six sacks in 19 games.Freshman Jake Mason (6-2, 256) redshirted at Pac-12 Washington last year and did not play in a game. He transferred in the summer and has taken reps at nose tackle this fall.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3RecZX_0ux7OUEk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3RecZX_0ux7OUEk00" width="1703" height="1216" ><figcaption>Montana defensive lineman Jaxon Tucker runs drills during Griz football fall camp at Dornblaser Field on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian</figcaption></figure>True freshman Jaxon Tucker (6-3, 232) of Billings grayshited last fall and joined the team in the spring.True freshmen Tyson Simmons (6-3, 252) joined UM in the fall after transferring from the US Naval Prep Academy.<h2>Who's gone</h2>Alex Gubner wrapped up a decorated career last season as an All-American nose tackle and as the Big Sky defensive player of the year. He started 53 times and played in 58 games at UM. He's tied for 17th in UM history with 28.5 TFLs. He led the defensive line with 45 tackles and was fourth on the team with 9.5 TFLs last year.Kale Edwards transferred after spring camp and landed at FBS New Mexico State. He was second on the team with 10.5 TFLs, second with 4.5 sacks and third with four quarterback hurries. He started in 14 games and played in all 15 last year in his first season starting. He played in 37 games at UM.Garrett Hustedt and Clay Oven are still on the team but have moved to linebacker.Wyatt Wegener and Will Jenkins are no longer on the team. Neither played in a game.Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at frank.gogola@406mtsports.com.</div></body>

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A breakdown of Montana Grizzlies' defensive linemen before the 2024 season

MISSOULA — Chief among the players to replace on Montana's defense is Alex Gubner, who is now playing for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Gubner put together an All-American career as a four-year starter who was the 2023 Big Sky defensive player of the year. The Griz don't need a single player to be as productive as their former nose tackle, but they need to replace his productivity, which head coach Bobby Hauck called \"a tall order.\"

MISSOULA — Chief among the players to replace on Montana's defense is Alex Gubner, who is now playing for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Gubner put together an All-American career as a four-year starter who was the 2023 Big Sky defensive player of the year. The Griz don't need a single player to be as productive as their former nose tackle, but they need to replace his productivity, which head coach Bobby Hauck called "a tall order."