Notebook: Montana Grizzlies receive commitment from Washington defensive end

The Grizzlies got that pledge from Logan Knaevelsrud, a defensive end from Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington. He's rated as a 2-star athlete by recruiting service 247Sports.

He's listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and has also played tight end in high school. He chose the Griz over an offer from NAIA Carroll College.

The addition of Knaevelsrud gives Montana 13 known out-of-state commits to pair with four known in-state commits.

Knaevelsrud joins these out-of-state commits: Washington safeties Brady Beaner and Brock Beaner, linebacker Colton Lentz, cornerback Sage Salopek; tight end Malaki Davis; and offensive linemen Quinlan Hyatt, Lincoln Hoefer and Forrest Carter; running back Julius Gillick of California; defensive lineman Cooper Buffington of Iowa; cornerback DeAnte Gentry of Texas; and offensive lineman Kaikoa Kanakaole of Hawaii.

The in-state commits are athlete Merek Mihelish of Helena Capital, wide receiver Bridger Smith of Kalispell Glacier, running back Chase Cook of Red Lodge and athlete Bridger Salvevold of Culbertson.

Mihelish recognized

Incoming Montana football player Merek Mihelish was named the 2024 MaxPreps Montana player of the year, the organization announced this week.

The senior quarterback led Helena Capital to the Class AA state championship this fall with an 11-1 record. That was the Bruins' second state title in three years and their 13th overall.

Mihelish, the son of head coach Kyle Mihelish, completed 73.0% of his passes for 2,862 yards and 34 TDs against just three interceptions. He also ran for 850 yards and 8 TDs in 12 games.

Seahawks sign O'Connell

The NFL's Seattle Seahawks signed former Montana linebacker Patrick O'Connell to the active roster after he had been on the practice squad.

The Kalispell native and Glacier grad has already played in three games this season while being elevated from the practice squad. He has totaled two tackles while playing 30 snaps on special teams.

O'Connell had one tackle in one game last year as a rookie. He had signed with the Seahawks in spring 2023 as an undrafted rooke out of Montana.

He was a multi-time All-American and a 2021 Buck Buchanan Award finalist. He totaled 242 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, 28.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 40 games at UM.

The Seahawks' next game is at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday at the New York Jets.

Knight signs with IFL

Former Montana running back Marcus Knight signed with the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League.

He was an All-American and the Big Sky Conference newcomer of the year in 2019. That was his most-productive year in college as he set UM single-season records wth 23 rushing touchdowns and 25 total touchdowns.

COVID and an ACL/meniscus injury took away his next two seasons. He spent one more year with Griz, later played lacrosse for Montana and returned to the football field to finish his college career at Tennessee Tech.

"Marcus is a full-menu running back with strength in all three phases of the backfield," Panthers head coach Rob Keefe said in a news release. "He has the dynamic capabilities of being an inside/outside runner who can run around you or run through you, and his pass-catching ability creates even more opportunities for a high number of touches."

Vidlak honored

Former Montana quarterback Sam Vidlak hauled in several honors earlier this week following his first season at Stephen F. Austin.

He was one of 35 finalists for Walter Payton Award, given to FCS offensive player of year. He was the Southland Conference newcomer of year. He was also an all-conference second-team quarterback.

He completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,387 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. He played in the first nine games before an injury forced him to miss the final three games.