June 10, 2026

Montana’s Eli Gillman Joins the Show

23 minutes

The Jerry Rice Award has a strong history of recipients since its inception in 2011, but during the 2020s decade, five of the first six standouts to be named FCS national freshman player of the year have made a transfer to the FBS level – all but Montana All-America running back Eli Gillman.

On The FCS Edge, the 2023 Rice recipient joins host Craig Haley to discuss why he’s stayed in Missoula. Gillman also looks ahead to Montana being a national title contender, how he’s nearing the school’s all-time rushing yardage record, and why he’s a Grizzly and not a Bison.

Here's what you can look forward to in our conversation with Eli Gillman:

Eli feels time has flown by during his college years.

The off-season training has been going well with new teammates.

Coach Bobby Kennedy maintains the Montana football brand while adding his own style.

Eli values team success over individual records.

Improvement in understanding the pace of the game has been key for Eli.

Managing the physical toll of the season is crucial for longevity.

Eli believes he has an underrated elusiveness on the field.

Winning the Jerry Rice Award boosted Eli's confidence and goals.

Eli prioritizes loyalty to Montana over potential financial gains from transferring.

Family support has been a significant factor in Eli's success.

To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube.

For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

Jump to your favorite part of our interview with Eli Gillman by using the chapter links below:

00:00 – Introduction

01:43 – Eli's journey: Reflecting on college football

03:03 – Coaching change: The impact on team dynamics

06:00 – Personal goals: Chasing records and team success

09:03 – The pressure of transferring and staying true to roots

12:00 – Family and support: The foundation of success

14:55 – The rivalry: Montana vs. Montana State

18:02 – Looking ahead: Goals for the senior year

...more

View all episodes

By Opta Analyst

4.3

1212 ratings