Class Acts: 8 Griz Football Players Earn Academic All-District

When the team keeps winning. And winning. And winning, it can be easy to lose sight of the "scholar" part of scholar-athlete.

Luckily, we are reminded of what it's all about, having guys like these who not only excel on the football field but in the classroom as well. And they have received some regional recognition for their academic achievements.

University of Montana Sports Information Director Eric Taber tells us that eight players from the Big Sky Champion and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) finalist Montana Grizzly football team were honored for their excellence in the classroom and on the field, named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators.

Kale Edwards, Tyler Flink, AJ Forbes, Trevin Gradney, Levi Janacaro, Nick Ostmo, Carson Rostad, and Corbin Walker were each recognized for their academic and athletic achievement.

To be eligible for Academic All-District status, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and must carry a minimum 3.5 GPA as either an undergraduate or graduate student on a 4.0 scale. They must also have competed in at least 90 percent of the program's games or started at least 66 percent of games in the 2023 season.

KALE EDWARDS

A junior defensive end from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Kale was second on the team in sacks this season and tied for third in tackles for loss. He holds a 3.53 GPA and has already completed a degree in management and entrepreneurship, and just finished the first semester of his master’s in business administration.

TYLER FLINK

A senior linebacker from Missoula, Tyler is third on the team in tackles this year and currently holds a 3.93 GPA while also working toward his master’s in business administration.

AJ FORBES

A second-team All-Big Sky center from Bellevue, Nebraska, AJ has made 41 career starts and has already earned a psychology degree at UM. He’s also working on his MBA and is carrying a 3.68 GPA.

TREVIN GRADNEY

A Billings native and first-team all-conference cornerback who led the Big Sky in interceptions as a junior with five, Trevin has already earned an undergrad degree in marketing and is also currently working toward an MBA while holding a 3.83 GPA.

LEVI JANACARO

Missoula native and second-team All-Big Sky pick, Levi has been one of Montana’s top tacklers at linebacker for two seasons. He earned an undergrad degree in management and information systems and is working on his MBA with a 3.56 GPA.

NICK OSTMO

A Running back from Portland, Oregon, Nick will not opt to use one more year of eligibility.  He'll end his career as one of UM’s most productive running backs to pursue a career in project management in the family construction company. He’s already earned a management & entrepreneurship degree and is working on an MBA with a 3.69 GPA.

CARSON ROSTAD

Carson, a junior linebacker from Hamilton, earned a 3.91 GPA in finance and has also gone on to graduate school to pursue his MBA.

CORBIN WALKER

A senior from Renton, Washington, Corbin has made 30 starts in his career. He also completed an undergrad in management and information systems with a 3.53 GPA and just finished his first semester in the MBA program.

So proud of all these guys. Congratulations to each and best of luck in the national championship game!