Meet Montana Grizzly Safety Jace Klucewich

Football is always at the forefront of a Montana Grizzly, but it's not the only major responsibility in Jace Klucewich's life. The Frenchtown native, Missoula Sentinel product and current Griz Safety gets to don the maroon & silver every Saturday and throws the jeans and boots on every Sunday.

"We run a cow-calf operation out in Frenchtown," explained Klucewich. "Grew up doing it my whole life and that's what I'm going to go into after this [playing football]."

Imagine playing a three-hour football game on Saturday, flying home Saturday night, and helping out on the ranch the very next day. That's enough to wear a regular man down but not Klucewich. This guy is used to the long hours and hard work. Klucewich had to earn playing time under Head Coach Bobby Hauck just like any other Grizzly—a grind that's also not for regular guys.

"Going from playing a whole bunch and kind of being the face of the team to a scout team guy that took some getting used to," Klucewich said about the high school to college transition. "Honestly, towards the end of my scout year you kind of start to embrace it and have fun with the guys... But yeah, it's a grind for sure but it's really rewarding getting to play as much as I have been."

Credit: University of Montana Athletics

Even when Jace wasn't getting consistent reps on defense he never had an inkling to transfer because he bleeds maroon and silver.

"I've always grown up, though, a huge Montana fan. My dad played here, my cousin played softball and my uncles. I just have a lot of tradition here and I've always wanted to play here... It's never even crossed my thought process of transferring. This is where I want to be and if I'm not playing here I wouldn't be playing ball."

He's a Griz through and through. Klucewich has two interceptions this year, one vs UND and one VS Northern Colorado, and says the UND pick will go down as one of his best memories as a Griz.

For the full conversation with Jace, listen to the latest episode of The Daily Drive With Ace Sauerwein at the 12:30 mark found below.