MISSOULA, Montana — Jace Lewis and Marcus Welnel go back so far, they played peewee football as elementary school kids against one another while growing up near Montana’s capital city.
Lewis, a Townsend product who transformed from a Class B walk-on to a three-time All-Big Sky Conference selection at inside linebacker, taking over No. 37 from a teammate gone too soon and earning All-American honors during a stellar senior year in the fall of 2021.
He’s a year older than Welnel, a fifth-year senior linebacker who walked on out of Helena Capital and was one of Montana’s breakout players last season, helping most Griz faithful forget the question leading up to last fall: how would Montana ever replace Dante Olson?
The tackling machine set several Big Sky Conference all-time marks during his Buck Buchanan Award-winning season in 2019.
Last year, Lewis and Welnel were key cogs on a ferocious Grizzly defense that head coach Bobby Hauck hinted to as one of the program’s best ever on multiple occassions.
On Wednesday, the Broadwater County native and the Capital City native shared one more moment. Lewis, who wore the jersey last season after inheriting it from the late Jesse Sims, in turn passed on Montana’s hallowed defensive garment to one of his closest friends.
“I’d like to take a moment and congratulate my brother Marcus Welnel on being the next to join the #37 legacy Jersey brotherhood. I’m excited to see the season you have. To me, Marcus exemplifies everything 37 is about. He is a selfless, team-first player and al the hard work and time he’s putting in is paying off and it shows. He’s a great teammate and an even better person. The tradition is in good hands next season. Go Griz!” – Jace Lewis on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.
Welnel was a first-team Class AA all-state performer his senior year at Capital the fall of 2016. When he committed to Montana, he called it a dream come true.
“It came clear to me that when I first came into high school my goals were to play for the Grizzlies and going to as high a level as I could possibly go,” said Welnel, who was also recruited by Carroll College, Montana Tech and Rocky Mountain College. “I just feel like I had to follow my dreams and go to the Grizzlies.”
Five years and eight months after he committed to Montana, Welnel becomes the 16th Grizzly to wear the vaunted number, including the fifth from Helena. Sims, who passed away in an ATV accident near Clearwater, Montana on Memorial Day weekend in 2021, wore the number in 2018 and 2019, the first two seasons of Bobby Hauck’s second tenure at his alma mater.
Other Capital City products to wear No. 37 at Montana include defensive lineman Caleb Kidder (2015-16), defensive end Ryan Fetherston (2011), defensive end Andy Petek (1998-2000) and linebacker Jason Crebo (1994-1997)
Grizzly football jersey #37 began its legacy in 1983.
Griz fullback and Plentywood native Kraig Paulson began the tradition of passing #37 on to a younger player who hailed from the state of Montana.
Paulson was known for his hard-nosed play and workman mentality. So the tradition began.
Number 37 has come to represent the Spirit of Montana… hard work, dedication to the team, and tough play on the gridiron.
| Jace Lewis | Linebacker | 2021 | Townsend |
| Jesse Sims | Defensive End | 2018-19 | Stevensville |
| Tucker Schye | Defensive End | 2017 | Malta |
| Caleb Kidder | Defensive End | 2015-16 | Helena |
| Zack Wagenmann | Defensive End | 2014 | Missoula |
| Jordan Tripp | Linebacker | 2012-13 | Missoula |
| Ryan Fetherston | Defensive End | 2011 | East Helena |
| Carson Bender | Defensive Tackle | 2008-10 | Deer Lodge |
| Loren Utterback | Linebacker | 2004-07 | Fort Benton |
| Ciche Pitcher | Defensive End | 2001-03 | Anaconda |
| Andy Petek | Defensive End | 1998-00 | Helena |
| Jason Crebo | Linebacker | 1994-97 | Helena |
| Todd Ericson | Safety | 1990-93 | Butte |
| Tim Hauck | Safety | 1987-89 | Big Timber |
| Kraig Paulson | Fullback | 1983-86 | Plentywood |
After redshirting in 2017 in head coach Bob Stitt’s final season, Welnel played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2018, amassing 16 total tackles and forcing two fumbles. As a sophomore in 2019, Welnel started showing his knack for making plays in the backfield, particularly when Montana sends its two inside linebackers up the middle on A-gap blitzes. Welnel finished his sophomore season with 23 tackles, including nine for loss.
Last season as a fourth-year junior, Welnel was a third-team All-Big Sky selection. He helped etch one of the most indelible memories of Montana’s 13-7 win over No. 20 Washington to start the season. He had a pick to help the Griz become just the sixth FCS squad to defeat a ranked FBS team.
That sparked an outstanding season that ended with 94 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions and a game-sealing blocked field goal in a 20-19 home win over Southern Utah. Welnel was a key cog for a Griz defense that gave up 16.3 points per game while notching 44 sacks during a second straight 10-win campaign.
Lewis had 100 tackles, including 15.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. Welnel, junior Braxton Hill of Anaconda and senior Michael Matthews of Camas, Washington should get plenty of inside linebacker reps. Upstarts like junior Tyler Flink of Missoula along with sophomores Carson Rostad and Ryan Tirrell are also expected to push for time in the rotation while anchoring UM’s special teams coverage teams once again.
