Dylan Gilfoy’s first experiences with the Big Sky Conference weren’t good.
Growing up in the Bay Area, Gilfoy occasionally made it to Sacramento to watch the Hornets. The stadium was generally empty, the losses mounted and the production was lacking.
“Those are honestly terrible,” Gilfoy remembers.
Though the majority of those experiences were forgettable, Gilfoy’s latest encounter with a Big Sky member was possibly life changing.
Gilfoy, a junior college defensive end from Diablo Valley (California), capped a banner recruiting weekend on Monday for Montana when he became the third player to commit since Saturday night and the 16th to add his name to the program’s 2017 recruiting class. One of two members on an official visit this weekend, Gilfoy committed yesterday afternoon less than 24 hours after Payton Stoner pledged to the Griz.
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Stoner, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive lineman from San Diego’s Mt.Carmel High fell in line behind Chris Favoroso, a junior college transfer from Arizona Western who declared his intentions to join Montana on Saturday evening.
“Once I took my official visit to Montana this weekend I was just absolutely blown away,” said Gilfoy, who measures out at 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds and will have two years to play. “Everything I was expecting it to be it was just a million times better. I had no idea how amazing Missoula, Montana was going to be.”
Gilfoy said he plans to sign his scholarship papers sometime after Dec. 14, the first day mid-year transfers are allowed to make it official with their new school, and begin class in January so he can join the Griz for spring ball.
That he even at this point has humbled Gilfoy.
“It’s been a surreal feeling taking the JuCo route,” Gilfoy said Monday afternoon. “It’s huge because out of high school I was committed to go to Western Oregon, a D-II, and I decided I wanted to play at a higher level. I went and really worked my butt off at DVC.”
When he left Liberty Union High in Brentwood, California, Gilfoy was tall and skinny, standing his current height, but weighing just 194 pounds according to his recruiting profile on Rivals.com. Not many colleges came calling and Gilfoy originally decided to go the Division II route. But before long he reconsidered and played for Diablo Valley. He saw action in just five games his first season, but earned a starting job this year and racked up 11 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
“It really taught me how to work because I was really working my butt off to earn a scholarship for a school that’s gonna be the right fit,” Gilfoy said. “That just happened to be Montana. I’m just ready to get up there and work my butt off.”
Northern Arizona drew his attention and he was invited by the Lumberjacks to take a visit to Flagstaff. But when the staff told him that if he were to come, they expected him to commit without consultation, Gilfoy got cold feet. Montana defensive line coach Brian Hendricks contacted the defensive end on Nov. 22 and the process was kicked into high-gear from there.
Montana extended Gilfoy an offer on Nov. 28 and he was flying to Missoula 11 days later.
“I talked to all the players and they said as a defensive end it is the perfect time to come in and compete for the starting job,” Gilfoy said. “I could just tell there was a lot of great guys and the chemistry is definitely there. I could see that.”
When Gilfoy arrived, he expected something along the lines of what he used to see on his trips to Sacramento. He quickly realized that wasn’t the case. He was told of the team’s tradition, shown its stadium and learned a bit about the football team’s future weekday home, the under-construction Champions Center slated to open fall 2017.
He knew then what his future held.
“There’s something special happening up there and I definitely want to be a part of it and help this team win some games.”
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