MISSOULA — Samori Toure is among the first. Will he be the last from the Montana Grizzlies?
There is no way to know what the future may hold both for the Griz football team or for the members of it, a similar dilemma facing teams across Montana, the Big Sky Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision as a whole.
But Toure, Montana’s first-team All-American, record-breaking senior wide receiver, became the first headlining player at UM to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Montana and the rest of the Big Sky had the fall season delayed to the spring. The NCAA also passed a blanket eligibility waiver, meaning the spring season serves as a zero year for all participants.
In his announcement on Twitter, Toure said he is entering the portal as a graduate transfer with the intention of playing the his final year of eligibility in the fall of 2021.
“Samori is a great guy and he did everything we asked him,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said. “He was here to play his senior year and it was not his fault that we didn’t play. He got his degree and now he’s on to what is next. I hope it works out for him.
“He was here this fall to play his senior year and hopefully get a chance to play at the next level. That is kind of what he is looking towards is to find an avenue to do that. We just hope it goes well for him.”
Last season, Toure had one of the greatest single seasons in the history of Griz football. As a junior, Toure set single-season school records with 87 receptions and 1,495 yards. His 13 touchdowns are among the best totals in school history.
In Montana’s 73-28 win over Southeastern Louisiana in the second round of the FCS playoffs, Toure caught 12 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. His yardage total set the single-game record for an FCS Playoff contest, breaking a record held by Randy Moss for more than 20 years.
