MISSOULA — The Montana Grizzlies continued to hit the quarterback transfer market this week, adding a third signal caller with FBS credentials to the position group with Bobby Hauck’s first season of his second tenure at UM quickly approaching.
On July 5, Skyline Sports confirmed the Griz will add Wheeler Harris, a former walk-on at Alabama who redshirted for the Crimson Tide last season. The 6-foot-3, 198-pounder’s transfer to UM first surfaced on Twitter with a tweet from his mother, Kyle Cavolo.
Congratulations to this kid @WheelerHarris13 on accepting his offer to play football at The University of Montana!Tuscaloosa 👉🏽 Missoula! Bama 👉🏽 Montana! Love ya Wheels, make it happen!#gogrizzlies #grizzfootball #montanafootball #universityofmontana #alwaysyourbiggestfan 🐻 pic.twitter.com/W2P8sNSZXk
— ✨Kyle Cavolo✨ (@KyleLCavolo) July 3, 2018
Harris prepped at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona. His senior season, he threw for 1,888 yards and 15 touchdowns, completing 57 percent of his passes. But he received no Division I scholarship offers.
He was however recruited by Timm Rosenbach at Division II Adams State. Rosenbach is now UM’s offensive coordinator after spending three seasons as the head coach at Adams State. Harris landed a preferred walk-on offer from Alabama the day after he graduated high school. Because he is dropping down from the FBS, he will be eligible right away.
Harris will join a quarterback group of almost all new faces. In January, Hauck and Rosenbach added former UNLV and Fort Scott College quarterback Dalton Snead. Gresch Jensen, a FCS Freshman All-American in Bob Stitt’s last season last fall, left the program following a competitive set of spring practices spent dueling with Snead.
Following spring drills, Montana added Saddleback College quarterback Cam Humphrey, a sophomore who redshirted two seasons ago at Boise State. The Griz also have redshirt freshman Tanner Wilson on the roster. Garrett Graves, a two-time Class B state champion from Eureka, will also start his Griz career under center.
Last season at Alabama, Harris redshirted but still dressed for games. He guided the scout team while also serving as the third-string quarterback behind Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa as the Crimson Tide claimed their fifth national title in nine seasons under Nick Saban.
Photos attributed. All Rights Reserved.