Montana, Montana State Pro Day Prospects Head Into NFL Evaluation Pipeline

Nineteen former Big Sky players spread across two pro day workouts give NFL scouts a concentrated look at Montana and Montana State talent this week, with Montana State hosting four former Bobcats in Bozeman on Wednesday and 15 former Grizzlies set to run drills in Missoula on Thursday.

The gap in headcount matters less than the stakes. Both workouts arrive at the moment when an elite 40-yard dash time or a sharp performance in positional drills can shift a player from "FCS prospect" to legitimate roster candidate in an evaluator's notebook, and scouts from multiple NFL franchises are expected at both venues.

For the Grizzlies' group, wide receiver Aaron Fontes carries the most compelling resume into Thursday's workout. Over 38 games in Missoula, Fontes hauled in 126 catches for more than 1,400 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. A verified 40 time in the low 4.4s would do more for his cause than any additional film session, and scouts will watch his route-running footwork in positional drills as a secondary data point. Tight end Cole Grossman, who logged 10 receiving touchdowns across four seasons before a 2023 injury derailed what was shaping up as an elite career, enters Thursday's workout with the inverse problem: the tape is strong enough, but scouts want to see athletic testing confirm he is fully recovered. His vertical and broad jump numbers will carry outsized weight.

Punter and kicker Austin Morrison is among the more unusual packages in Thursday's group. His 43.2-yard career punting average ranks second in program history, and he earned Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice during the 2026 season. For specialists at the FCS level, pro day is often the only chance to create a data trail that scouts can compare against Power Five counterparts; consistent ball-striking in live reps is all Morrison needs to prompt a post-workout conversation.

Offensive lineman Panfiloff, a 1st team All-Big Sky selection and 2nd team All-American, will be evaluated differently than the skill-position players. For a lineman, the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone define the ceiling more than the 40. Safety Lawler, who spent time at Utah before finishing his career in Missoula with two interceptions across 28 games, brings a Power Five résumé that gives scouts a built-in comparison point on Thursday.

The precedent for what a productive Big Sky pro day actually moves is established. Last year, Montana State's workout drew 13 NFL teams and five CFL teams to Bozeman, where offensive lineman Marcus Wehr drew the loudest buzz after a standout performance. At Montana, Junior Bergen's pro day appearance generated widespread professional interest for a returner who had rewritten the program's records at his position. Neither path to the league is guaranteed, but both names illustrate the template: one standout drill session can compress a prospect's draft timetable in ways that game tape alone cannot.

The Bobcats' four-player pro day in Bozeman on Wednesday sets the week's tone. Montana's larger contingent closes it Thursday, giving scouts two consecutive days in the state and a chance to evaluate the conference's most productive football programs back to back.