MISSOULA — Clay Oven left Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota, after Montana's season-ending defeat last December as a redshirt freshman.

When he returns to Washington-Grizzly Stadium to kick off the new season on Saturday, he'll be returning as one of the newly anointed faces of the program. Oven, hailings from Billings, was chosen to carry on the Grizzlies' No. 37 legacy tradition by fellow Billings native Trevin Gradney in June.

A rising redshirt sophomore linebacker, Oven is one of the few familiar faces on a defense otherwise characterized by new talent. As Montana looks to turn its defense around, Oven will be one of the names in the mix for snaps.

Oven sat down with 406 MT Sports after a recent practice ahead of Montana's season opener against Central Washington a

See Full Page