Three University of Montana Football players have been selected to participate in the Players All-Star Classic. All-America linebacker Caleb McSurdy and teammates Charles Burton and Jon Opperud and will represent the Football Champion Subdivision (FCS) in the contest on February 4. 

Eighteen FCS players were invited to play in the all-star game, which features players from all NCAA levels. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium, AT&T Field in Little Rock. 

McSurdy was named to The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS All-America first team after a senior season in which he ranked first at Montana and fifth in the Big Sky Conference with 9.3 tackles per game. 

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A 6-1, 242-pound senior linebacker from Boise, Idaho, McSurdy was also named to several All-American teams following his senior campaign.  He was chosen the Big Sky’s “Defensive Player of the Year” in 2011 by the leagues coaches.  He had a team-high 131 tackles for the fifth-ranked, 11-3 Grizzlies, along with 9.5 stops for loss and four sacks.              

UM’s defensive team captain, McSurdy had 10 or more tackles in seven of 14 games this past season, including a career-high tying 17 stops in a win against Cal Poly.  He also had two interceptions, including a 61-yarder for a touchdown in the Grizzlies’ recent 31-28 FCS semifinal loss at Sam Houston State.  He played in 55 career games and is ranked 10th in school history with 293 career tackles. 

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A three-year starter at offensive tackle, the 6-7, 300-pound Opperud, from Portland, Ore., was a first team all-league pick and named third team All-American by the Associated Press in 2011.  He was Montana’s offensive team captain this past season.  He played in 47 career games and had 36 starts. 

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Burton, a 6-5, 315-pounder from Long Beach, Calif., started at guard and at tackle the past two seasons for the Grizzlies.  He is listed as a center/offensive lineman on the North team.  He was an honorable mention all-conference selection the past two seasons.  Burton played in a 49 career games and had 25 starts. 

McSurdy, Burton, and Opperud will be joined three other players from the Big Sky Conference on the North All-Star team.  Portland State offensive tackle Dustin Waldron, Eastern Washington defensive tackle Renard Williams, and Sacramento State defensive end Zach Nash will participate with the three Grizzly players in the game.
Information courtesy of The University of Montana

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