Brody McKnight (Montana Grizzlies) picked by Alouettes – Vancouver College (video 2x)

Montana kicker Brody McKnight was selected in the first round of the Canadian Football League draft Sunday by the Montréal Alouettes.

McKnight, a 6-foot, 204-pound senior from Vancouver, British Columbia, was the eighth and final selection in the first round.

“It is a very humbling experience and just sort of a reflection of what football at the University of Montana is all about,” McKnight said while taking a break from his studies for finals this week. “We work hard here at Montana and we send a lot of guys to the pros. I am very humbled and very grateful, and I owe everything to my teammates, my mom and dad, my coaches, and my family and friends.”

The first pick of the 2011 CFL draft was linebacker Henoc Muamba from St. Francis Xavier, who went to the Winnepeg Blue Bombers. The only other Big Sky Conference player chosen was Weber State tight end Tyrell Francisco, who was taken by Hamilton with the 36th pick overall in the fifth round (there were six rounds and 47 players were drafted).

McKnight, who will be a 2011 FCS All-America candidate for the Grizzlies, has been out of high school for four seasons, therefore he is eligible for the CFL draft. He has been Montana’s place-kicker the past three seasons and said he will definitely be back at UM in 2011. He was at Purdue in 2007, but did not play there.

“I’ve been together with some of these guys (Grizzly football players) for four years, and I owe it to them and I owe it to all of my teammates to be back for another year,” McKnight said. “There is nowhere else I would rather be than playing in Missoula, Montana. I love it here and I love Griz Nation. I am ecstatic to be back and get back at it here with the Griz, and I am really looking forward to our opener at Tennessee.”

McKnight had an excellent junior season in 2010, making 14 of 18 field goals (two were blocked), with a long of 53 yards at Eastern Washington. He was a second-team All-Big Sky pick at place-kicker.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play football for the rest of my life, just like any other kid who grows up playing football,” McKnight said.

“Yeah, it’s a dream come true, but you know I am just going to focus on what I need to do in the present, and that’s helping the Griz win a Big Sky Conference championship and a national championship,” McKnight added. “Those are my main goals right now. But, I am obviously very appreciative to the Montreal Alouettes organization. … I have heard nothing but great things about their program and look forward to the future.”

McKnight also handled the punting chores for the Grizzlies last season, averaging 38.5 yards on 53 attempts, with 13 of them downed inside the 20-yard line, and had a long of 64 yards at Weber State.

“He has an extremely strong leg,” said Montreal General Manager Jim Popp via email. “His coaches said that he could play another position, which is saying a lot since he plays on such a good team. He still has one year left in school, but we couldn’t pass on him.”

McKnight will begin his senior campaign season ranked ninth in career scoring at Montana with 188 points (116 PATs and 24 field goals). He has made 24 of 41 field goal attempts.

The last Griz player chosen in the CFL draft was former defensive end Michael Stadnyk, who was taken by Saskatchewan in 2009. Stadnyk was from Regina, Saskatchewan.

Montana Grizzlies