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MISSOULA- In regards to the 2012 Griz football recruiting class Coach Robin Pflugrad says that this year the Griz football program has probably had a better jump on things than the previous two years.

"With our team camp and our individual camp. I think that we knew the players in the state of Montana much, much better, especially since our first year (2010) when we took over on January first. Ten of these players went to our summer camp so we were able to evaluate them and get to know them as individuals. Some of them committed early, and we were very happy that they stayed with us. Caleb Kidder (a 6-5, 240-pound defensive end from Helena Capital High School in Montana) and Hayden Craig (a 6-5, 246-pound tight end from Dayton High School in Oregon) were two of our first commits and they stayed with us until today. Those two players, I personally believe could play at a higher level, as could a couple of others, but they stuck with us."

Pflugrad says that UM is a very challenging campus to recruit to with the long five-week winter break.

"It's a challenge in the process of having enough people on campus to sell what a great university we have, and what a great academic institution it (UM) is. We tried to bring some (recruits) players in during the season to see what our home crowd is like and to see what the city of Missoula is like; and I think that paid some dividends."

Pflugrad talked about what he was looking for in this new recruiting class.

"First of all, we lost a lot of outstanding senior players, not to mention a lot of starters (the Griz return six starters on offense and three on defense from their 11-3 team of 2011). We were looking for offensive and defensive linemen, wide receivers, and defensive backs. I think we got some outstanding players, a few of them will definitely get an opportunity to play right away.

"We also looked for players who can have success on the field, in the classroom, and in college. Sixteen players are over a 3.35, which is somewhat off the charts in what we are trying to achieve. All three (recruiting) classes have been outstanding in the classroom.

"It is a pretty big class (24 players), but we'd still like to have one more quarterback (UM signed one), like to have a running back (signed one late today), a wide receiver (three signed), and possibly a corner (two signees), but all coaches think like that."

Pflugrad also talked about the overall strength he sees in the recruits.

"I like this class. It is an excellent class in terms of speed - overall speed at each and every position. I think it's an excellent class in growth potential. All of the linemen we signed are three-sport athletes, and they are hovering around 6-5, 260. To remain around 260 and run track and play basketball is an impressive feat."

Pflugrad says he has quite a few impact players this year.

"I think impact-wise, losing so many players, specifically on defense, we're going to have to look at some players in the secondary. A couple of guys who stand out are Jacob Coogan (a safety and junior college transfer from Southwestern College), Anthony Goodwin (a cornerback and junior JC transfer from Mt. San Antonio) will get a shot to play right away. JR Nelson (a freshman from Glen Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, Calif.) is probably a little under-sized weight-wise (6-2, 172) and we'd like to redshirt him, but he runs very well and there is a possibility that he could play as a true freshman.

"On the defensive line, I think that Caleb Kidder and Bo Harris (6-3, 260-pound defensive lineman from Fairfield High School in Montana), Ryan Johnson (6-2 ½, 235 from Mountain View HS in Vancouver, Wash.) , and Tyrone Holmes (6-4, 265, from Eagle Point High School in Oregon) - are four players who we look at playing right away"