Montana Grizzlies' Michael Wortham Shines at East-West Shrine Bowl

Michael Wortham, the standout receiver from the Montana Grizzlies, showcased his exceptional skills at the East-West Shrine Bowl held in Frisco, Texas.

 

Serving as the starting receiver and primary kick and punt returner for the East team, Wortham contributed significantly in a closely contested 21-17 loss to the West.

 

In the special teams arena, Wortham recorded three kickoff returns totaling 54 yards and two punt returns for 18 yards.

 

His longest kickoff return spanned 25 yards, complemented by a 12-yard punt return.

 

Notably, a more substantial kickoff return that crossed midfield was nullified due to a holding penalty.

 

Despite limited opportunities in the passing game—being targeted once without a reception—Wortham's performance during the week's practices captured the attention of NFL scouts.

 

On the eve of the game, he was the sole receiver and one of only 12 players named to the East's All-Practice team.

 

According to PFSN College's impact metrics, Wortham achieved a grade of 93.0, marking him as the highest-rated FCS player at the Shrine Bowl.

 

Analysts and scouts alike recognized him as one of the top performers throughout the week.

 

Reflecting on the experience, Wortham shared, "I knew I had to earn respect coming from a smaller school because there were a lot of SEC-type guys, but it was an awesome experience. They were long days, it felt like fall camp, but I was able to learn so much from these guys. There were so many people connected with the NFL that gave me advice, it was really valuable. Just going through the whole process was amazing."

 

He added, "I just went out there every day and believed in myself. There were a lot of big names there, but I'm trying to become a big name as well. So, no matter who was in front of me I was just trying to dominate, and I think I did pretty good. It was great competition, and iron sharpens iron. So, I'm just so glad to have the opportunity."

 

Former South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski, who faced the Grizzlies in the 2023 national championship before transferring to Iowa, earned the offensive MVP title of this year's Shrine Bowl.

 

Additionally, safety Cole Wisniewski of Texas Tech, previously an opponent from North Dakota State in 2023, delivered a standout performance for the East.

 

Wortham's remarkable season with the Grizzlies saw him amass 1,224 receiving yards, 345 rushing yards, and 862 combined return yards, culminating in a total of 2,431 all-purpose yards.

 

This achievement surpassed Hall of Famer Marc Mariani's 2008 record of 2,265 single-season all-purpose yards and fell just shy of the Big Sky record by less than 90 yards.

 

His 85 receptions for 1,224 yards rank as the second-most catches in a single season at UM, trailing Samori Toure's record by two receptions, and the sixth-highest total receiving yards.

 

With 782 kickoff return yards, Wortham's performance is among the top in school history, making him one of only five players to exceed 700 yards in a single season.

 

As a consensus All-America honoree, Wortham earned first-team selections on multiple FCS-recognized All-America lists, including those by the AFCA, Stats Perform, Associated Press, and FCS Central/Sports Illustrated.

 

The East-West Shrine Bowl serves as a prime platform for NFL prospects to display their talents to professional scouts and coaches.

 

Historically, over 100 players from the previous year's game secured positions with professional teams in the spring, with 70 joining NFL rosters last season.

 

On average, more than 300 East-West Shrine Bowl alumni are present on NFL rosters each season.

 

Wortham now returns to Nashville to continue his training in preparation for Montana's Pro Day, scheduled for early April in Missoula.