Ryan Fetherston Class: Senior Hometown: East Helena, Mont. High School: Helena HS Height / Weight: 6-4 / 235 Position: DE

Montana: Ryan underwent off-season shoulder surgery, but is expected to compete for a starting berth this fall. He is Montana's seventh (tied with fellow D-end Bobby Alt) leading tackler. He's played in 46 career games.

2010: He played in all 11 games and started in the last six. He was UM's 10th (tie) leading tackler. He tied for the team lead (with linebacker Jordan Tripp) in tackles for loss with nine. Had the third most sacks with four. He was named to the Big Sky Conference's all-academic team.

2009: He played in all 15 games and had 10 tackles.

2008: He played in all 16 games and was Montana's 15th leading tackler with 24 stops. His three sacks tied him for the third most on the team.

2007: He was a redshirt at UM.

High School: He lettered four times in wrestling and football, and twice in track and field at Helena High School. He was also a standout wrestler with 18 pins as a senior.

He was named "Super State" and all-state at defensive end and quarterback as a senior...all-state pick in football as a junior and senior. He played in the East-West Shrine Game and the Montana-Dakota All-Star Game. He was voted his high school's Male Athlete of the Year in 2006.

He was tabbed offensive team MVP and "Most Inspirational" as a senior. His junior year he was an All-American wrestler and the state champion at 189 pounds and had 30 pins. He was an academic all-state pick three times. Served a team captain in wrestling twice and once in football. His high school football coach was former (1985-88) Griz quarterback Tony Arnston.

Career Highs: He had 7 tackles at Northern Colorado in 2008. He had two sacks in two career games, most recently at Northern Colorado last season. He had forced fumbles in FCS playoff games against Texas State and at James Madison in 2008.

Personal: His major is political science and history. He hopes to become a teacher and coach. His parents are Tim and Chris Fetherston of East Helena. Birth date: June 23, 1988.

Quoting Coach Pflugrad: "We need "Fether" do have a good senior season for us. He played with a shoulder injury several games of the 2010 season. He had surgery to fix that injury and unfortunately he had to miss spring drills as he recovered from that. He was a very consistent player for us when he was healthy, and not so consistent after he was injured. But, he hung in there and played and contributed..

"He brings a lot of natural enthusiasm to the football field and to our team, and I think that was a bit lacking last season overall. He plays football at a very high and intense level. I think he's going to let his hair grow real long and play like it's on fire out there, and I am kind of excited about that."