When the Montana Grizzlies reported for fall camp in August, Jacob McGourin was in his junior redshirt season and looked ahead in terms of NCAA athletic eligibility.
He is a sophomore who has already completed his senior year and will graduate from the UM College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in management and entrepreneurship next spring.
It was created as a result of the expanded COVID national entitlement clocks.
The rookie defensive end has made the decision to hang up his cleats and declare his hat and dress the final outfit he will wear as a Grizzly, but, after suffering a knee injury during the Spring Ball and with aspirations for a promising future, he has decided to put up his cleats.
McGourin announced his withdrawal from college on Wednesday.
With a 3.5 GPA and a degree soon to be in hand, the two-time Academic All-Big Sky award winner is ready to move on after college. But when faced with the prospect of undergoing a year of rehab and then trying to balance the rigors of law school and the demands of football, something had to give way.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy decision because I love everything about my Montana experience,” said McGourin. “I’m really thankful for everyone who allowed me to come here and play. It was great. It was one of the greatest experiences I’m likely to have in my life. So I’m very grateful for everything everyone here has done for me. I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”
McGourin became a star-to-be in his true first year, 2019. Playing in the four-game limit allowed to retain his redshirt status, he picked up two big sacks, one against his hometown Eastern Washington Eagles.
