MISSOULA, MONTANA (8/16/11) -- Every season The University of Montana football program redshirts several players. Sometimes players redshirt because they are coming off an injury or off-season surgery (or both), while other times it’s just to gain needed weight and strength essential to competing successfully at the collegiate level.

Those players who do redshirt have a difficult task, as they are out there practicing hard every day, and yet they don’t get an opportunity to participate in the limelight every Saturday when their teammates take the field to play.

That will change soon for several of those “unknowns,” as many of them will play key roles in 2011.

At running back, redshirt freshmen Jordan Canada (West Covina, Calif.) and Brett Kirschner (Bellevue, Wash.) have both shown break-away speed, and will see plenty of action this season. Two other redshirt freshmen, wide receiver Sean Haynes (Los Angeles, Calif.) and quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann (Kalispell) have also made big plays at their positions.

Defensive tackle Tonga Takai (Waipahu, Hawaii), a 6-2, 320-pounder, Mitch Saylor (Vancouver, Wash.), a 6-5, 210-pound wide receiver, and defensive end Zack Wagenmann (Missoula) are three other redshirt freshmen who should be factors for the Griz this year.

“I think those guys better play big roles for us this season, and I mean better with a capital B,” said second-year head coach Robin Pflugrad. “They’re good players and they are good athletes.

“One thing about Jordan Canada that’s worth mentioning is that we talked to him at halftime of the Montana State game when we played the Cats here in Missoula last year, because Chase Reynolds was hurt, and he was hurt significantly,” Pflugrad said. “Jordan Canada was willing to go in the game and burn his entire redshirt to get maybe 10 or 12 carries in the second half. To say that you would do something like that says a lot about his character, let alone his talent, which he has a lot of. He’s going to be a big fixture in our offense.

“Kirch is coming along and becoming a more steady kind of player for us who we can trust, and he looks like he might have the ability to pick up those tough three of four yards when we need them ,” Pflugrad said. “Sean has made some big plays for us at receiver and is catching the ball much more consistently now. Shay has really proven he can throw the football, both this fall and last spring.

“Takai is getting very close to helping us, he just needs more reps,” Pflugrad said. “Mitch was making progress and then went down with an injury; but he can help us and add needed depth at that receiver position. Wagenmann could be really be outstanding player for us on the special teams, and he can play multiple positions on the defensive front -- he just needs to get bigger.”

Sophomore linebacker Brock Coyle (Bozeman) adds quality depth to his position after missing last year following off-season surgery. He played in 14 games in 2009 and had 30 tackles.

From the junior college ranks, sophomore offensive linemen Jordan and Logan Hines (Phoenix,. Ariz.) have both worked their way on to the depth chart, as has junior cornerback Kevin Franks (Elk Grove, Calif.), and junior quarterback Nate Montana (Concord, Calif.).

True freshmen who may see “PT” this season are cornerback Nate Harris (Chino, Calif.), safety Matt Hermanson (Sioux Falls, S.D.), and freshman defensive tackle Christian Licciardi (Orange, Calif.). Freshman safety Connor Lebsock (Billings) was also in the mix, but he’s currently sidelined with an injury.

“Nate Harris has really shown some good things and is passing up some veterans as far as making plays,” Pflugrad said. “Right now he’s working his way into the mix and I am very impressed with him. Matt Hermanson made a great play on defense today and he brings a lot of intelligence to his position.”

GRIZ NOTES: The Grizzlies held their 10th practice of fall camp today (Tuesday, August 16th), and had their second two-a-day session.

Freshman defensive tackle Jesse Ginn was at practice today watching from the sidelines. Ginn was in the two-deep, but unfortunately will miss the 2011 season because of an injury he suffered in practice last week.

Coach Pflugrad said the injury to Ginn was the main reason they moved Licciardi from offensive guard to defensive tackle. Licciardi is a 6-3, 280-pound freshman.

Junior defensive end Josh Harris and sophomore linebacker Ty Timmer, both recovering from off-season surgery, have been held to limited action the last couple of days.

On the bright side, sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson and receiver Aaron Roberts both returned to practice today, although Johnson was held out of contact drills.

Some highlights in today’s 11-on-11 drills: Junior halfback Dan Moore broke loose for a 45-yard run. Kirschner had a 35-yard rush. Freshman kicker Matt Berg connected on a 36-yard field goal. Smithwick-Hann hit junior receiver Archie Woulard for a 45-yard touchdown. Montana connected with junior wide receiver Bryce Carver for a 33-yard TD.