Welcome to the 2021 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 28, HERO Sports is going to name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on the 2020 fall-2021 spring season.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2020 fall-2021 spring rosters.
17: Robby Hauck, DB (Jr.) — Montana
Montana got somewhat of a 2-for-1 deal in the offseason between the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Bobby Hauck returned to Missoula for his second stint as head coach, which became official on Nov. 30, 2017. A few months later, his son Robby transferred to the Griz after one redshirt season at Northern Arizona.
Robby immediately became a top player on Montana’s defense. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound safety finished with 95 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and four passes defended. He finished seventh in voting for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the best freshman in the FCS, and earned HERO Sports Freshman All-American honors.
Hauck was even better in 2019. He was all over the field with 129 tackles, five TFLs, three sacks, one interception, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Hauck’s nose for the football and aggressive tackling was on display in the standout season.
More postseason accolades came his way. Hauck was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Second Team, earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors, and was named to the HERO Sports All-FCS All-American Second Team.
Montana elected to play two spring games in 2020-21, and Hauck totaled 12 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
He enters this fall with plenty of preseason recognition. Hauck was named to the All-Big Sky First Team, the Stats Perform All-American Third Team, and the HERO Sports All-American Second Team. He was also named the No. 9 returning defensive back in the FCS.
