Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will 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 last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
61: Hunter Mayginnes, OL (Jr.) — Montana
During Bobby Hauck’s second stint as head coach, Montana has gone from 6-5 in 2018, to 10-4 and a trip to the 2019 quarterfinals, to 10-3 and another quarterfinal appearance last season. (They did not play a full season in the spring.) If the Grizzlies want to take it to the next level as a national contender, the offensive line needs to continue progressing.
It has improved year-to-year. Montana beefed up the o-line last season with the addition of Hunter Mayginnes, who had an immediate impact.
A three-star recruit out of Arizona, Mayginnes spent 2018-2020 at Washington State. He transferred to Montana for the 2021 fall season and emerged as the starting left guard. The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder was one of two Griz offensive linemen to be named All-Big Sky, earning Third Team honors, while tackle Conlan Beaver was named to the Second Team. He brought size and physicality to the o-line, and Mayginnes playing at a high level is important to Montana’s success in 2022.
The Griz face their highest preseason expectations in years and are ranked No. 4 in our preseason Top 25.
Montana will have a new starting quarterback, which is the No. 1 offseason question mark. Lucas Johnson, who was 8-1 as a starter at San Diego State in 2021 while going 138-for-223 passing for 1,424 yards and 12 touchdowns to four interceptions, is the favorite to win that job. Plus, the rushing attack gets a boost with the No. 10-ranked FCS running back Marcus Knight returning from injury. But for Montana to take another step forward, the offensive line needs to go from good to great. And Mayginnes is a standout to build the o-line around.
