Grizzlies’ QB McDowell enters transfer portal

MISSOULA — Then Big Cliff left.

Clifton McDowell, the senior quarterback who just helped the Montana Grizzlies to the Division I Football Championship this past Sunday, announced Tuesday that’s entered the NCAA transfer portal.

“I would like to thank the University of Montana and the coaching staff for allowing me to be a part of such a historic season,” McDowell wrote on Twitter/X. “Grateful for all the memories made this season. Extremely thankful for all the love I have received from the state of Montana, it was truly one of a kind.

“After great consideration and prayer I have decided to enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.”

McDowell, a 6-foot-4 transfer from Central Arkansas, took over as QB after the Grizzlies lost 28-14 at Northern Arizona on Sept. 23. He started the last 11 games, 10 of them wins. Montana lost the FCS title game 23-3 to two-time champion South Dakota State on Sunday.

Montana is his fourth stop as a collegian: He spent two seasons at Louisiana in Lafayette, playing in one game each season; then played 10 games at Kilgore College in Texas; then he got in six games — throwing a total of 13 passes — for Central Arkansas in 2022.

He transferred to Montana during the summer with two years of eligibility because of the NCAA Covid waiver. McDowell chose the Griz over D-I offers from Norfolk State, Savannah State, Texas A&M-Commerce and others. 

He played in all 15 games this season at UM, completing 160 of 274 passes for 2,026 yards and 13 touchdowns, while running for another 753 yards and nine scores. The Big Sky Conference named him Newcomer of the Year. He was intercepted four times.

His mobility and avoidance of turnovers steadied an offense that gave up seven sacks at NAU. The 224-pounder out of Spring, Texas, was second on the team in rushing, and Idaho State coach Cody Hawkins called him “the biggest tailback in the conference” after his Bengals lost 28-20 at Montana.

McDowell also referred to the Grizzlies’ storied in-state rivalry with Montana State as, “The Battle of the Brawl, or whatever its called.” Soon after he ran for one score and threw for another in a 37-7 win over the Bobcats, the slogan began appearing on T-shirts.

The transfer portal has been busy for the Big Sky, with Idaho and Montana State suffering big losses. It re-opened on Monday and closes again Friday. 

Montana had seven quarterbacks in fall camp and McDowell was the only senior. Sophomore Sam Vidlak started the first four games but by the midpoint of the season Keali’i Ah Yat, son of Griz great Brian Ah Yat, had taken over as the No. 2 QB.

The younger Ah Yah played in a few regular-season games, which kept him from using his first year of eligibility under the NCAA's new redshirt rules. He completed 26 of 38 passes for 271 yards and one touchdown. Against South Dakota State on Sunday he was 6 of 7 for 47 yards.