MISSOULA – Nick Ostmo is entering his final season as a running back for the Montana football team.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound running back decided to use his COVID exemption to return to the Griz for a sixth year. He had previously decided to hang up his boots a year early due to a history of injuries in high school and college.
“It was probably a two-minute conversation,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said of their offseason conversation. “It was just about there’s no pickup football. When you’re done, you’re done. You have to be sure you want to be done. He went home, thought about it and decided he wasn’t tired of football.”
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Ostmo is now back and will bring a veteran player to an already loaded team, joining reigning FCS Rookie of the Year Eli Gillman, Arizona transfer Stevie Rocker Jr. and rising freshman Malae Fonoti.
Ostmo begins the year ranked 10th in UM history in rushing yards (1,856) and rushing touchdowns (21). The Portland native also has 519 receiving yards and three TD catches while playing in 43 games and starting 13 times.
“It’s going to help us a lot,” Gillman said of Ostmo’s return. “It’s incredible to have him back. He’s been here longer than I have. He taught me almost everything I know, except (running back) coach (Justin) Green. It’s great to have him back.”
Ostmo sat down with 406 MT Sports during fall camp to discuss his decision to play in 2024. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: How does it feel to be back on the football pitch?
A: “It’s a little weird. It took me a little while to get used to it. I had the mindset of going to work and now it’s just starting again. It’s another year, just the same old thing. I know what I’m doing. I know what I’m supposed to do. I’m just going to go and do it now.”
Q: When did the idea of returning first cross your mind?
A: “There were a lot of changes. The coaches started talking to me the week of North Dakota State (FCS semifinal game), so it was pretty late in the season. Coach (Brent) Pease and coach Green talked to me first and then coach Hauck talked to me after we won that game.
“Then it happened that my roommates were planning to take my place in the house. I was in the middle of planning my move back home. I had no classes scheduled for the spring. Then when I decided to come back, it was because my roommates hadn’t filled the spot and I hadn’t made those arrangements yet. I was able to take those classes and it wasn’t too late to do all that. It just all worked out well and thank God everything went smoothly.”
Q: How did the discussions with the coaches go?
A: “It was kind of a surprise because we have a lot of young talent. For them to ask me, ‘Hey, we would like you to come back if you want to do this,’ I thought was pretty cool. They kind of said, ‘Hey, you didn’t get injured this year, we know it’s because you got injured a lot and that’s kind of your reason for quitting.’ I talked to my family about it and it just clicked. It just clicked in my head. It was like, ‘Yeah, I should probably do this again.'”
Q: When did you talk to your family?
A: “Especially in the two days we got for Christmas. I talked to my parents about it.”
Q: So you knew before the championship game that you were leaning toward a return?
A: “Also, the championship game was a big factor. If I had won that game, it would still have been sad to play my last game, but it would have been a good way to end it. When you lose that game, you want to win the last one, and that made me want to get back there.”
Q: What was it like telling your coaches and teammates when you decided to return?
A: “I think I decided two days after the championship game. I didn’t really announce it. I just told my roommates. I was with (running back) Eli (Gillman) when I called coach Green and asked, ‘Hey, is it too late to get my spot back?’ He said, ‘No, call coach Hauck.’ I called coach Hauck and he said, ‘Yeah, we’d love to have you.’ He told me he was right that work isn’t as much fun and that playing football is more fun than work.”
Q: But you never started working, did you?
A: “I was still in Missoula. I was still undecided. I hadn’t packed any of my stuff yet. I had already made up my mind right after the game, but I didn’t really say it out loud.”
Q: So you never really got out of football shape. How was spring camp and summer training?
A: “It was good. We brought in a new guy (Stevie Rocker Jr.). That was good. It was fun hanging out with him and getting to know all the other new guys. It’s a lot of fun hanging out with these guys. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Q: What are your expectations for your officially final season?
A: “I’m just staying healthy, continuing where I started last year and bringing the younger guys up. I’ve always prided myself on being physically strong and tough to tackle, being a guy that can complete passes and do all that stuff. And then I’m rooting for Eli (Gillman) here again. It should be a good year.”
Frank Gogola is the lead sports reporter for the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at [email protected].
