Reports: Small-Town Roots Built Superstar Sensation Into Force On Defense For Montana Grizzlies
MISSOULA — Athletes from small towns regularly compete for the Montana Grizzlies, but those from larger cities in the Treasure State often face a different adjustment.
Jaxon Lee is no exception. The UM senior safety grew up in Belgrade before moving to the even smaller town of Philipsburg, where he spent his first three years of high school playing 8-Man football.
“I basically had to go to football school when I got to Montana,” Lee explained. “In 8-Man, we had Cover 2 and two-deep halves, but here there are so many different calls that I still find it challenging to keep up. There’s always so much happening.”
“In 8-Man, you weren’t overthinking things. It was just athletes on the field, running fast and being dynamic.”
Despite the transition, Lee was a key player in the successful Flint Creek 8-Man team, which is a co-op between Drummond and Philipsburg. With him on the roster, the Titans won back-to-back 8-Man championships in 2017 and 2018.
Lee experienced 11-Man football when he transferred to Sentinel High School in Missoula for his senior year, but he proudly holds on to his small-town roots.
“I always try to mention Phillipsburg, Montana, during our video shoots,” Lee said. “My whole family is still there, and I feel connected to P-Burg, even with all the Missoula people I’m grateful for. It’s where my journey began, and I owe a lot to that place.”
“It was a lot of fun, actually, because I had the chance to meet people from all over the state and make friends everywhere. I’m really glad to have experienced all three towns.”
When Lee arrived at Montana as a highly sought-after local recruit, he immediately made an impact, playing on special teams as a freshman and excelling for two seasons.
Last year, Lee made a name for himself as a backup safety who broke into the rotation. Once he found his footing, he significantly contributed to the Griz, recording 49 total tackles (including 3.5 for loss), two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
“The first few games, I was really nervous and had to shake off my jitters,” Lee admitted. “But as the season progressed, I started to relax and play faster, without overthinking, and it became really enjoyable by the end.”
Lee returned two turnovers for touchdowns last season for the Grizzlies—one from an interception against Northern Colorado and another from a fumble recovery during the playoffs against Delaware. He left his mark on a program he had always dreamed of joining, highlighting the camaraderie with his teammates and the rivalry with Montana State as some of the best moments of his time at UM.
“When I was younger, I used to wear a Grizzly onesie,” Lee recalled. “Growing up, I always dreamed of doing this. I attended every home game and told my grandpa, ‘Hey, I’ll be down there one day.’ That was all I ever wanted, so I’m really grateful for the chance I’ve been given.”
And his journey isn’t finished yet; there’s still a lot of football to play, and Lee aims to give it his all on the field.
“I don’t want to leave here thinking, ‘I should have done this’ or ‘I should have done that.’ I want to look back and say, ‘Yeah, I did everything I could, and I did it well,’ so I’m just going to enjoy the experience while I can.”