FARMINGTON, Utah (Dec. 9, 2025) – Montana's Dillon Botner was recognized for his hard work on the field, in the classroom and the community, as the Grizzly offensive lineman was named the 2025 Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award recipient by Stats Perform FCS on Tuesday.
Stats Perform Release |
Montana Release
The Doris Robinson Award, first presented in 2015 and in its 11th season, honors FCS student-athletes who exemplify excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community. The values embody the leadership and integrity championed by Doris Robinson, a former schoolteacher and the wife of legendary Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson. Botner is the second winner to come from the Big Sky Conference, joining Montana State's Tommy Mellott who won the honor in 2023.
"Dillon Botner personifies what's best about college football. He's a terrific player and teammate, and he's done it all while completing three degrees in the sciences with straight A's. Then when he was granted another year of eligibility, he came back to complete a minor and physics. Immediately after the season ends, he is going to attend medical school," said head coach Bobby Hauck.
"He has also been a major part of our participation in the National Marrow Donor Program, through which we have saved nine lives, and been active volunteering in the Missoula community. He is an amazing example of what a student athlete can be."
Botner was selected from 13 Doris Robinson Award finalists – one from each conference involved in the Division I subdivision. He's the fifth finalist from Montana, joining Derek Crittenden (2015), Reggie Tillman (2018), Dante Olson (2019), and Robby Hauck (2022) and will be honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Botner’s academic achievements separate him from most student-athletes. He’s earned the three Bachelor of Science degrees in biochemistry (health professions), biology (human biological sciences) and neuroscience (cellular and molecular), as well as a minor in physics. He has completed a graduate certificate in business entrepreneurship this semester.
Botner graduated Magna Cum Laude in all three fields, maintaining a 3.70 GPA. He’s striving to qualify for medical school, where he wants to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon.
His drive and commitment to academic excellence have earned him Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team honors in back-to-back years. He was a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy after being named to the NFF New Hampshire Honors Society last spring.
Botner’s commitment to community service mirrors his success in the classroom. He’s volunteered nearly 50 hours across campus and in the Missoula community, supporting youth development, health initiatives, civic programs, environmental conservation and campus life. While at Montana, he’s led the football program’s National Marrow Donor Program registry, worked at high school sporting events and youth football camps, and seeded a burn scar on Mt. Sentinel. His community efforts also include Earth Day trail cleanups, Neighbors Helping Neighbors leaf raking, and the Missoula Food Bank Sack Lunch program.
On the field, Botner has been a leader in the Montana locker room since 2019. He’s become a five-time letterman, overcoming adversity when he missed the entire 2023 season due to an injury suffered in fall camp. He returned last season and received the Tony Barbour Award, given to the team’s most inspirational player.
This year’s Grizzlies starting center hasn’t allowed a sack in 394 snaps. In his career, he’s been a part of teams that are a combined 64-20.
Botner and the Grizzlies continue their quest to reach the FCS National Championship this week when they host South Dakota in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for the showdown in Missoula can be purchased here.
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