Like father like son? Keali’i Ah Yat carries on the family legacy

Player Spotlight – by Dominik Rainalter

Nov 15, 2023

Hi folks,

On October 28th, the University of Montana witnessed the emergence of a new quarterback sensation, Keali'I Ah Yat. Hailing from Kaneohe, Hawaii, the 6' 1 '', 181-pound freshman debuted in the school's conference game, a 40-0 win against Northern Colorado. Even though his first drive only took 3:25 minutes, and the Grizzlies marched down the field 42 yards to get their field goal attempt blocked, it was an extraordinary one for the young quarterback.

Leaving aside the excitement and uniqueness of the moment that came with the first snaps of his college football career, the moment marked the beginning of what could be a legacy reminiscent of his quarterback father, Brian Ah Yat, who played at the university 25 years ago, putting together a career, that earned him a spot in the school's athletic Hall of Fame.

Quick Strikes and Touchdown Glory

Two drives later, the young QB showcased his skills, orchestrating a 4-play, 40-yard drive for his first college football career touchdown – a 21-yard bomb down the middle to receiver Junior Bergen.

Later in the game, the young quarterback led another drive, consisting of 4 plays totaling 24 yards and ending in a punt. He then closed out the game with a 9-play drive for 75 yards, making the final score 40-0 for the Grizzlies, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Eli Gillman.

Ah Yat ended the game with nine pass completions in 13 attempts, totaling 89 yards and a touchdown. Now, someone might think that all these statistics are nothing impressive - and at first glance, all this might seem true. However, in this case, one must consider the historical significance and weight of the Ah Yat name for the University of Montana football program.

Ah Yat legacy

Brian Ah Yat, the father of Keali'i, who played for the school from 1995 to 1998, set a high bar with two All-American selections. He totaled 10,792 passing yards, 196 passing touchdowns, and nine rushing touchdowns, making him Montana's second-leading passer. As a starting quarterback, he led the Grizzlies to 29 total wins in his tenure – the most of any starting quarterback of the school to this day. In November 2022, Ah Yat was among four members inducted into the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame.

The Ah Yat name is synonymous with success and high expectations, placing Keali'i under the spotlight as he carries the family legacy. It remains to be seen whether Keali'i is up to the challenge and can lead a program desperate for another National Championship to the promised land.

From the tape I've seen so far, I think Keali'i has what it takes to follow in his father's footsteps and live up to the expectations of his name and its legacy. The Grizzlies coaching staff will have a similar opinion of the youngster. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have offered him a scholarship in the first place, which made him the first player of the 2023 recruiting class to commit.

Unexpected opportunities

Despite initial expectations of limited playing time, Ah Yat found himself in the quarterback rotation early on. He is already getting snaps at quarterback as a freshman for a team coached by Bobby Hauck, who has a track record of sticking with more experienced quarterbacks. At the beginning of the season, it looked like Sam Vidlak was the hot candidate to be the starting QB for the University, with Chris Brown and Kaden Huot battling for the backup spot.

The fact that the team brought in Clifton McDowell from Central Arkansas via the transfer portal just a couple weeks before fall camp and that Bobby Hauck announced that they would run a two-QB system to start the year because no QB separated himself as the clear starter showed that the team wasn't satisfied with the QB-play at the time and just reduced the likelihood of playing time for Ah Yat further.

When Ah Yat's name started appearing increasingly in the depth chart, it came full circle. He entered the rotation as the Nr. 2 QB, and Hauck mentioned several times that they planned to rotate him into the game more often and give him significant playing time. So far, this has resulted in two appearances with 19 completions in 28 attempts, totaling 220 passing yards and one touchdown.

©Skyline Sports MT

Future prospects

The big question is, of course, how the whole situation will develop further. Ah Yat will surely get more snaps this year, although he will continue to be used sporadically in situations where the game needs to be managed. That's the right way for his development now because, with the pressure the team is under, it would be the wrong step to put too much pressure on him now.

The team is currently 9-1. With the upcoming brawl of the wild against Montana State this week, Clifton McDowell will surely get most of the snaps as he has emerged as the clear QB1 throughout the season. He will be tasked with bringing the Big Sky Conference home - and hopefully the National Championship.

However, future development at the QB position is still open after this season, and Ah Yat has the opportunity to establish himself as a long-term starter.

Analyzing Ah Yat's Game

After analyzing his past performances and his high school tape, I see a very mature player for his age who is relatively complete at his current level and plays very consistently.

He is calm under pressure, has the athleticism to extend plays and escape pressure, and is so composed that he slides before getting tackled. He also has a very nice touch on the ball, is pretty accurate, and has the arm to go deep if needed. However, his strength lies in the intermediate throws. He works well in a run-heavy offense with many RPOs - which fits well with what Bobby Hauck likes to run in Montana.

On the other hand, he still has a lot of upside and needs to work on his throwing mechanics. He tends to be impatient and gives up on plays too quickly. He needs to give his receivers more time to get open. So, he certainly needs to work on his ability to let plays develop.

Although he progresses through his reads very well, he still tends to throw the ball to his first read, even if it is not necessarily the best choice. This habit results in many throws into contested areas into double and triple coverages, which will undoubtedly result in a few interceptions at the college level. However, he also impresses with a high level of accuracy and can get such throws to his receivers.

Conclusion

With Ah Yat's father's records within reach, Ah Yat could be a multi-year starter for the Grizzlies, shaping a new era in Bobby Hauck's second stint with UM if he (Hauck) extends his contract. As Clifton McDowell plays his senior year, Ah Yat is in a prime position to lead the team in the coming seasons. I expect him to break many records and leave his marks in the history books. He is more than just a promising quarterback; he symbolizes continuity and legacy within Grizz football.

What are your thoughts on Ah Yat's performance? Where do you see room for growth? Let's discuss this in the comments down below or schedule a call on my Calendly.

Talk to you soon!

Ray