BUTTE, Mont. — Under the leadership of defensive coordinator Montell Allen, the Montana Tech defense has turned into a juggernaut, posting two shutouts last season and forcing 26 turnovers and recording 35 sacks over 13 games. “We’re trying to play a physical brand of football that’s old school and really about effort. And if our guys fly around to the ball, good things are going to happen. That’s what I’ve tried to instill here,” said Allen, who is also the linebackers coach. “The results have been really awesome. But now we have to continue to be hungry and fight, scratch, and claw for everything that we’re getting.” “We really pride ourselves on our physicality and effort. You maybe make a mistake, but if you do it at 100%, you’re going to be alright,” said senior defensive back Christian Hansen. The Orediggers return six defensive starters as well as several reserves who got plenty of playing time last year. Add in a healthy mix of redshirts and incoming transfers, and Tech believes they have the recipe for continued success in 2026. On the field, the vocal leader of the defense is always the middle linebacker, and returning starter Kellan Beller of Stevensville has been thrust into that role. “He’s always embodied leadership qualities. He’s always been a guy that I’ve trusted. And that position has been of ultimate trust and ultimate care. And that guy embodies exactly what I want to run our defense as the Mike linebacker,” said Allen, who is in his third season at Montana Tech. “He’s the smartest guy I know. He’s been doing a great job of getting everybody bought into the mantra of our defense,” said sophomore defensive end Cole Graham. Beller will have plenty of support around him, including from Graham, who made the all-conference team as a freshman despite playing with a hand injury for much of the year. “We have a good group. We can be one of the better defenses in the country, but we’ve got to come together as one. Some of the guys that haven’t played as much, they are doing great in fall camp. But the leaders have to lead and be the example for the guys that have less experience,” said Graham. Other key returners up front include junior linebacker Tyler Kovick, senior defensive lineman Caleb Novak, junior defensive linemen Dominic Umile and Trevor Miller, redshirt freshman linebacker Asher Feddes, and sophomore defensive linemen Ethan Alexander and Kyler Stenson. While several stars in the secondary have graduated, there are returning upperclassmen like Hansen and sophomore Justin Webber. Add in transfers Coleman Teasdale from FBS Bowling Green and Jalen Perkins, a journeyman transfer from Olivet Nazarene who had a sweet interception at Monday’s practice, and the Orediggers believe they can reach new heights. “From the first day he came in he just fit with us like glue. Great leader, great guy, someone we can all trust, he’s a good dude,” said Hansen of Perkins, who he calls the “old man” of the team. “We’ve got more depth than we’ve had in the past. Especially guys that can do multiple things, whether play corner or safety. So, we’re really excited to be able to mix and match and put those guys in positions to be successful,” said Allen. While the Orediggers defense was outstanding last year, they were exposed in the postseason, allowing nearly 300 rushing yards in their quarterfinal defeat to the College of Idaho. That bitter taste has left the defense hungry to prove that was just a fluke. “We’ve just got to do everything in our power to make sure we don’t ever feel that again walking off this field,” said Hansen. “It’s over with. At the end of the day, all we can do is learn and move forward. It’s a new team. Kudos to those guys, and at the end of the day they were more prepared. It gave us hunger and motivation this offseason to know what we had to do: in the weight room, in the meeting room with us as coaches, to get plans to be better, simply,” said Allen. “It starts with me as the defensive coordinator to put us in the best position to be successful. I think that I’ve really put it upon myself this offseason to have answers and mechanisms for us to do what we have to do. But, overall, really excited for this defense and what they’re going to do.” The Oredigger defense will be tested right out of the gates, as their Copper Game opponent is Ottawa University of Arizona, a team that scored at least 40 points in six of their games last season. “They usually have a dynamic quarterback who is a dual threat guy. We have to make sure we’re really honed in on keeping that guy in the pocket, keeping them one dimensional,” said Allen. “Overall, it’s going to be a different operation for them as well. They have some staff turnover and different coordinators and what not. So, it’s going to be kind of a mystery for the first two series of what we’re exactly going to see. But we’re up for the challenge and are ready to go.”