Cedar Rapids Washington senior McCauley Todd enjoys the wild west and he loves football, so his college selection makes perfect sense.

Todd committed to play football for the University of Montana Wednesday after visiting the campus in Missoula last weekend when the Grizzlies crushed Northern Iowa in the FCS playoffs.

"All my life, I've been interested in going out west. I like the mountains," Todd said Thursday. "It's just something I'm interested in, so we sent my film out there and that's how the contact got started."

The Montana coaches liked what they saw of the 6-foot-7, 275-pound offensive tackle on tape, who is almost big enough to be a grizzly bear himself.

Todd has visited Rocky Mountain National Park and plans to visit Yellowstone and Glacier National Park soon. "I like to be outdoors, I like to fish," he said.

Todd helped the Washington Warriors compile an 8-4 record this year and reach the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

He had college scholarship offers from Western Illinois and Montana State and took an unofficial visit to Northern Iowa, but the Panthers had not offered a scholarship. "I sat down and came up with what was really important to me," Todd said "It was a clear decision to me, which school I should pick."

Montana (11-2) has a date with top-ranked Sam Houston State in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs this week and has a rich tradition in college football. The Grizzlies tied for the Big Sky Conference title this season and are ranked fifth in the country.

Todd said he picked Montana because of its tradition, location, academic courses, campus life and football. He's interested in their programs in environmental pre-law and history.

"The tradition is awesome up there," he said. "I don't like to lose. Not many people do, but I really don't like to lose. That definitely played a role."

He'd also like to coach football at some point. "I really love the game and I know I want to be around it for a long time after my playing career," he said.

Todd enjoyed his trip to Montana last weekend and enjoyed sitting in the stands last Friday night for the playoff game against Northern Iowa with more than 23,000 fans, who yell from start to finish.

"It is a crazy atmosphere," he said. "Coming from Iowa and being a Hawkeye fan, we know a little bit about crazy fans that have a ton of pride. We know that here, and that's exactly how it is there. They love their Montana football out there."

Todd said he'll probably redshirt in 2012 as a true freshman and start building his body toward 305 or 310 pounds. "I think it will be good for me to get that year of development to get big enough and a little bit faster to compete with those grown men you've got to block up there," he said.

Todd did not play much for Washington in 2010 as a junior due to an injury and having talented players ahead of him on the depth chart. He blossomed this season and became a key man for the Warriors.

"It's pretty safe to say a year ago at this time there was absolutely no interest in me," he said. "I've got a long ways to go, but I'm going to keep working hard."