There's a new face at Montana Grizzly practice this week, and a few years ago, he was considered one of the best in the country at his position.

Kavario Middleton transferred to Montana from the University of Washington.

Middleton is a legit talent, coming out of high school, he was the third ranked tight end in the country by scouts.com

He was the Huskies starting tight end as a freshman and sophomore, but was kicked off of the team this summer. The Seattle Times reported that it was because of a failed drug test and other attitude problems.

Middleton tried to transfer to Nebraska, but wasn't admitted to the school, so he came to the Griz. Montana head coach Robin Pflugrad says the media doesn't know the whole story.

“I've talked quite closely with a couple of their coaches, three or four of their coaches that I coached with before. There's certain reasons why people are no longer on football teams, and there are [different amounts of information] that gets to the media and doesn't get to the media,” says Pflugrad. “I feel that I know more than probably any person in the media will ever know about the situation, and I'm very comfortable with it, otherwise I wouldn't have proceeded [with signing Middleton].”

The Griz were actually pretty thin at tight end before Middleton's arrival. Rob Overton and Greg Hardy were the top two, and Jacob Haas was in the mix as well. But none of them have close to the pedigree that Middleton does.

Still, Pflugrad says that Middleton will have to earn his playing time, and that right now he's fourth on the depth chart.

“I'm brutally honest with all of our players. He knows he has to come in and earn it. Right now there are four tight ends here, counting him, and he’s #4. I told him that on the telephone, weeks ago,” says Pflugrad. “Nothing will be given to him, by any means. That’s not the way we’re going to run the program, and that’s not the way the Grizzlies have been in the past. You’ve got to come in, you’ve got to earn it, and you’ve got to do everything right.”

Pflugrad does not think Middleton will be able to suit up for Saturday's opener because of paperwork that still needs to be approved by the NCAA and University of Montana.