For many student-athletes, their identity is entirely wrapped up in the jersey they wear. Getting cut from a roster can feel like an absolute dead end. But when University of Montana student Jackson Groff found out his football roster spot was eliminated in 2020 due to budget reductions, he chose to view the heartbreak as a massive green light.
Instead of walking away from the game he loved, Jackson executed the ultimate career audible. He pivoted from playing on the field to covering it.
Jackson graduated from UM in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in Communications. Now, at just 26, he’s an Associate Producer and weekly college football analyst for the 3 & Out podcast with John Middlekauff at The Volume, a premier sports media network whose programming is also featured on Netflix. In his first full year in the role, Jackson has already covered major events including Super Bowl Radio Row, the NFL Combine, the College Football Playoff, and most recently, Big Ten Football Media Days—events where he has found himself rubbing shoulders with industry giants like Pat McAfee and Rich Eisen.
His explosive trajectory started with a single, crucial realization on the UM campus: if an opportunity doesn’t exist, you have to build it yourself.
The Strategy: Building a Platform from Scratch
When Jackson looked for media opportunities within the powerhouse Montana football program, he found the traditional avenues blocked or full. Rather than waiting for a formal internship to open up, he leaned heavily into independent experiential learning.
- Bootstrapping “The Groff Show”: In 2021, Jackson launched his own independent podcast, The Groff Show. Using the relationships he had built as an athlete and offensive student assistant coach, he began interviewing Griz football players, coaches, and regional sports personalities. The podcast became his laboratory, allowing him to practice interviewing, audio production, and digital marketing in real time.
- Diversifying the Portfolio: To become a well-rounded broadcaster, Jackson forced himself far outside his comfort zone. He volunteered to do play-by-play broadcasting for UM softball and women’s soccer—two sports he initially knew very little about. He studied emerging social media algorithms, generating consistent locker-room interviews for Montana basketball and building a distinct audience on TikTok and YouTube.
The Pivot: From Local Hustle to National Broadcasts
Jackson’s relentless self-starting model paid off quickly. His independent podcast caught the attention of regional sports coordinators, leading to opportunities covering elite 7-on-7 high school football events across the Pacific Northwest.
The extensive portfolio of raw content he created at UM became his resume. It bypassed the standard entry-level application bottleneck, landing him a part-time producer and fill-in host gig at Fox Sports 910 in Phoenix, Arizona.
While networking, consistently producing high-quality content, and working part-time at TPC Scottsdale, Jackson connected with former NFL scout and top football podcaster John Middlekauff (proving that your next big career opportunity can come from the most unexpected places, even on the golf course). And by 2025, that connection had grown into a full-time role at Colin Cowherd’s media network, The Volume. Today, Jackson works with global brands like ESPN and DoorDash, showing just how far the skills, relationships, and initiative he built on campus can take you.
Many of the opportunities I’ve received throughout my career weren’t found on job boards,” Jackson says. “They came through relationships, initiative, and consistently creating work. Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities and be willing to learn through experience.
Career Lessons from Jackson’s Journey
- Start before you think you’re ready. Perfectionism kills momentum. Jackson didn’t wait for top-tier gear or a formal media credential; he started recording conversations and refined his style along the way.
- Diversify your skill set. Jackson loved football, but calling soccer and softball games developed his adaptability and quick-thinking communication skills under pressure—traits that made him an invaluable live producer.
- Treat setbacks as redirections. Getting cut from the Griz roster accelerated Jackson’s media journey by two full years. A closed door is often just a prompt to look for the window.
Take Action on Your Career Journey
- Explore Creative Paths: Check out our Virtual Career Hub to search for micro-internships, regional fellowships, and opportunities in the arts and media industry.
- Launch Your Independent Projects: You don’t need permission to build a portfolio. Use UM’s creative spaces and media labs to launch your own podcasts, blogs, or video series.
- Pitch Your Own Internships: Follow Jackson’s lead—reach out to local organizations, athletic departments, or campus groups and offer to handle their play-by-play, social media tracking, or video production.
- Take Part in Experiential Learning: Learn how to earn credit for internships or take part in hands-on projects through our Virtual Career Hub’s “How Do I…?” sections.
- Translate your undergrad experiences into a paycheck: Learn how to map your projects, internships, and experiential learning experiences directly to the career competencies employers are hiring for by connecting with one of our career coaches.
- Want to build your own portfolio? Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach to talk about how.
