Justin Strong

Safety Justin Strong (4) made 110 tackles over the past two years at Oregon State. His brother, Victor Butler, played for the Beavers from 2005-2008.

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Justin Strong, who started eight games at safety for Oregon State last season, has transferred to Montana.

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school announced Strong's transfer Tuesday and the 5-foot-11, 198 pound Rialto, California native will be eligible to play during the 2016 season since the program is in a lower division.

An Oregon State spokesperson said Strong left for "personal reasons."

"We love his physicality. That's the thing that jumps out on tape," Montana defensive coordinator Jason Semore said in a statement. "He's not the biggest guy in the world, but you can see, watching his Pac-12 tape, that he's a really explosive athlete. I think he fits in to our scheme and what we're going to ask him to do in this league very well."

Montana went 8-5 last season, finished third in the Big Sky and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Strong had 54 tackles in eight games as a sophomore last season before a concussion forced him out of the year's last four games. His older brother, Victor Butler, played defensive end with the Beavers from 2005-2008.

Strong is the seventh OSU player and second defensive starter to depart this offseason.

Earlier this month, linebacker and leading tackler Rommel Mageo left for Mississippi as a graduate transfer, meaning he is eligible to play during the 2016 season.

Quarterback Nick Mitchell (who transferred to Division II's Dixie State), linebacker/nickelback Malik Gilmore (who is set to graduate in 2016), defensive lineman Luke Hollingsworth and defensive back Chris Hayes (who transferred to Portland State) announced they were moving on soon after the Civil War.

Quarterback/receiver Seth Collins transferred to Northern Illinois in February to pursue continuing as a quarterback.

Gina Mizell contributed to the reporting of this story.

-- Danny Moran