Re:U-M on list of favorites for hard-working Montgomery (thenickster)

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:26:22 GMT

I hope we are not to far away for this kid too. lol

Dont worry we probably will be too far the way this recruiting is going

Re:U-M on list of favorites for hard-working Montgomery (jsj_297)

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:25:04 GMT

I hope we are not to far away for this kid too. lol

Re:U-M on list of favorites for hard-working Montgomery (BigBlue06)

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:11:35 GMT

I'll chalk him as being immature but wow does he think highly of himself:

"I'm an absolute beast out there."
"I have limitless potential."
"I'm a pure athlete."
"As much as I shine on the field."

Re:U-M on list of favorites for hard-working Montgomery (EFWolverine)

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:35:50 GMT

I'd be very surprised if Montgomery left the state of South Carolina.

U-M on list of favorites for hard-working Montgomery (ohowihate Ohio State)

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:43:31 GMT

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/OPINION03/809040301/&imw=Y

The first day of September marked the beginning of an NCAA-mandatedevaluation period for college football coaches. That means for fourdays, prospects from across the country have heard their phones ringingoff the hook.
Greenwood, S.C., star Sam Montgomery hascertainly had that experience. The 6-4, 240-pounder is a priorityrecruit for many of the country's elite programs, including Michigan.
Montgomery'sscholarship tally exploded to more than 40 offers this summer, but herecently anointed a top list of programs in his recruitment. Earlierthis week he touched base with Michigan assistants Tony Gibson andScott Shafer to inform them that the Maize and Blue had made the cut.
"I'mtaking an official (visit to Michigan)," Montgomery reported. "I'm alsogoing to Miami, Southern California and LSU. The other one (his fifthand final official visit) is free."
North Carolina, South Carolina andClemson -- all of which he has already visited unofficially -- roundout the list of favorites for Scout.com's No. 7 defensive end and No.61 prospect overall.
To this day, Montgomery is still amazed byhis status as the apple of so many coaches' eyes. After all, he steppedonto the football field for the first time as a junior. He was anunknown to college scouts. By the end of the year, however, things hadchanged in a big way.
He totaled 65 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.
"Itwas a great season," he said. "When I first came out it was like, 'Whois this No. 88? Ahhh, he's this big soft guy. Let's run to his side.'People soon started to find out that I was an absolute beast out there.
"When coaches watch me, they see a kid that has limitlesspotential and that runs to the football. They also see a kid that is apure athlete. They see a kid that never takes plays off and isconstantly running to the football."
Passion for basketball
Priorto last year, all of Montgomery's running was done on the basketballfloor. Even now, with all of the attention he is receiving for hisgridiron exploits, he still calls the hardwood his first love.
"Iball," he said. "That's my passion. I'd love to play both sports incollege. I'm basically a board-crasher. Most people I see in the NCAAdon't like to bang and get on the glass. You put me in and I'll controlthe boards, play defense, shut my man down."
Whether he'llactually follow through on pursuing basketball at the next levelremains to be seen. He'll first have to analyze how effectively he'd beable to balance his athletic endeavors with his academics. If being adual-sport athlete meant sacrificing scholastic achievement, this isone youngster that wouldn't hesitate to pass on the opportunity.
"Mymomma always told me, 'Boy, you go to get those grades because onething that I can't tolerate is a stupid athlete,'" he said. "They can'tever say, 'That guy doesn't have his books; he doesn't have it in theclassroom.' As much as I shine out on the field, I try to work 10 timesas hard in the classroom."
Special city
WhenMontgomery finally sets out on his visits in the coming weeks, he willpay special attention to a few specific factors, and there's nosurprise as to what's at the top of the list.
"I want a strongacademic program," he told Scout. "If not, I can't play for thatschool. Second, the coaches have to work together. There can be nostabbing in the back. They need to work together and push the playershard, push them to greatness. I want to be pushed. I want greatness.There also has to be a brotherhood and you have to have fun -- cleanfun. I want to be around good people in a good atmosphere and I wantsomeplace I really fit in and feels like home. I want be treated likepart of the family."
At this point, Montgomery's interest RichRodriguez's program is based solely on his knowledge of the strongtradition in Ann Arbor and his love for Detroit, where he has family.Broadening his understanding of the Maize and Blue will be one of hisprimary objectives this fall.
"I know Michigan is a very goodprogram -- and I also know that Michigan has snow," Montgomery said,laughing. "I also know that the school is near Detroit, so that's anautomatic plus for me. I've just got to go up there and see it."
Ifhis impression of Michigan is anything like his impression of the MotorCity, the Wolverines will be in an enviable position.
"Youmight as well say I was raised in South Carolina, but Detroit -- that'smy heart," he said. "I just love the place. I want to get (to Michigan)and see if the school can match up to what I love Detroit for."
SamWebb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine andGoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning showweekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.