Steven Montgomery Q&A

By Smith | 5.3.10 | Email

Steven Montgomery, a 5’11-187 pound DB from Miramar High (FL) is a recruit who is starting to be known to programs from all over the country.  His physical style of play is getting him noticed at camps and combines across Florida this spring.  Now he’s hoping that coaches will take notice during their visits to see his team over the coming weeks.

Smith:  What are your current measurables?

Montgomery:    5-11,187, 4.45 forty, 265 bench, 73 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 1/2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles

Smith:  What would you list as your strengths and what needs some work?

Montgomery:    My strengths are tackling, I'm a big hitter, I play sideline to sideline, I have a great motor, versatility to play corner or safety, speed. I would like to work on my off coverage a little more.

Smith:  What position are you being recruited for? What position do you prefer?

Montgomery:    I'm being recruited as both a corner and a safety but I’m leaning towards playing safety in college.

Smith:  What were your favorite teams as a kid?

Montgomery:    I was a fan of FSU growing up.

Smith:  What do you look for in coaches?  Academics?  Facilities?  Campus environment?

Montgomery:    I try to look for everything and just look for somewhere that I can be successful the next 4 years of my life and be comfortable at.  But I would say the biggest thing is academics.  The size of the campus doesn't really matter.  I'm just looking for a good fit that will fit my style, my personality.  Right now I would say, probably a smaller town or city.  In the big towns and cities I think you get more athletes getting in trouble and stuff.  A place where you can have fun but not get in too much trouble and stuff.

Smith:  What schools have offered so far?  Which ones are recruiting you the hardest? Any you want to hear from but haven’t yet?

Montgomery:    I recently got in contact with Wisconsin.  They're going to be down here this week and they said they want to offer me.  I've been in contact with Michigan and then I got a few letters and stuff from Ohio State, but nothing too serious.  I've been in contact with Purdue too.  I have offers from UCF, Western Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.  I talk to a lot of schools and hear from a lot but I would like to hear more from Ohio State, LSU, and Oregon.  I would say that Maryland is recruiting me the hardest.  They're recruiting me pretty hard.  That was my first offer also so they have a soft spot in my heart right now.  They were the first to offer in like December, January.  They've shown me a lot of love.  I've talked to all the coaches, all the coaches send me stuff, they talk to my family.  They send me letters all the time.  I really like Maryland.

Smith:  You mentioned some Big Ten schools.  What do you think of the style of play in the Big Ten?  Would it suit you?

Montgomery:    I like the Big Ten style of play basically because you don't see that many complex offenses.  Basically the offenses are pro style, 2 receiver, 3 receiver set.  You don't see that many spread offenses.  You get the big power running backs and stuff too.  The Big Ten, I think, that's the conference you can most likely transition to the NFL (from).

Smith:  How do you think your game would translate to the Big Ten?

Montgomery:    I think my game would be good in the Big Ten.  Basically because I think I could play safety and corner.  Most Big Ten defenses that I've been looking at, they have a safety in the back, like a free roaming safety.  Plus a lot of great DBs have come out of the Big Ten, especially cornerbacks.  So I think that if I'll be able to play safety or corner, I'll be successful in the Big Ten.

Smith:  That position is often times called on to be near the line of scrimmage for run support.  Is that a role you feel you could handle?

Montgomery:    On my team last year, that was the position I ran in a 3-3-5 stack defense.  I was kind of like the rover, over the tight end, up close to the line.  They used me in blitz packages too.  So I think I could play that.  A lot of the tight ends are bigger in the Big Ten so I might have to put on a couple more pounds.  But I think that would suit me well because I'm good at coming off of the edge, covering the tight end and helping in run support.

Smith:  Will a schools tradition of sending DBs to the NFL be a factor?

Montgomery:    Yes, that's a big thing with me.  I keep up with a lot of DB coaches, what schools they're going to, what players they've coached.  I look that up when speaking with a school cause I want to see how that coach and how that team can make me better on the field and get me ready for the NFL.  That's my dream.  That's where I want to be at.

Smith:  What are some of the schools you think of in regards to ones that send a lot of DBs to the NFL?

Montgomery:    Tennessee, Ohio State, Florida State, USC, Oklahoma.  Alabama is another school that has some good success with DBs.  Nick Saban was actually coaching his DBs when I went up there.

Smith:  Who's been calling the most since the quiet period ended?

Montgomery:    UCF.  They check up on me every week.  A lot of schools want to get my spring schedule and stuff like that.  We started spring ball but we're not hitting yet.  We go full pads starting Wednesday and most of the coaches are saying that's when they'll be here.  So Wednesday is going to be a big day for me.  A lot of schools just basically want to see where I'm at.  They're really interested in me but they want to see me more in man coverage.  I've played mostly in the box so they want to see me in man coverage. 

Smith:  What schools have you visited and what did you like about each? Any upcoming visits for junior days, camps, or combines?

Montgomery:    I've visited Alabama, FSU, Miami, UCF, and USF.   I liked all of my visits.  Just being able too see what all the schools have to offer me is a blessing but I enjoyed the FSU and Bama one the most.  I'm probably going to do a few more camps I'm not sure which ones yet.  My team and I are participating in a lot of 7on7 tourneys.

Smith:  Is there anyone in your life trying to sell a particular program to you?  Family members or maybe teammates that are going to that school?

Montgomery:    My whole family is mostly UF fans.  They want me to give them a look mostly.  My dad tells me all the time that 'If they offer, you better commit' and stuff like that.  But they're kidding and joking mostly.  They just want what's best for me.  They want me to stay close to home but they understand about the depth charts and the recruiting that goes on.  They want what's the best fit for me but they want me to play early too. 

Smith:  Do you have anyone in mind for a visit yet?

Montgomery:    I know I'm going to take one to West Virginia.  Four of my previous teammates are at West Virginia right now.  So I'm going up there to check it out.  I'm going up there in the summer too so I might go there for an official too.  Two others I'm not sure quite yet about are LSU and Maryland.  I'll probably give them an official but I don't know quite yet. 

Smith:  How big of a factor will each of the following be in your decision: depth chart, distance from home, academics?

Montgomery:    Distance doesn’t matter.  I'll play anywhere in the country.  My parents just want me to be happy so it doesn't matter where I go to school.  The depth chart, most definitely will factor.  That's one of the bigger things actually.  I want to be in the position where I could play early, as a freshman.  Right now I'm taking classes in order for me to graduate early so I can get to college early.  I want to play early so that's going to be part of the decision.  But you know wherever you go there's going to be competition.  You're going to have to compete for a spot wherever you go.  I just don't want to go to a team where there's like 6 sophomores and 6 freshman already there.  I don't have a problem competing for a spot, I just want to be in a good position to compete for one.  I feel if I come in and work hard and play to my ability I’ll be able to see the field.

Smith:  What turns you off when a coach is recruiting you?

Montgomery:    I wouldn't say I've really had any of those yet.  Coaches usually tell you what you want to hear.

Smith:  Do you have a leader or a top group?

Montgomery:    No, not right now.  I'm wide open right now.  I don't have any favorites.  Probably after spring football, I'll have a top 15, top 10 maybe. 

Smith:  Do you know when you want to make a decision?

Montgomery:    December 3rd - my birthday.  That's a Friday so hopefully we'll be in a playoff game that day and I'll announce my decision then.  Or if I haven't come to a decision yet, I can hold out.  I want to take all 5 of my visits before I make a decision. 

Smith:  Describe yourself as a person, not a football player.  What do you like to do in your free time?

Montgomery:    I'm a great friend, a leader, dependable.  If I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it.  I'm responsible and hardworking.  I like studying the game.  I'm always trying to get myself better.  In my free time, I like to look at players I like - Sean Taylor, Bob Sanders, Ed Reed, Eric Berry.  I watch film on them and see how they became so great.  I try to model myself after them.  Other than that I like to work out, maybe hang out and go to the movies sometimes.  I don't like to be crowded or be around too many people because if you hang around with some people you're going to be labeled with those people.  Just me and probably one friend will go out sometimes.