Luke Montgomery says it would be “a dream” to start for Ohio State this season, but he’s focusing on just getting better every day as he gets comfortable with playing right guard.
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LUKE MONTGOMERY GETTING ACCLIMATED AT RIGHT GUARD, FOCUSED ON IMPROVING EACH DAY AS HE COMPETES FOR STARTING JOB
Going into the start of spring practices, many believed that Luke Montgomery would compete with Josh Fryar to be Ohio State’s starting right tackle. Instead, Montgomery has spent the spring practicing exclusively at right guard.
While Fryar is currently in line to remain Ohio State’s starting right tackle – though Fryar says he has also taken some snaps at guard this spring, while Tegra Tshabola is also in the mix at RT – Montgomery has emerged as a frontrunner to start at right guard in his sophomore season with the Buckeyes.
Coming out of high school, Montgomery expressed a desire to continue playing tackle collegiately. The Findlay native spent his freshman year on the edge, competing for a starting tackle job in the preseason. He ended up playing right tackle with the second-team offensive line while also seeing occasional snaps with the first-team offense as a sixth offensive lineman in the “bison” package.
Now, though, Montgomery just wants to get on the field wherever he can help the Buckeyes. And he believes his skill set is well-suited for the guard position.
“I think my height is more of a guard height, and I’m fast on my feet,” said Montgomery, who’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds. “I just need to get used to the technique right now.”
Montgomery says there has been an acclimation process this spring as he’s learned how to play inside. Going up against Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton and the rest of Ohio State’s defensive tackles has put his skills to the test. But Montgomery has grown from that experience.
“It's a little different, for sure. I'm just getting used to it,” Montgomery said Monday. “Spring ball is all about technique, so I’m getting used to the technique. It’s a little faster inside, but I'm enjoying it. I'm having a lot of fun out there, especially with the guys I'm around, they're awesome.
“You’re just trying to get better and you're gonna lose (some of) those reps. That's what I struggled with when I first got here is just from where I came from, I was the best, and you don't know it till you know it when you're here. You're playing against guys that are older than you and way more experienced and are a lot better than you and you're gonna get beat. You just gotta keep getting back up and fighting.”
Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye says Montgomery still has a lot to learn at his new position, but he’s pleased with how Montgomery has developed so far.
“You can't make moves or shift guys if they're not mentally there,” Frye said. “For him, He's got a pretty good football IQ. He's growing every day. He's working. And he's getting beat every day too, and he's learning from those. It's only springtime.
“We have a saying in our room where in the spring, it's yes and it's know. And the know is k-n-o-w. Why didn't a rep work? What happened? And how do I make sure I don't repeat the same mistake? And so whether he's coming in and watching the tape on his own and then coming in with questions, he's grabbing me and watching tape with me or we're doing stuff as a unit, he's learning so the game can slow down and he gets more comfortable there in friction.
“His weight’s up, his strength’s up. He’s been in an offseason with (director of sports performance Mickey Marotti). There's a lot of development that still has to be had. Obviously not a finished product, but being able mentally for a guy to handle that helps a lot.”
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