Kadeezy
Active member
Any chance we try to add James (a talented local kid) to the mix next year? He'll probably want to transfer to anothe FBS school...
Ex-Lancer Montgomery will transfer from Cal
By Bill Paterson - [email protected]
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
Print | E-Mail | Comments (2)|
James Montgomery, one of this area's most recruited athletes while at Cordova High School, has left the Cal football program without its healthiest and most experienced running back entering spring drills.
Montgomery, projected to start next fall, met with Cal coach Jeff Tedford on Monday, and school officials confirmed Tuesday that he has been given his release.
"He felt like there would be a better situation for him somewhere else," Tedford said. "Fortunately for us, running back is a position with a lot of depth. We feel great about our talent at that position with Jahvid Best, Shane Vereen, Tracy Slocum and Covaughn DeBoskie."
Montgomery did not return a call for comment Tuesday evening, but he told RealDawg.com, a University of Washington fan site, that being at Cal "never felt right" and that the school "was never my first choice."
Montgomery originally verbally committed to Washington before switching to the Bears.
As a redshirt freshman last season, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Montgomery backed up senior Justin Forsett. Montgomery played in 13 games, carried 36 times for 171 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Best, a freshman last season and Montgomery's leading rival for the starting job this fall, impressed with his speed and explosiveness last season. Some viewed him, not Montgomery, as the future of the program.
With Best sidelined because of a serious hip injury, Montgomery was listed as Cal's starting tailback entering spring ball on March 31. Montgomery also is recovering from minor knee surgery, and the Contra Costa Times reported that was one reason Tedford decided to postpone the start of spring practice last week.
Max Miller, Montgomery's high school coach, said his former star's decision to leave had nothing to do with grades or off-the-field issues.
Although Miller wouldn't elaborate – "I'd prefer you talk to James" – he said Montgomery was unhappy about some on-field issues including wanting to know, "Where do I stand?"
"He was feeling frustration over a lot of things for some time," said Miller, who talked with Montgomery before and after he met with Tedford. "I know he was not comfortable. You have to be happy going to practice every day. You only get a chance to play college football once, so you've got to enjoy where you are."
Miller said that after Montgomery and his mother, Cynthia Cooper, met with Tedford for "an hour," Montgomery was "relieved" because he was uncertain if the coach would release him.
Miller said Montgomery told him he is looking to stay in the Pac-10, mentioning Washington and Oregon, but also might consider Fresno State. RealDawg reported that he also is considering transferring to Florida, which just recruited his former Cordova teammate, wide receiver Carl Moore.
Under NCAA rules, Montgomery must sit out a season once he enrolls at another college.
Miller said he supports Montgomery's decision, although he said he did not advise him to leave Cal and said he even played devil's advocate when he met with Montgomery and Cooper on Sunday night.
"James is a great, great kid," Miller said. "This was a major decision for him because the University of California is a great program and school. James is not a quitter, not a troublemaker. He just wasn't happy."
Montgomery was the top recruit to come out of Cordova since National Player of the Year Kevin Willhite in 1981.
Montgomery, a 2005 Cordova graduate, was a Parade Magazine All-American as a senior and rushed for more than 4,900 yards and 89 touchdowns during his prep career.
Ex-Lancer Montgomery will transfer from Cal
By Bill Paterson - [email protected]
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
Print | E-Mail | Comments (2)|
James Montgomery, one of this area's most recruited athletes while at Cordova High School, has left the Cal football program without its healthiest and most experienced running back entering spring drills.
Montgomery, projected to start next fall, met with Cal coach Jeff Tedford on Monday, and school officials confirmed Tuesday that he has been given his release.
"He felt like there would be a better situation for him somewhere else," Tedford said. "Fortunately for us, running back is a position with a lot of depth. We feel great about our talent at that position with Jahvid Best, Shane Vereen, Tracy Slocum and Covaughn DeBoskie."
Montgomery did not return a call for comment Tuesday evening, but he told RealDawg.com, a University of Washington fan site, that being at Cal "never felt right" and that the school "was never my first choice."
Montgomery originally verbally committed to Washington before switching to the Bears.
As a redshirt freshman last season, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Montgomery backed up senior Justin Forsett. Montgomery played in 13 games, carried 36 times for 171 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Best, a freshman last season and Montgomery's leading rival for the starting job this fall, impressed with his speed and explosiveness last season. Some viewed him, not Montgomery, as the future of the program.
With Best sidelined because of a serious hip injury, Montgomery was listed as Cal's starting tailback entering spring ball on March 31. Montgomery also is recovering from minor knee surgery, and the Contra Costa Times reported that was one reason Tedford decided to postpone the start of spring practice last week.
Max Miller, Montgomery's high school coach, said his former star's decision to leave had nothing to do with grades or off-the-field issues.
Although Miller wouldn't elaborate – "I'd prefer you talk to James" – he said Montgomery was unhappy about some on-field issues including wanting to know, "Where do I stand?"
"He was feeling frustration over a lot of things for some time," said Miller, who talked with Montgomery before and after he met with Tedford. "I know he was not comfortable. You have to be happy going to practice every day. You only get a chance to play college football once, so you've got to enjoy where you are."
Miller said that after Montgomery and his mother, Cynthia Cooper, met with Tedford for "an hour," Montgomery was "relieved" because he was uncertain if the coach would release him.
Miller said Montgomery told him he is looking to stay in the Pac-10, mentioning Washington and Oregon, but also might consider Fresno State. RealDawg reported that he also is considering transferring to Florida, which just recruited his former Cordova teammate, wide receiver Carl Moore.
Under NCAA rules, Montgomery must sit out a season once he enrolls at another college.
Miller said he supports Montgomery's decision, although he said he did not advise him to leave Cal and said he even played devil's advocate when he met with Montgomery and Cooper on Sunday night.
"James is a great, great kid," Miller said. "This was a major decision for him because the University of California is a great program and school. James is not a quitter, not a troublemaker. He just wasn't happy."
Montgomery was the top recruit to come out of Cordova since National Player of the Year Kevin Willhite in 1981.
Montgomery, a 2005 Cordova graduate, was a Parade Magazine All-American as a senior and rushed for more than 4,900 yards and 89 touchdowns during his prep career.
