Kentucky misses the cut for 4-star '25 QB Ryan Montgomery

Kentucky is expected to gun for two quarterbacks in the class of 2025. The first domino already fell when three-star Stone Saunders committed to the Wildcats in early August, but the second possible addition is unknown.

For a while, that second QB target was thought to be four-star Ryan Montgomery out of Findlay (OH) High. However, it appears that Kentucky has some ground to make up if they want to secure his commitment. Montgomery did not include Kentucky among his five college finalists, which he announced on Tuesday night.

Instead, a group consisting of Georgia, Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, and Penn State made the cut. That being said, Montgomery could potentially make a final decision in January or February, he tells On3’s Chad Simmons, which could allow the opportunity for Kentucky to get more involved. A source tells KSR that UK is not out completely for Montgomery, but there is definitely work to be done.

“I feel comfortable with the schools on my list,” Montgomery told On3. “Recruiting is like a marathon, so things can change because recruiting changes so fast sometimes, but Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State and South Carolina are the schools I am focused on.”

BREAKING: Class of 2025 Four-Star QB Ryan Montgomery is down to 5️⃣ Schools!

The 6’4 215 QB from Findlay, OH is ranked as a Top 20 QB in ‘25

Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/cL78hCZOyg pic.twitter.com/TglqC7E1XS

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 15, 2023

Montgomery has visited Kentucky several times over the last 14 months and has received visits from offensive coordinator Liam Coen in the past. Coen extended Montgomery a scholarship at Junior Day back in January and was able to get the high-level QB back on campus a couple of months later. Montgomery even said in April that he felt like a “top priority” of Coen’s.

But the relationship clearly did not develop to the point where Montgomery was willing to include Kentucky among his top five. The ‘Cats will now look elsewhere for a second ’25 quarterback.