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‘The perfect fit’: Monty Montgomery didn’t need much convincing to transfer to Ole Miss

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•04/07/23•

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Ole Miss linebacker Monty Montgomery

Monty Montgomery didn’t need much convincing. 

A number of schools wanted him once he hit the NCAA Transfer Portal in the off-season. However, Ole Miss quickly emerged as the clear and obvious favorite. He eventually committed and enrolled as if his arrival was all but predetermined.

Because it kind of was. 

See, Montgomery had already done the leg work on possible contenders for his next stop. Ole Miss checked all the boxes.

He got input from MoMo Sanogo, the former Rebel linebacker and his teammate for one season at Louisville. Sanogo had been through the transfer process before. More importantly for Montgomery, though, few knew Ole Miss better. Sanogo offered a glowing review.

Oh, and Ole Miss hired Pete Golding as defensive coordinator, too. Yeah, that helped.

“Ole Miss is the perfect fit,” Montgomery said following Ole Miss’ eighth practice of spring on Thursday. “Professor G (Golding) came in and made me feel at home. I just took the opportunity and ran with it. 

“He was really cool with my (defensive coordinator) from Louisville (former Ole Miss defensive back Bryan Brown). The way he’s going to use me, it’s perfect for the player I am. He’s going to stack me, he’s going to apex me, he’s going to send me off the edge. That’s everything I want.”

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Ole Miss linebacker Monty Montgomery pursues Rebel wide receiver Larry Simmons during a recent practice

Montgomery is currently running with the No. 2 Ole Miss defense.

The Rebels, in third third week of spring, are ushering in a 4-2-5 base under Golding, who spent the previous three seasons as Alabama’s defensive coordinator. 

The current No. 1 linebackers are returning Rebels Khari Coleman and Ashanti Cistrunk. Coleman is a one-time transfer from TCU. Alongside Montgomery, meanwhile, is fellow transfer Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, previously of UCF.

“Nasty,” Montgomery deadpanned, when asked to describe his style of play. He played in all 13 games (12 starts) for Louisville last season and had 70 tackles, six sacks, 11 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. 

Montgomery for his his career had 160 total tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions.

He added, “I compare myself to Micah Parsons (the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys).

“But I can cover better.”

Here’s everything Montgomery had to say in his question-and-answer session with the media on Thursday.

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