Findlay QB Montgomery commits to Georgia

FINDLAY --The bulldog was the perfect prop. Findlay High junior Ryan Montgomery, a four-star recruit considered one of the top prep quarterbacks in the country, ended an afternoon of anticipation and months of speculation on Wednesday when he announced where he would play his college football. Instead of just blurting out the school, though, Montgomery paused and walked toward the bleachers on the northwest side of the FHS Gymnasium. He returned, leash in hand, leading a bulldog. And just like that, everyone in the crowd at Findlay High had the answer, and Georgia had the quarterback it hopes can continue its progression as one of the premier college programs in the country. The four-legged bulldog, a brown-and-white bruiser named Winnie that was provided courtesy of Crawford Bulldogs for Wednesday's announcement, seemed a bit hesitant to be part of the event. The two-legged Bulldog, a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder who has been drawing nationwide attention since stepping into a starting role the third game of his freshman season, was not. "For me it was an easy choice, a no-brainer," Montgomery said confidently of his decision to sign with Georgia. "They are the standard in college football right now. Everyone's chasing them, and I know the development there will be second to none. I feel I'll be developed into the best quarterback I can be, but the best person I can be as well." Montgomery will be joining one of the most successful programs in one of the most competitive conferences, the Southeastern Conference, in college football. In Kirby Smart's eight seasons as Georgia head coach, the Bulldogs have gone 94-16. The last three years, Georgia is 42-2 with back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. The Bulldogs' lone loss during last year's 13-1 season was a three-point setback to Alabama in the SEC championship game. Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken reportedly first offered Montgomery in 2022. Monken later left for an NFL job with the Baltimore Ravens, but his replacement – Mike Bobo – took over and the Bulldogs continued to roll, finishing in the top five last season in total yards (6,951) and points-per-game (40.1). "Coach Smart and Coach Bobo aren't going anywhere," Montgomery said. "I like that stability, and the opportunity to compete every day with the country's best. That was big in my recruitment." When he enrolls at Georgia in 2025, opportunity may be on Montgomery's side. On the school's depth chart, returning starter Carson Beck, a 6-4 redshirt senior who led the SEC in passing yards (3,941) and ranked fourth nationally in pass completion percentage (.724) is listed No. 1. Gunner Stockton, a redshirt sophomore who appeared in four games in a reserve role last season, is No. 2 and Ryan Puglisi, an incoming freshman this fall, is No. 3. "I know there are going to be older guys ahead of me, guys that are ranked as high, or higher, than me," Montgomery said. "I'm not a guy that's going to shy away from the competition, though." Over his prep career Montgomery has proven that. Since getting his first varsity start against Bowling Green in the third game of the 2021 season, Montgomery had guided the Trojans to a 21-12 overall record, a Northern Lakes League Buuckeye Division co-championship and three straight playoff appearances against an elite lineup of schools. He enters his senior season already owning school records for career passing yards (7,584) and TDs (84). With Wednesday's announcement, he also adds to Findlay High Schools legacy of outstanding quarterbacks who have gone on to play Division I college football. In the mid 1960s, Harry Gonso accepted a full ride to Indiana, led the Hoosiers to their lone Rose Bowl appearance (1968) and finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Following in Gonsos acclaimed footsteps were a number of talented quarterbacks who also took their talents to the Division I college level — Steve Woodruff (Yale), Keith Woodruff (Ohio University), Cliff Hite (Kentucky), Kurt Hippensteel (Illinois), John Veilhaber (Michigan State), Dave Wilson (Ball State), Steve Reichenbach (Toledo), John Kidd (Northwestern, punter) and Bruce Porter (North Carolina State, Ohio University). There was also a guy named Ben Roethlisberger, who did pretty well at Miami Ohio, and even better with the Pittsburgh Steelers.