2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Sam Montgomery Scouting Profile

Another Defensive End prospect, besides Alex Okafor, who may be available when the Denver Broncos are on the clock with their first pick in the NFL Draft next month is Sam Montgomery, a junior out of LSU declaring for the draft. At 6’3", 262 lbs., Montgomery ranks 7th out of 210 Defensive Ends nationally and 35th overall in the 2013 Draft class. He participated at the Combine, but did not compete in the Bench Press. The LSU Pro Day is scheduled for March 27th and he projects as a 1st-2nd round draft pick.

BIO

#99 Sam Montgomery
Major: Sport Administration
Born: May 25, 1990 (22)

COMBINE
Arm Length-33 7/8"
Hand Length-9 1/4"
40 Time-4.81
Bench Press-DNP
Vertical Jump-34.5"
Broad Jump-114"
3-Cone-7.18
20 YD Shuttle-4.51
Production Ratio-1.61
Explosion Number-INC
Lateral Agility Score-0.30

• 2012 1st-Team All-SEC (Coaches)
• 2011 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Finalist
• 2011 1st-Team All-American (FWAA, FoxSports)
• 2011 2nd-Team All-American (SI.com)
• 2011 3rd-Team All-American (AP, Rivals.com)
• 2011 1st-Team All-Southeastern Conference (AP, Coaches)
• 2011 SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week (Alabama)
• 2011 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Kentucky)
• 2010 Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)

One of college football's most dominant Defensive Ends, Montgomery possesses a combination of athleticism with great size and a high motor. Sam played in 32 career games at LSU with 29 starts, racking up 104 Tackles, 32.5 Tackles For a Loss and 19 Sacks in three seasons.

In 2012, Montgomery started all 13 games, with 37 Tackles, 13 TFL’s, 8 Sacks, 2 Pass Breakups and 2 Forced Fumbles pairing up with Barkevious Mingo to form one of the nation's most terrorizing Defensive End tandems. He was a steady force as a junior, while garnering 1st-team all-conference honors once again.

After missing the final eight games of the 2010 season to a torn ACL in his right knee, Sam turned in a dominant sophomore season. He played in all 14 games with 11 starts at right Defensive End. He finished 9th on the team with 49 Tackles, led the Tigers with 9 Sacks and was 2nd on the squad with 13.5 TFL’s. Sam posted at least half a Sack in eight of 14 games. Twice named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week and had a season-high 6 Tackles three times. He started off the season on a high note with 4 Tackles, a team-high 1.5 TFL’s and a Forced Fumble recovered by Eric Reid in the opener against Oregon.

After Redshirting as a true freshman in 2009, Montgomery started the first five games of the 2010 campaign before sustaining a season-ending right knee injury early in the Tennessee game. Despite the injury, he still earned Freshman All-SEC honors by the league coaches after ending the year with 18 Tackles, 6.0 TFLs and two Sacks. Tied his career high twice, with 6 Tackles and 2 TFL’s against West Virginia and then another 6 Tackles with 1.5 TFLs versus Mississippi State. Sam earned the starting position at right Defensive End during fall camp.

High School - Widely considered one of the top Defensive End prospects in the Class of 2009, Montgomery was the No. 2 rated Defensive End by ESPNU along with the No. 6 ranked Defensive End and No. 3 ranked pass rusher by Rivals.com.

In his Combine media interview, Montgomery admitted to betting in college and taking games -- not plays off when the Tigers faced lesser opponents. He should know that telling the media things like this is not smart. At all. "Some weeks when we didn’t have to play the harder teams, there were some times when effort was not needed," Montgomery said. "But when we had the big boys coming in, the ‘Bamas or the South Carolinas, I grabbed close to those guys and went all out." Montgomery detailed "hundreds of dollars" in bets with teammate Barkevious Mingo, including one for $5,000 on which one of them will be drafted higher. Feb 23 - Source: Profootballtalk on NBC Sports

DRAFT PROFILE

NFL.COM DRAFT GRADE-81.4


STRENGTHS: Sam plays at the weakside Right Defensive Tackle position. He possesses a lanky frame with long arms and plenty of room for additional muscle mass, especially considering his terrific speed. Flashes a quick burst off the snap and accelerates very smoothly for a man of his size, demonstrating the ability to track down elusive ball-carriers from behind. Has growth potential to be a three-down player. Gets secondary rushes by pure hustle, comes off block if his man lets up after initial contact and closes quickly to the ball. Very good effort to ball carriers on the sideline whether lined up inside or outside.

Holds his ground well in the run game, gaining leverage off the snap and rolling his hips through contact to move the blocker backwards. Fights for inside hand placement. Aggressive coming down the line and taking on kick-out blocks, spilling the ball carrier outside to help. Competitive player who doesn’t back down from challenges and will bull his way into bigger Tackles to collapse the pocket. A high effort defender who seems to enjoy the physicality and competition of the game, Montgomery showed a great deal of work ethic in coming back bigger, stronger and faster after sustaining a serious knee injury in 2010.

WEAKNESSES: Montgomery is slow off the snap. He has a bad habit of going off the Offensive Tackle’s movement instead of the ball, whether standing up or playing with his hand down. He doesn’t exhibit much balance or flexibility and struggles to turn the corner consistently. Better Tackles can stone him on his first move and will push him around in the pocket. Lacks a consistent counter move to get free.

He struggles a bit to disengage from blocks when he's initially contained. Sam has a quick spin move back to the inside on occasion but relies on his speed and bull rushes, probably a bit too much. Definitely needs work on his hand technique as he gets locked up and doesn't break until the ball has passed him.

Montgomery has change of direction issues due to "stiff hips" and can be left in the dust by elusive ball-carriers. Will react late to cut blocks and too often is negated by them.

NFL COMPARISON: Andre Carter (Raiders), Lawrence Jackson (Lions)

NFLDraft Scout

VIDEOS

Sam Montgomery 2012 Highlights ᴴᴰ