FRANKLIN, Ohio – Franklin standout running back Ryan Montgomery gave a verbal commitment to the University of Cincinnati football program Wednesday.
Montgomery, who is 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, rushed for 740 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Wildcats (5-1, 1-1 Southwestern Buckeye League – Southwestern Division) this season.
He is the 19th commit in the 2018 class, according to Bearcat Journal.
Montgomery was hurt during last week’s 55-27 win at Waynesville and is out for the remainder of the season, according to Franklin coach Brad Childers.
Childers said Montgomery will sign early in December and enroll at UC in January.
“He’s only 17 years old,” Childers said. “There is a lot of growth ahead for this kid.”
Franklin is No. 2 in the OHSAA Division III, Region 12 computer ratings. Longtime projections analyst Steve Shuck has predicted the Wildcats will host a first-round playoff game.
Montgomery, named the TriStateFootball.com 2016 Dayton Offensive Player of the Year, had 18 scholarship offers during the recruiting process, according to Childers.
“UC is a great fit because he offers the ability to run the ball and catch it out of the backfield,” Childers said. “(UC is) somewhere he always had his eye on as a kid. Most importantly, it’s about the people and the culture. Coach (Luke) Fickell, Coach Gino (Guidugli) and Coach (Marcus) Freeman were great during the process. They are a class act.”
UC(2-3) plays host to Central Florida (3-0) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium on ESPNU.
