Although he was a tight end for his Central Middle School team, JJ Montgomery showed a little versatility at last month’s Diamond Spring All-American Game.
Youth1.com called Montgomery, who played guard, “the best offensive lineman by a good margin” among the seventh-graders at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Montgomery, who also had two sacks and returned a fumble about 20 yards, was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Game.
Montgomery’s Red team won 33-0. The team practiced from noon to 6 p.m. each of the three days prior to the game.
“It was really fun, and it was a great learning experience,” Montgomery said. “I learned a lot about how different styles work together. I met many different people from many different states, and they all had a little bit different thoughts than I had. They taught me some of their thoughts, and I showed them some of mine, and we all kind of learned how to become better as one group.”
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Montgomery was supposed to play in two showcase games last fall but injured his calf and sprained an MCL. That caused him to miss most of basketball season, but he did return to throw the shot and discus and run sprints for Central’s track and field team this spring.
Montgomery plans to play high school football at Columbus North, where his father Jason is an assistant coach. JJ Montgomery wants to play college football and work in physical therapy or sports medicine.
This coming week, JJ Montgomery will travel to New Orleans to prepare for and play in the June 19 EPS All-American Game.
