Montgomery anchors the Dream Team defense.

The 2016 Walker County Football Dream Team Defense

It’s pretty safe to say that Butter is on a roll.

After earning second team All-Region status as a freshman, Ridgeland’s Markeith “Butter” Montgomery put up big numbers as a sophomore, including 97 tackles, six pass breakups, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Those totals earned him a boatload of honors, including All-Region first team status, All-State first team status by the Georgia Sports Writers Association (AP) and the Atlanta JournalConstitution and, of course, Walker County Defensive Player of the Year.

By the time prep work began for his junior season, Montgomery’s prodigious talents were no longer a secret, especially to opposing offensive coordinators who were hoping to avoid throwing the ball anywhere close to where No. 26 was on the field.

So Montgomery attempted to counter with a strategy of his own - by trading in No. 26 for No. 5.

“I tried to switch my numbers up and kind of disguise who I was, but the (other teams) still found out,” he grinned. “(Opposing teams) tried to stay away from me as much as possible. Some games they were able to and some they weren’t, but I was still able to make a few big plays.” More than a few. Montgomery finished the season with 84 tackles, 22 assists, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and eight pass break-ups as he helped the Panthers to a 9-2 season, a Region 6-AAAA title and the second round of the state playoffs.

Those numbers were enough to earn him Region Defensive Player of the Year status, Region Co-Player of the Year honors, a spot on the Class AAAA All-State team by RecruitGeorgia.com, a second straight Class AAAA All-State first team nod by the AJC, a second consecutive Class AAAA All-State first team selection by the AP and the Associated Press’ Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year award for the state – an honor only one other Ridgeland player, Vonn Bell, has ever won before.

And today, not so surprisingly, there’s one more honor as Montgomery has been selected as the Walker County Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight year.

“It feels great,” Montgomery said of his latest award. “I just went into the season with the attitude of getting after it and doing my best. I also got bigger and stronger in the weight room and that helped me to make bigger plays. More experience and a lot more film study helped too.”

While his eyepopping defensive statistics were enough to make high school experts around the state take notice, he also shone brightly on the offensive side of the ball as well.

Montgomery carried the ball 81 times for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns, caught three passes for 68 yards and completed his only pass of the year for a 35-yard touchdown. Just as impressively, he did not have a single fumble in any of the 85 touches he had on offense.

“He had a spectacular year on both sides of the ball and that was something great for us,” Ridgeland head coach Wesley Tankersley said. “We used him a lot more on offense this (past) season, because of the impact he makes on the game as a runner and a blocker. He really helped us win the region title.”

Tankersley said he could see big differences in the 170-pound sophomore Montgomery and the 180-pound junior Montgomery, both physically and mentally.

“He might not be the biggest guy out there, but he layed quite a few bone-crushing blocks on some bigger kids,” the coach continued. “He also recognized things a lot easier and he better understood what it was we were trying to do so he could help the younger guys line up in the right spots.

“He was more of a leader this year because of that experience and he was really unselfish. As a coach, you want kids who lead by example and that’s what Butter does.”

With one more season still to play in a Ridgeland uniform, Montgomery has a chance next season to do something that no other Panther football player has ever done - be named to the same All-State first team three years in a row.

More and more colleges are also starting to take a major interest in the 5-foot10 athlete with sub-4.5 speed. Clemson has been corresponding with Montgomery for nearly two years, but the United States Naval

Academy has joined the Butter Bandwagon, as have Tennessee and Georgia, who have also recently begun to take a much closer look.

But Montgomery says he’s in no hurry to make a decision on his college future. Instead, he’s already thinking about how good the Ridgeland secondary could be in 2017 as he, along with fellow starters and AllRegion picks Stephon Walker (first team), A’zavier Blackwell (second team) and C.J. Shackleford (honorable mention), return for another season with the Black and Silver.

“Next year, we’re going to have some surprises for everybody,” he added. “I can’t wait.”