Ridgeland’s Markeith Montgomery pledges to Kennesaw State for football
After being courted by his share of Division I college football programs, rising Ridgeland senior Markeith “Butter” Montgomery has finally decided exactly who he wants to dance with for the next four years.
Montgomery made it official on Saturday by announcing via social media that he plans to sign with and attend Kennesaw State once his days as a Panther are over.
“My dream was to play DI ball,” he said via Twitter. “And after long thought and prayer, I have decided to commit to Kennesaw State University to continue my career as a student-athlete.”
The Owls will begin their third season of football this fall. They went 6-5 overall and 2-4 in Big South Conference play in their debut season of 2015. Last season, they improved to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
“It’s a program that’s on the comeup,” Montgomery said. “They’ve improved every year and that’s one of the main reasons I committed. They want to do it big on the DI level and I want to be a part of that.”
After earning second team All-Region status as a freshman, 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 (GSWA) and the Atlanta JournalConstitution and, of course, Walker County Defensive Player of the Year.
This past season, he finished with 84 tackles, 22 assists, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and eight pass break-ups as he helped Ridgeland 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 CoPlayer of the Year honors (with Heritage quarterback Corbee Wilson, a Berry College signee), 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 and a second consecutive Class AAAA All-State first team selection by the GSWA.
He was also named as the Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year by the GSWA – an honor only one other Ridgeland player, Vonn Bell, has ever won before. Bell went on to become an AllAmerican at Ohio State and was drafted in the second round by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints in 2016.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder also carried the ball 81 times for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall, 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.
Montgomery is the first KSU commitment for 2018. He also had offers from Mercer, Chattanooga, the Citadel, Wofford, Central Michigan, Air Force, Army, Navy, Austin Peay, Jacksonville and Florida Atlantic.
“(Kennesaw State’s) head coach was the only head coach to visit me in person and that meant a lot for him to show that kind of support,” Montgomery said. “I also wanted to be close to home so my parents could come watch me play.”
Montgomery said the Owls currently have him listed as an athlete, but said he is willing to do whatever he can and play wherever he’s needed in order to help the program.
Ridgeland head coach Wesley Tankersley said that Montgomery’s versatility is a big plus in his favor.
“In talking to their head coach, I think they’ll probably end up playing him on defense,” Tankersley said. “But right now, their offensive and defensive coordinators are kind of fighting over him, which is better for Butter. It will give him more opportunities to get a lot of playing time.”
Montgomery is also a top-notch student in the classroom with a grade point average just a few tenths below his 4.41 40yard time.
“I’m definitely proud of him and everything he’s accomplished so far, on the field and in the classroom,” Tankersley added. “He got a lot of offers, but that wasn’t just because of his abilities on the field. He sets a good example to the rest of the players that you can do impressive things both athletically and academically. It’s a testament to him.”
He becomes the second Ridgeland football player to commit to a Division I program this off-season, joining rising senior running back Jalyn Shelton, who pledged to Navy.