Luke Montgomery is one of the most eloquent players on Ohio State’s roster. But when it came time to lay out his objectives for this season, he kept things blunt.
“I just want to put people in the dirt and have fun,” Montgomery said on Tuesday. “I'm looking to take out ribs and I'm looking just to put people in the dirt every single play.”
Montgomery capitalized on his opportunity to put defensive tackles in the dirt during the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff title run in 2024, and his role heading into his third collegiate season has quickly ascended from backup to rotational piece to starter to leader.
“I take a lot of pride in that (vocal leadership),” Montgomery said. “I'm a pretty social guy, I haven't really met a stranger. I love making football fun, and I enjoy just being able to talk and have energy and bring energy to the game. So it’s been pretty cool so far.”
Nothing went to Montgomery’s plan during the regular portion of Ohio State’s season. He entered spring practice in competition to start at right guard after sliding inside from tackle, but Tegra Tshabola quickly assumed the job come preseason camp.
When left guard Donovan Jackson had to miss time early in the season, it was a different second-year, Austin Siereveld, who got the nod over Montgomery. Siereveld continued rotating with Tshabola after Jackson’s return and when Jackson slid out to left tackle to replace an injured Josh Simmons, with Carson Hinzman getting the next shot at left guard.
Siereveld and Tshabola were the guard tandem when Hinzman moved to center following another season-ending injury to Seth McLaughlin. Montgomery watched from the sideline as the Buckeyes lost to Michigan. When he got his chance in the first round of the CFP against Tennessee, those frustrations fueled him.
“If I'm being honest with you, I was just pretty pissed off that I didn't get a chance before,” Montgomery said. “So I just was kind of like, here's what I'm gonna do. Here's how I'm gonna play. And we're gonna go from here.”
Montgomery (No. 51) put some people in the dirt.
Luke Montgomery HOLY COW pic.twitter.com/xS86qYc4O9
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) December 22, 2024
Montgomery rotated with Siereveld at left guard, who also rotated with Tshabola at right guard, in the first two games of the CFP. By the semifinals against Texas, he’d taken over at left guard full-time. Ultimately, he was glad his coaches heard him out when he told them he wanted his shot.
“That's what it comes down to, is just having those conversations with your coaches, ‘cause that's what they're here for, and I just wanted to pick their brains and what they saw and why I didn't get a chance,” Montgomery said. “But it was great. I mean, that's what you gotta do. ... You're not gonna know anything if you don't go in there and ask. So I thank them a lot for having those conversations with me and being able to open their ears, being open in mind as well.”
Hinzman, Tshabola, Siereveld and Montgomery give the Buckeyes a quartet of linemen with CFP experience returning in 2025. The next level for Montgomery, as with all of them, comes with refinement at one of the most developmental positions in football.
“I think just trying to become technicians,” offensive line coach Tyler Bowen said. “I think once you play significant snaps in games, and especially the games they played in, they know what it takes to be ready at a high, high level. And I think they self-reflect and think, was I ready to play at my highest level, or is there more in the tank? And I think they’d both tell you there's more in the tank. So just how they've approached, not only in the weight room, not only in agility and all the things that they do, but how they've approached their technique, you see it showing up every day.”
Montgomery continued adding mass this offseason to give him more punch on the interior. It’s not mass he plans to keep when his playing career is over a long time down the line, but alongside his leadership and confidence, it’s been a major improvement since he first arrived on campus.
“I think I'm just stronger in my lower body and my hips,” Montgomery said. “Going against big guys like K-Mac and stuff every day, obviously, that takes time to be able to use your whole body and stuff like that, but I've felt a tremendous change the last two, three years. I'm probably 313 (pounds) right now, and I came in at 278. And I feel as good as I did at 278, so that's the best part. But when I'm done playing, I'm gonna be like 240.”
Ohio State’s leaders from last year on the offensive line are at the launchpad of their NFL journeys now. But every day, Montgomery finds more footing walking in their shoes.
“That's been pretty weird because those are the guys that have really helped me in my years, growing and just getting better and developing,” Montgomery said. “And obviously, when you step into a role as a leadership standpoint, I don't think it hits you instantly. But as camp has gone on, it's really hit me and it's been pretty cool to just be able to help the young guys out like they did to me.”
