QB recruit Ryan Montgomery impressed by Rattler, plans closer look at USC this fall

Class of 2025 quarterback recruit Ryan Montgomery of Findlay, Ohio broke his high school’s single game passing record last Friday night with 491 yards, completing 32 of 37 attempts with six touchdown passes. He broke the record previously owned by former NFL star Ben Roethlisberger.

The next day, Montgomery was in Charlotte to watch South Carolina take on North Carolina — with a focus on Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler.

Rattler did not disappoint, completing 30 of 39 passes for 353 yards despite being sacked nine times and having no running game whatsoever to lean on.

Montgomery’s father, Mike, did not make the Charlotte trip because he and his wife went to the Ohio State game to watch another son play for the Buckeyes, but he got the full report on the USC game from Ryan.

“It was a great trip, an easy trip flying into Charlotte about an hour flight from here,” Mike Montgomery said. “The only bummer was you’re not allowed to go on the field because the NCAA rules, being a neutral site, and you’re not allowed to talk to the coaches at the game.

“Focusing on the positive, I think Rattler played awesome. Ryan was really impressed with (Drake) Maye and Rattler, but he was a little more focused on South Carolina because of his high interest with those guys. Spencer got hit so much and was in lot of duress. He still had really good statistics and showed that if they can shore up that line, they’re going to throw around the yard, which is kind of what we thought based on conversations we’ve had with Dowell (Loggains) in the past and his track record that they are going to be pretty high profile off it. They’ve just got to get healthy and get the right guys blocking for him.”

Recruiters are natural worriers, more so following a loss. Loggains, USC’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, made sure to give Ryan Montgomery a call on Sunday, and head coach Shane Beamer talked to him Wednesday night. Mike Montgomery said both calls went well.

“We’re not the type to worry about a loss,” Montgomery said. “Now, if a team has a losing season, that would raise eyebrows. Not just them but anybody. But the first game, I anticipate them bouncing back. We are planning on going to the Florida game in October and doing a really deep dive there as far as seeing the atmosphere at Williams-Brice Stadium and spending a lot of time with those guys on Sunday because Saturday is a whirlwind with the game. That will be a big deal for us.

“They have done everything right. I would say Dowell is in the top three for Ryan as far as consistent communication and guys that he clicks with. That pro background is super appealing because he’s lived it and done it. He’s going to help Rattler’s draft status go up, I’m convinced of it based on that offense, and obviously he’s super talented. He’s just a great, great guy. I know Ryan is a big fan of Shane’s. That work-hard, play-hard mentality, you can still have fun but work your tail off. He’s been impressed with both of those guys. I probably thing he talks to Shane maybe more than any other head coach. That’s only a handful of times but I still think that’s a big deal compared to other head coaches who are recruiting him a little bit here and there.”

South Carolina and Florida have been two of the strongest programs with Ryan Montgomery to this point of his recruitment. Now, a third SEC member has moved into the picture and will get a strong look.

“We’ve actually had Auburn come on pretty hard as of late,” Montgomery said. “We’re taking a pretty hard look at going to the Georgia game at the end of the month at Auburn, which will be our first trip there. I just think based on Phillip’s background (OC/QB coach Phillip Montgomery), but also (head coach) Hugh (Freeze) with quarterbacks and high-profile offenses, that it’s worth our time to investigate that as well. There will be others, but we’re going to leave those up, or do we need to go back to those three schools, do we add a new school? We’re kind of leaving the back half of October and November open. There will be other visits for sure, just nothing locked in.”

Auburn is trying to crash the party of a top five Montgomery named last month of USC, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Penn State.