The 2019 NFL Draft is flush with talent at running back. Iowa State standout David Montgomery has the potential to join Bryce Love in the star department.
The 2019 NFL Draft looks the part of an event that will continue to facilitate the resurgence of the running back. After the position took center stage at the 2018 NFL Draft, there projects to be an even stronger stream of talent at the top of the board next April.
While Stanford Cardinal star Bryce Love looks the part of the cream of the crop, one shouldn’t lose sight of the potential of one David Montgomery.
Montgomery has a chance to join Love as a potential first-round draft pick. He’s coming off of a breakout season in 2017, and he seems to fit the mold of a modern running back in the sense that he provides value both on the ground and through the air.
Though not a household name amongst casual fans, Montgomery may just be the most elusive player in all of college football.
Montgomery finished the 2017 season with 1,146 rushing yards for 11 touchdowns. He averaged a mere 4.4 yards per carry, but that’s the most misleading statistic imaginable when discussing what makes him special.
Montgomery produced the best elusive rating of any returning Big 12 running back in 2017 at a whopping 127.2.
Furthermore, Montgomery pulled in 36 receptions for 296 yards during the 2017 campaign. He had four games with at least five receptions, including the seven catches for 89 yards that he tallied against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Off of his 294 total touches, Montgomergy produced 108 missed tackles—the most of the Pro Football Focus era.
What a season it was for David Montgomery pic.twitter.com/I27NMthfj9
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 12, 2018
That’s as much of a reason to be intrigued by Montgomery’s potential as any.
Montgomergy forced 86 missed tackles on the ground alone, which ranked No. 1 amongst returning quarterbacks. Throw in the 22 missed tackles caused on 36 total receptions, and he’s become the epitome of a big play waiting to happen.
Give Montgomery an NFL-caliber offensive line and his production would improve dramatically—at both the professional and collegiate levels.
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If David Montgomery produces another strong season for the Iowa State Cyclones, he could secure a first-round grade at the 2019 NFL Draft.