Jayden Montgomery’s path to Iowa’s starting linebacker spot started well before he was logging tackles in a Hawkeyes uniform.
The fifth-year defender from Suamico, Wisconsin, grew up around the program. His father played football at Iowa, his mother played volleyball there, and Montgomery says the Hawkeyes were part of his life from the beginning.
"My dad played football there, and my mom played volleyball, so for me growing up, I have always been a huge Iowa fan. I remember going to games as a kid, throwing the football around as a kid, and we've got pictures in our basement of all of us with jerseys on.
"When they offered me, it was a no-brainer. I didn't need to hear from anywhere else.
Iowa is home for me. It's where I wanted to be," Montgomery said about his Iowa background beginning at a young age.
That family connection is one reason his rise feels so natural. Iowa has a long track record of developing legacy players, and Montgomery fits that mold perfectly as he heads into his fifth season with the program.
On the field, he’s earned this opportunity. Montgomery played in all 13 games last season, made seven starts and finished with 44 total tackles. Now he’s positioned to become a major part of Phil Parker’s defense in 2026.
The challenge is bigger this time. Iowa is replacing nearly all of its production from the 2025 front seven, so Montgomery’s role carries real weight.
His game experience from last year matters, but so does the time he’s spent learning Parker’s system. With so many new faces around him, that familiarity could be just as valuable as the tackles.
The linebacker group around him is still taking shape in fall camp. Montgomery is expected to work alongside Cam Buffington, Preston Ries and Landyn Van Kekerix, all of whom are also set for extended action for the first time in their careers.
In Other News...
Tavion Banks Leaves Iowa With Ben McCollum Facing Another Roster Test
Tavion Banks is moving on after a one-year stop in Iowa City, announcing on Instagram that he will not return to the Hawkeyes despite still having another season of eligibility available. Banks, who transferred in from Drake, was one of Iowas more dependable contributors last season and made clear in his farewell message that he appreciated the coaching staff, teammates and fans for the time he spent in the program.
For Ben McCollum, it adds another roster decision point in a stretch where every exit matters. Iowa has already been working through the realities of a new era, and losing a player with Banks experience and production means more reshuffling is ahead as the Hawkeyes continue to shape next seasons rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Tavion Banks Just Left Iowa Fans Waiting On One Big Decision
A Colorado judges ruling this week opened the door for members of the 2022 recruiting class, including Tavion Banks, to gain an extra year of NCAA eligibility under the new five-year model. For Iowa, it keeps alive the possibility of bringing back a player who had already applied for a fifth year after exhausting his eligibility, and who had previously signaled a desire to return.
Banks, though, has not locked in that path. After the ruling, he made clear he is weighing the best basketball fit for next season, leaving his college future in flux and Iowa still waiting for a final answer on whether one more run in Iowa City is actually in the cards. [Read more 🡒]