Iowa’s linebacker room keeps churning out big names, and Jayden Montgomery is the next Hawkeye getting a spotlight of his own.
The latest sign of that came when Montgomery was added to the Butkus Award Watch List, a notable nod for a player who spent much of his early career in a reserve role before breaking through last season. Iowa has leaned on elite linebacker play for years, with Jack Campbell and Jay Higgins leading the way and both now in the NFL.
Before them, Josey Jewell set the standard, and Campbell later pulled off the rare feat of winning the Butkus Award at both the college and NFL level. Now Montgomery gets a chance to put himself in that kind of company.
Montgomery’s rise really took off last season, when injuries forced changes in the middle of the defense. Jaden Harrell battled health issues, and Montgomery stepped in and made the most of the opportunity.
He appeared in all 13 games, made seven starts, and finished with 44 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups. By the ReliaQuest Bowl, he had become the full-time starter, and he’s projected to open this season in that role.
Kirk Ferentz does not usually make a habit of changing course in the middle of a season, but Montgomery played well enough that the staff had little choice. Harrell’s injuries opened the door, and the defense kept rolling with Montgomery in the lineup. Cam Buffington is expected to cut into some of those snaps, but Montgomery enters the year as the starter.
That watch-list recognition also says plenty about where he stands inside the defense. Montgomery is now the clear leader of a linebacker group that should be one of Iowa’s deepest units.
Buffington, Derek Weisskopf, and Landyn Van Kekerix are all in the mix, and first-year players Julian Mason and Billy Weivoda could also get involved. Even with some uncertainty up front on the defensive line, the middle of the defense looks secure.
That matters because Iowa’s schedule starts fast and stays unforgiving. The Hawkeyes face Michigan on Sept.
26, Ohio State on Oct. 3, Washington on Oct.
9, Minnesota on Oct. 24, and Wisconsin on Oct. 31.
With a first-year starter at quarterback, the defense may be asked to carry a heavy load right away. If that unit slips, Iowa could find itself in trouble quickly during that stretch.
Montgomery’s role will be central to all of it. After last season’s breakout, he now has a real chance to turn that momentum into something bigger, with the potential to emerge as one of the Big Ten’s best linebackers.
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Iowa Fans Finally Get A Real Look At Camp's Biggest Battle
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The wideouts bring a fresh layer of intrigue, especially with new transfer Tony Diaz expected to be in the spotlight, and the practice should offer at least a clearer sense of how the pieces are fitting together. Even so, coaches and early camp observations have suggested this is more of a checkpoint than a finish line, so fans should leave Kinnick with plenty of impressions but not a final verdict on Iowas most important battles. [Read more 🡒]