NFL Draft: Is Stanford WR Ty Montgomery The Next Cordarrelle Patterson?

While briefly checking in on Stanford’s rout of UC Davis two weekends ago, I noticed an interesting stat after watching the Cardinal’s Senior receiver, Ty Montgomery, effortlessly return a punt for a score. That was his first time returning a punt ever. This stat alone peaked my interest enough to do some research on the Stanford stud.

After delving into the cut up of his UC Davis game, Montgomery’s skill set seemed awfully reminiscent to 2013 first round pick Cordarelle Patterson. Both are listed at WR on the depth chart but they would be better defined as an “OW” or “Offensive Weapon.” At virtually the same size, both Patterson and Montgomery are rare talents with their combination of vision, speed, power, and balance. This allows both offensive weapon’s the ability to play any skill position and explains why Patterson was 15th in the country in all purpose yards in 2012 and Montgomery was 10th in 2013. After finishing my viewing of five Stanford games from last season and this season, I was led to believe that Ty Montgomery will have a similar path to the NFL as a first or second rounder.

Vs. Oregon (2013)

• On a go route in the slot, Montgomery fails to create space between him and the defender which leads to an incomplete pass.
• He displays reliable hands
• On an end around, Montgomery takes the handoff and shows his cutting ability, vision, and power by gaining a first down inside Oregon’s five yard line.
• His exceptional vision and patience are exhibited when taking back a kickoff roughly fifty yards.

Vs. Washington (2013)

• On the initial kickoff of the game, Montgomery shows why he is the best return man in the business. He first has the patience to let blocks get set, then has the vision to find the holes in the defense, and finally uses his speed to hit the hole and accelerate to the endzone.
• Gains roughly twenty yards on another end around via his speed.
• Montgomery almost makes an improbable catch that is thrown way over his head. His jumping ability correlates directly to his athleticism.
• On a go route, Montgomery beats a top five CB in the upcoming draft class, Marcus Peters, with sheer speed for a 4o yard touchdown. He juggles the ball but ultimately makes the catch and the score.
• Montgomery exhibits outstanding balance and power when several Huskies struggle to tackle him in the open field on another kickoff return.
• He shows elusiveness when juking a corner and getting the first down.
• Once again, he brings another kickoff back roughly sixty yards using the same formula as before.

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With the First Pick

Vs. Utah (2013)

• On the first play, Montgomery uses his cutting ability to create separation from the corner. After making the catch he uses his power and elusiveness to break a tackle and go for an extra 20 yards.
• Like clockwork, he fields the kickoff in the Stanford endzone, slowly comes out of the endzone letting the blocks set, makes a cut and finds the hole. From there, he uses his wheels and houses yet another kickoff.
• On an end around, Montgomery finds himself surrounded by Utah defenders in the backfield but somehow gains positive yardage by juking a defender.
• Montgomery shows one of his weaknesses when running a post route. He is not the most polished route runner.
• After exhibiting average route running, he makes an unusual mistake and cuts toward the defender who wraps him up for a minimal gain.
• On yet another kick return, Montgomery sheds a tackle in powerful fashion.
• While trying to fight for more yards, a Utah defender strips the ball from Montgomery.
• Montgomery turns a screen into a huge gain. This play was all about vision.
• Show’s reliable hands on a couple of contested passes.

Vs. California (2013)

• With his first touch, Montgomery takes an end around to the end zone untouched with perfect blocking.
• With his second touch, Montgomery runs a go route from the slot and catches a touchdown pass. At this point, it just looks like he’s taking advantage of a terrible defense.
• With his third touch, Montgomery does what? You guessed it, scores another touchdown pass on an intermediate throw over the middle from Kevin Hogan.
• Yes, he is human. Montgomery drops a routine screen pass.
• On another screen pass, he has outstanding blocks set for him and scores yet another touchdown.
• Montgomery executes a double move perfectly to create separation from him and the corner and catches a perfectly placed pass from Hogan in the end zone.

Vs. UC Davis (2014)

• Executes a beautiful (first ever) punt return and takes it back to the house untouched.
• Shows out of bounds awareness while making a catch and making sure his feet are in bounds.
• Montgomery takes a screen pass to the house via exceptional speed and vision.

Going through the NFL Draft process should be a breeze for a premier talent like Ty Montgomery. He is a high character guy who has no off the field issues and is an a All American. A great receiver who also happens to be the best return man in the country will make Montgomery a hot commodity and likely a first round selection on Draft Day.