Legacy Recruit Jayden Montgomery Building Bond with Iowa Football

Jerry Montgomery played at Iowa for Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz. He then started his coaching career there. His wife, Natalie, also attended the university.

They love the Hawkeyes. And they could be cheering on one of them in the not-to-distant future.

Their son, Jayden Montgomery, is being recruited by Ferentz and staff. He’s a Class of 2022 linebacker who heard from them on Tuesday when college coaches could make direct contact with high school juniors according to NCAA rules.

“I have a strong relationship with Iowa. We have talked quite a few times over the last year since I went to camp (there during summer of 2019),” Jayden told HN.

Jerry Montgomery coaches the Green Bat Packers defensive line after stops at Northern Iowa, Wyoming, Indiana, Michigan and Oklahoma. Jayden plays for Bay Port High, which sent current offensive lineman Jack Plumb to the Hawkeyes as a member of the ’18 Class.

Jayden Montgomery reports scholarship offers from Northern Iowa and Princeton. He’s hoping Iowa jumps in with one but it will have wait until the spring to evaluate him further. Bay Port postponed its fall season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Talking to the (Hawkeye) coaches, they really like everything that I bring to the table as far as a football player and a person. They love my athletic ability and movement skills. They have said that I am a guy they are definitely going to continue to watch grow, and they are looking for some more film from this upcoming year,” Jayden said.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder visited Iowa with his family for the program’s upset of previously unbeaten Minnesota last November.

“I had an awesome visit last year. One of my favorite parts of the visit was seeing the weight room. It is one of the biggest I have seen from all my visits, which I love. Another thing that stuck out there was the game-day atmosphere. The fans were loud and the place was awesome,” Jayden said.

Assistant Tim Polasek recruits Wisconsin for the Hawkeyes and is leading their pursuit of Montgomery. Jayden also knows special teams coach LeVar Woods, who played at Iowa with Jerry Montgomery.

“So far, the main coach I have talked to is coach Polasek, but I have talked to coach Woods some when I was at camp and when I took a visit,” Jayden said.

His connection to Iowa creates excitement with it having interest in him.

“With both my parents going to Iowa and having a lot of family living there, I’ve always been a big fan of the Hawks. It’s cool to now see one of the teams I grew up watching on TV reaching out and looking to potentially have me on their team,” Jayden said.

He benefits from having a father who’s familiar Hawkeye football.

“He has spoken very highly of the staff there and loves what they produce as a program,” Jayden said.

Big Ten West Division rival Wisconsin also played host to him for a visit last season. The Badgers have continued showing interest.

“Wisconsin is still looking to see some more film from this season, but they also love the way I move and what I can do on the field,” Jayden said.

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Academics will play a big role in his college decision. He boasts a 4.0 GPA and ranks 12th in his class of 471 students.

“I am not totally sure on what I want to study in college, but I have been looking into the fields of athletic training and physical therapy,” he said.

Jayden Montgomery earned first-team all-conference laurels as a sophomore after totaling 80 tackles (11 for loss) and three sacks.

Here’s a look at his highlights from last fall: