High School Sports

Georgia football freshman QB Ryan Montgomery almost back from high school knee injury

Kirby Smart spoke recently about what he’s learned this spring from true freshman QB Ryan Montgomery. His answer? Not so much. The Ohio native’s trajectory is still a work in progress. “I haven’t been able to see much with Ryan,” Smart said at a recent press conference. “You know, he’s coming off an ACL. That’s […]

Published

1 month ago

April 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Georgia football freshman QB Ryan Montgomery almost back from high school knee injury

Kirby Smart spoke recently about what he’s learned this spring from true freshman QB Ryan Montgomery.

His answer? Not so much. The Ohio native’s trajectory is still a work in progress.

“I haven’t been able to see much with Ryan,” Smart said at a recent press conference. “You know, he’s coming off an ACL. That’s not something [easy] for a kid [who’s not had] a long career to be able to do. We’re not asking him to do that. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He gets to throw some ball drills to receivers, but I can’t judge that. I mean, that’s not a real play.”

It appears that won’t be the case for much longer.

DawgNation has learned that Montgomery is making good progress recovering from a serious knee injury that robbed him of all but a few plays of his senior season on August 12 of last year. He had surgery on September 12. It was an ACL and MCL tear, with some meniscus repair also involved.

“I’m attacking [the rehab] every day,” Montgomery told DawgNation in November. “I’m the type of person that when I get fixated on something, that’s the only thing I am thinking about.”

“Just trying to get back as soon as possible. My goal was to be back 100 percent by spring ball. Obviously, that’s going to be a hefty goal. Especially with the meniscus and MCL being in the injury as well, so definitely a hefty goal, but I’m going to keep striving for that and do everything I can to have a slight chance to maybe be back fully for spring ball.”

That now puts him about six months out from surgery. ACLs normally take five to six months to come back from. ACL and MCL repairs generally trend to a six-to-nine-month timeline for a return.

Montgomery’s care has been led by the team surgeon for the Cleveland Browns. DawgNation was told he’s trending toward an ACL-only recovery here.

There’s more positive news to that timetable.

He’s started to ramp up this week to more involvement in practice in 7-on-7s, half 7-on-7 looks, and 1-on-1 routes on air. The only limitation is keeping him away from any potential drills that might involve contact to protect his knee at this time.

There won’t be any live pass rush. The smart move there is just to avoid any potential contact and anyone falling on his leg. He’s also running and lifting and doing all sorts of plyometrics at this time.

The expectation is that he will be able to “cut loose” well in advance of fall camp. Perhaps as early as late May or sometime in June. The goal is to have him practicing without a brace by the middle of the season, if not sooner.

“Chomping at the bit” would be the phrase that best describes his mindset. Montgomery is a grinder and an achiever. In all things. He’s shot a 78 on the links at his local country club. That’s a solid score for a high school senior, but he did that at the age of 12.

His father, Mike Montgomery, told DawgNation last fall he knew Ryan would attack this rehab with “his hair of fire” until he got back. It appears he is doing just that.

His knee injury came at the end of a 1-yard scramble. Montgomery was taken down by a hit that flipped him in the air.

A realistic goal for Montgomery for next season would be to claim the No. 3 spot on the depth chart at quarterback behind likely starter Gunner Stockton and backup Ryan Puglisi.

He’d battle preferred walk-on sophomore Colt Ginn and true freshman Hezekiah Millender-Hale for that role. Millender-Hale, a 3-star out of Clarke Central, was a part of the 2025 recruiting class with Montgomery.

Georgia freshman QB Ryan Montgomery was with the Bulldogs for the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame in New Orleans. He’s bouncing back nicely from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in the first game of his senior year in Ohio. (Jeff Sentell/ DawgNation) (Jeff Sentell/Dawgnation)

Did you know the weekly DawgNation.com “Before the Hedges” program is available as an Apple podcast? Click to check it out and download it.

How are things going for Ryan Montgomery at Georgia so far?

DawgNation also spoke to Montgomery’s long-time QB trainer about his progress. Brad Maendler, who has a long client list that includes Penn State starter Drew Allar, saw Montgomery throw recently when he came back home before spring drills.

“So first of all, I would say that clearly the Georgia weight room program is working well for him,” Maendler said while laughing. “You can already see. He was already a physically advanced kid, but he looks more like a man right now in a short amount of time.”

He also got to see Montgomery in action.

“He was doing movement things when I got there with one of the people he’s working with over there,” Maendler said. “I was surprised he was able to do some of the things he did. I was really pleased with that. He’s not going to do any hard cutting, but just kind of the movement things and the jumping it looked pretty darn good.”

“Velocity is looking good. I think it is just stamina right now. It is the thing he just hasn’t thrown a lot. He’s still learning to trust putting weight on that back leg. So it is a little less involved in creating a really good load with what you want to do to jump-start your velocity. It is loading that back glute and that hip joint. He’s just learning to trust that. He’s probably using more arm right now than he’s used to using because he’s usually such a high-level kind of hip thrower where the hips are doing most of the work. So the ball pops, but he just couldn’t go as long as he usually is able to go. That’s probably the biggest thing I saw.”

Montgomery came into this fall preparing but not settling for a redshirt season. He showed his long-term mindset on the day he announced his commitment to Georgia. That’s when he said, “for the next three to five years,” when declaring he was going to Georgia instead of the normal “three to four years” most elite recruits trot out these days.

He also picked up on Montgomery’s thoughts on his first few months as a Bulldog.

“He loves it there,” Maendler said.

The 6-foot-3 freshman completed 69 percent of his passes as a junior for 3,377 yards and 38 scores. He also ran for 257 yards and 10 scores on the ground en route to an 8-3 season. That boosted his career totals to 7,584 career passing yards and 89 touchdown passes in just three seasons of high school football.

He also told Maendler the mental load for a UGA quarterback is a lot. Georgia signal callers have to absorb and process a lot of information.

“He’s wired the right way,” Maendler said. “He’s built for this type of stuff. … He’s kind of a pro’s pro in that he doesn’t get super high and doesn’t get very low. I know that’s kind of cliche, but that’s exactly the way he is.”

“Even if he’s really down, you’re not going to see that. He’s just a really really steady guy.”

Have you subscribed to the DawgNation YouTube channel yet? If so, you will see special 1-on-1 content with key 2026 prospects like Tyler Atkinson, Lincoln Keyes, Brady Marchese and Kaiden Prothro

Have you seen this week’s “Before the Hedges” weekly recruiting special on YouTube yet? Check it out below.

SENTELL’S INTEL

(check on the recent reads on Georgia football recruiting)

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High School Sports

Camarillo vs. Oaks Christian highlights local games in softball playoffs

Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Camarillo vs. Oaks Christian highlights local games in softball playoffs

Two of the area’s top high school softball programs, coming off league races that pushed them to the brink, have received an imposing new obstacle.Each other.Camarillo (20-4) will visit Oaks Christian (20-4) in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs later this week.That was the marquee all-local matchup when 17 local teams were included the CIF-SS softball playoff field on Monday, May 12. All first-round games are set for Thursday, May 15.It will be the third time in the past decade the powers have faced each other in the postseason. Oaks Christian eliminated Camarillo in 2016 (6-1) and 2019 (10-4).Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

“It is what it is,” Camarillo coach Nichole Pinedo said.

The Scorpions are powered by a lineup that has slugged 52 home runs, including a team-high nine each by sophomore Jadyn Claycamp and freshman Khloie Hartman.

“We’re just solid all the way around,” Pinedo said. “I think we’re solid in the circle. We’re pretty good defensively. We have a pretty good hitting lineup.”

Camarillo is also 4-0 in one-run games, including several walk-offs.

“We’ve been able to clutch up at the end,” Pinedo said.

It will need it against an Oaks Christian program that survived a real challenge to share the Marmonte League title with Agoura.

“There was some learning challenges early in the year,” said Oaks Christian coach Cheyenne Coyle. “Right now, we’re playing some really good softball. They’ve gotten in a groove at the right time and hopefully we can continue that in the postseason.”

Junior Terrianna Kelley is hitting .443 with four home runs, 34 runs scored and 26 RBIs for the Lions. Junior Giabella Otani is hitting .450 with five home runs and 27 RBIs.

Terrianna Kelley has been a force at the plate for Oaks Christian.

This is the first season CIF-SS is using in-season ratings to seed its postseason divisions. Both Pinedo and Coyle were surprised Division 1 included 30 teams, rather than the traditional 16.

That means the winner will be hit the road to face top-seeded Norco in the second round.

“I don’t understand the system,” Pinedo said.

Said Coyle: “I never know how any of it works.”

The CIF-SS included 252 teams across eight divisions. All are vying for a chance to play for sectional titles at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on May 30 or 31.

Agoura was the lone local team to earn a top-4 seed. The Marmonte League co-champion is seeded third in Division 2.

Westlake (15-12) and Royal (12-11), both in Division 2 as well, were the two local teams to earn at-large berths.

Coastal Canyon League champion Moorpark (16-5) will host Millikan (19-8), Thousand Oaks (19-7-1) will host Capistrano Valley (17-10), Agoura (16-11) will host Ganesha (21-5-1), and Simi Valley (17-8-1) will visit Vista Murrieta (17-11) in Division 2.

In Division 3, Channel League champion Oxnard (17-9-1) will visit San Clemente (20-7-1), Royal (12-11) will visit Citrus Valley (17-10), Rio Mesa (16-9) will visit Aquinas (17-10), and Westlake (15-13) will host Schurr (21-5-1).

Ventura (17-5) will host Quartz Hill (17-7) in Division 4.

Tri-Valley co-champions St. Bonaventure (13-11) and Grace (13-4) will host Riverside Prep (16-9) and University Prep (18-5), respectively, in Division 5.

Citrus Coast League co-champion Santa Paula (10-11) will visit Katella (12-13) and Santa Clara (8-5) will visit San Jacinto (10-12) in Division 6.

Citrus Coast League co-champion Fillmore (11-8) will host Santa Ana (17-4-2) in Division 7.

Hueneme (6-15) will host Pomona Catholic (5-9) in Division 8.

Joe Curley covers softball for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.

High School Sports

Highlights From the 2025 Horizon League Outdoor Championships

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Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Highlights From the 2025 Horizon League Outdoor Championships

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High School Sports

Freshman Ashley Polanco scores long

Benet Academy girls soccer celebrated Senior Night in style with a 5-0 shutout over Montini — but it was freshman, Ashley Polanco, who delivered our Girls Play of the Week! This play is presented by Trunnell Insurance. Ashley Polanco scores from 30 yards out for Benet Academy Soccer Audrey Eiseman attacks the Bronco defense and dishes […]

Published

4 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Benet Academy girls soccer celebrated Senior Night in style with a 5-0 shutout over Montini — but it was freshman, Ashley Polanco, who delivered our Girls Play of the Week! This play is presented by Trunnell Insurance.

Ashley Polanco scores from 30 yards out for Benet Academy Soccer

Audrey Eiseman attacks the Bronco defense and dishes it off to freshman Ashley Polanco, who weaves through multiple defenders and fires a leaning cross-body shot into the back of the net! It gives the Redwings a 2-0 lead — and this one’s worth slowing down for another look!

Benet would go on to clinch the ESCC title with the 5-0 victory.

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High School Sports

Simi Valley vs. Ventura highlights local games in CIF

Published

5 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Simi Valley vs. Ventura highlights local games in CIF

The Simi Valley High baseball team has been impatiently awaiting the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.As hot the Pioneers were to end the regular season, when they won the final 14 games to come from behind and edge rival Royal in an unforgettable Coastal Canyon League race, rest was the last thing on their mind this week.“I wish we didn’t have such a big layoff,” Simi Valley coach Scott Vermette said.Simi Valley was the second seed and Marmonte League co-champion Oaks Christian was the third seed in the Division 2 baseball field, which included five local teams, when CIF-SS announced its postseason pairings on Monday, May 12.“We feel like we can deal with anybody,” Vermette said before the pairings were announced. “We’re feeling really good going into this thing, obviously with a 14-game winning streak.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

“But you know it’s just a start for us. We’re not looking just to go to the first round of the playoffs. We’re looking to continue our winning streak and you know just play good baseball.”

Simi Valley enters the postseason with a pair of junior aces in Kyle Casey (8-0, 1.02 ERA) and Jackson Goshorn (8-2, 1.49).

Kyle Casey went 8-0 with a miniscule 1.02 ERA during the regular season for Simi Valley.

The Pioneers have been led offensively by Evan Rodriguez, who is hitting .432 with 10 doubles and a triple. The sophomore delivered the walk-off hit in the 3-2, title-deciding win over Royal.

Simi Valley (22-5) will host Ventura (21-6-1) in an all-county first-round matchup on Friday, May 16.

The Cougars also finished the regular season hot, winning their last 10 and 15 of their last 16 to split the Channel League title with Santa Barbara.

Senior Josh Woodworth is hitting .380 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. Senior Wylan Nelson is hitting .388 with five home runs and 35 runs scored. Both are big cogs in a pitching staff that boasts a 1.33 ERA.

Wylan Nelson is a star on the mound and at the plate for Ventura High.

Pacifica was seeded fourth in Division 4. Channel Islands was the top seed in Division 7.

Thousand Oaks (15-12) and Grace (11-11-2) were the two local teams to earn at-large berth berths in Divisions 4 and 7, respectively.

The CIF-SS seeded 280 teams across nine divisions. First-round games are Thursday, May 15, for Divisions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 and Friday, May 16, for Divisions 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Section finals are scheduled for May 30-31 at Cal State Fullerton’s Goodwin Field and Blair Field in Long Beach.

In the other three local games in Division 2, Royal (22-6) will host Sultana (21-3-1), Oaks Christian (19-8) will host Redlands East Valley (20-8), and Westlake (20-8) will visit San Clemente (18-10).

Calabasas (17-11) will host San Dimas (15-10) in Division 3.

In Division 4, Pacifica (19-9) will host California (20-8) and Thousand Oaks (15-12) will host La Quinta (16-12).

In Division 5, Citrus Coast League champion Santa Paula (14-11) will visit Liberty (11-11), Camarillo (12-16) will host Orange Vista (14-12), and Hueneme (17-8) will visit Riverside Poly (14-11).

Tri-Valley League champion St. Bonaventure (14-14) will host Pasadena (10-13-1) and Foothill Tech (14-13) will host South El Monte (19-7) in Division 6.

In Division 7, Channel Islands (12-13) will host Coachella Valley (11-8), Grace (11-11-2) will visit Vasquez (16-8), and Thacher (9-7) will visit Riverside-Notre Dame (17-9)

Fillmore’s $4.4 million Booty Sanchez Varsity Baseball Field will host the postseason in its inaugural season. The Flashes (9-17) will play San Maria-Valley Christian (9-6) in Division 8.

CIF-SS expanded its postseason to a ninth division this spring and two local teams are part of that bracket.

Beacon Hill (4-3) will visit Twentynine Palm (9-8) and Ojai Valley (10-6) will visit Animo Leadership (13-13) in the first Division 9 playoffs.

Joe Curley covers baseball for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.

High School Sports

Highlights

After a 5-0 upset loss to Eagle on Friday, the Storm responded with three consecutive wins Saturday to secure the 6A baseball regional title. Author: ktvb.com Published: 1:00 PM MDT May 12, 2025 Updated: 1:00 PM MDT May 12, 2025 1

Published

6 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

After a 5-0 upset loss to Eagle on Friday, the Storm responded with three consecutive wins Saturday to secure the 6A baseball regional title.

High School Sports

2025 Jaguars Prep All Prep Top 25 Announced

The Top 25 high school girls flag football players were chosen by Florida High School Football based on their on- and off-the-field achievements and are considered the best at their positions. The 2025 Coach of the Year and Player of the Year were also recognized at this ceremony. John Staples, Head Coach at Bradford High […]

Published

7 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

2025 Jaguars Prep All Prep Top 25 Announced

The Top 25 high school girls flag football players were chosen by Florida High School Football based on their on- and off-the-field achievements and are considered the best at their positions.

The 2025 Coach of the Year and Player of the Year were also recognized at this ceremony. John Staples, Head Coach at Bradford High School, was named the Jaguars 2025 Girls Flag Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, Bradford quickly became a state championship contender, capturing back-to-back district titles, and in 2025 earning the program’s first two playoff victories and advancing the Tornadoes to their first-ever regional final. When Staples took over the program, the team had not scored a single point the previous season. Now, over the last four seasons, his current record at Bradford stands at an impressive 33–8. Coach Staples was awarded a pair of custom cleats, plus a $2,500 grant for the Bradford High School athletic program.

Fletcher High School QB Jasmine Cross was named the Jaguars 2025 Girls ALL-PREP Flag Football Player of the Year. Jasmine is a two-time ALL-PREP athlete and led her team to the Gateway Conference Championship and District 3A-3 Championship. Her undeniable skill cemented her as a four-year starter and captain. Jasmine passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards, and she was responsible for most of the team’s touchdowns, accounting for nearly 40 scores while leading her team through one of the most challenging schedules in program history.