Monty Montgomery had Division I dreams. He's close to reaching them with Louisville

Hutchinson Community College was never meant to be the final stop for Monty Montgomery.  

While at the junior college, where he was named 2018 Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year, all he thought about was leaving and getting a chance to play at the Division I level.  

It’s what motivated him every day.  

Even now, as he prepares for his first season at Louisville, it’s still what he thinks about. On Sept. 2, there’s a good chance he gets to play as an inside linebacker for the Cardinals.  

When he pictures playing in Cardinal Stadium, on national television, against No. 9 Notre Dame, he just imagines the plays he’s going to make.  

“I think about it every night. Making plays, just running around and just being with the guys,” he said.  

Read this:Inside Scott Satterfield's plan to rebuild Louisville from the ground up

Ask any linebacker on Louisville's roster who has stood out the most since fall camp and there’s a good chance Montgomery’s name will come up.  

Both Nick Okeke and Rodjay Burns raved about the junior college transfer that just got to campus at the start of fall camp.  

“He’s going to be something to reckon with,” Burns said.  

On just the third day of camp, Bryan Brown, Louisville’s defensive coordinator, was impressed as well.  

“He’s a guy who you are like, ‘Man,’” Brown said after the third practice. “You see him flash on the film a lot in the first two days, even in today’s practice.”  

Montgomery doesn’t think he’s doing anything out of the ordinary, though. Sitting in front of the Louisville media for the first time, he calmly said “I’m just running fast to the ball, flying around and making a few plays.”  

He’s doing more than that.  

Through his impressive performances throughout camp, he’s provided inside linebackers coach Dale Jones with a crucial piece to the team’s depth. CJ Avery and Dorian Etheridge are locks to start because of their talent, experience and leadership. But behind them, Jones said the team is light on depth.  

Also:Louisville football wide receivers embracing being 'FREAKS' as season nears

Montgomery, who is 5-foot-11 and 214 pounds, provides him with a fast, athletic body he can add to the depth chart.  

“He’s the kind of linebacker that we are looking for, a guy that can absolutely run,” Jones said.  

What’s also caught Jones’ eye is Montgomery’s focus on learning the defense. At the junior college level, Montgomery had assigned gaps that he had to fill. That’s changed.  

In Brown’s defensive scheme, Montgomery must know everything that is going on along with filling his gaps. He's spent the last few weeks learning the new scheme, as fast as possible. 

“For Monty, he has a lot of catching up to do, but he’s one of those guys that can do it,” Jones said. “He is outstanding in a lot of things and one is that he puts in the time to understand what we are doing which is very important.”  

Along with Montgomery, Avery and Etheridge, at inside linebacker, Jones said graduate transfer TJ Holl and sophomore Robert Hicks are battling for a spot. Ideally, though, Jones would like to have six players he could rotate in games.  

“We will have to get five or six guys ready. We are going to chase that ball,” Jones said. “There’s no way one guy can go in there and play and really no two guys will be able to, not for what we ask them to do. We have to run to be successful.”  

Related:Can Avery, Etheridge lead LBs to bounce back season in new scheme?

Running is one thing, Montgomery is very capable of doing.  

After spending a year in junior college, Montgomery will get his shot to make a difference for Louisville this season. With all the intangibles he brings to the table, it’ll be hard for Louisville to keep him off the field.  

“He’s one of those guys you have to get on the field,” Jones said. “He can play there’s no question. He makes an impact.” 

CUNNINGHAM BACK AT PRACTICE: After injuring his knee in the third practice of fall camp, Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham returned to practice on Wednesday.  

The dual-threat quarterback did not participate in either of Louisville’s two fall camp scrimmages, either, so he is behind on reps as the season nears.  

Earlier:With Cunningham sidelined, what does that mean for Louisville's QBs?

But, after Saturday’s scrimmage, Satterfield said “When Malik comes back he’ll be in the mix and competing for the job.”  

Cunningham and Jawon Pass, who many expect to be the starter when the season opens on Sept. 2, entered fall camp in a quarterback battle. Satterfield has not yet announced who will earn the start against Notre Dame.  

Cameron Teague Robinson CTeagueRob@gannett.com; Twitter: @cj_teague; Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.