Ty Montgomery’s improbable football journey continues to add chapters. The biggest chapter — getting drafted by an NFL team in a few months — has yet to be written, but the latest is significant. The All-America wide receiver from John Carroll — who played just three seasons of college footb all and never played in high school — has officially accepted an invitation for the Jan. 31 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. The news was posted Jan. 24 on social media. Officially Accepted! WR Tyren Montgomery (@TyMontgomery_4) from @JCUFootball is headed to the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl #TheDraftStartsInMobile #WherePlayersPlay pic.twitter.com/wsSsOijihJ — Panini Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 24, 2026 According to the JCU sports information department, Montgomery is the first player in program history to be selected to the Senior Bowl, which is regarded as the elite postseason all-star game for top-tier NFL draft prospects. It’s been a meteoric rise for the Texas native who was discovered by former Blue Streaks coach Jeff Behrman when a friend of Behrman recommended he take a chance on Montgomery a little less than three years ago. At the time, Montgomery — a former basketball player who walked on at LSU — was playing flag football in Florida. Behrman and the staff at JCU were drawn to Montgomery’s size (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) and athleticism. His 40-yard dash has been reportedly timed in the 4.6-second range. The last two seasons, Montgomery proved to any and all doubters he was a legit prospect at wide receiver. In 2024, he had 57 catches for 1,071 yards and 17 touchdowns. This past season was even better with 119 catches, 1,528 yards and 15 TDs, and he was a consensus Division III All-America selection during the Blue Streaks’ 12-2 season that resulted in a spot in the NCAA Division III national semifinal round. Now the big question is if Montgomery can become JCU’s first NFL draft selection since 1991, when quarterback Larry Weinke of Benedictine was the last overall pick by the Giants. On Jan. 22, Montgomery participated in the American Bowl, which debuted this season in Lakeland, Fla. It’s described as the third most prestigious all-star college game after the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl. Montgomery was the only Division III player at the American Bowl. Roster spots at the Senior Bowl for players from the lower levels are even more rare in Mobile. As of Jan. 24, there are no other D-III or D-II players listed on the Senior Bowl roster. ...read more read less