Momentum can be a powerful thing in sports. Once is starts, it can be difficult to stop. For John Carroll’s Ty Montgomery, momentum is building for the Division III All-America wide receiver being the first Blue Streaks football player drafted since 1991. It’s been a remarkable and storybook ris e to national prominence for Montgomery. A week ago, he was a small-school prospect with a little more than two years experience as football player willing to do whatever he could to get noticed. Today, he’s one of the fastest risers looking ahead to April’s NFL Draft. That became possible when Montgomery was invited to the Jan. 31 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., as the only D-III player in the game. John Carroll wide receiver Ty Montgomery during a Senior Bowl practice Jan. 29 in Mobile, Ala. (Butch Dill - The Associated Press) He took that invite to another level with a reported impressive week of practices. Montgomery created a social media buzz with impressive plays and moments against top-tier FBS talent. Related Articles John Carroll WR Ty Montgomery an immediate hit at Senior Bowl On game day Jan. 31, Montgomery suited up for the National team in the Senior Bowl as a final tune-up before one of two possibilities going forward: • An invite to the NFL Scouting Combine later this month in Indianapolis. • Or an invite to an FBS pro day. Montgomery told The News-Herald recently the University of Cincinnati might be an option. Montgomery is hopeful for a Combine invite, and his stock rising during practices in Mobile should help his cause. JCU head coach Brian Polian said this week he has been flooded with calls from NFL teams about Montgomery, who two weeks ago played in the American Bowl, a new all-star college game in Florida. His performance there led to an invite to the Senior Bowl. “The last two weeks have been exciting for Ty,” said Polian. “… We couldn’t be more excited for him. His work ethic, his attitude and athletic ability have allowed him to create a very positive impression on all the NFL personnel people at the Senior Bowl. Our hope is that he works himself into being a draft pick.” This past season at JCU, Montgomery said 28 NFL teams visited to get a peak at him. In Mobile, all 32 teams have talked to Montgomery. Brian Billick is the longtime Ravens coach who led Baltimore to a Super Bowl championship. He was one of the head coaches at the American Bowl, and was impressed with Montgomery up close. “You’re always looking for that moment, whether it’s here or another all-star game or the Combine,” said Billick on the American Bowl’s X handle. “Where is that moment where you look at this young man in a competitive environment?” Great conversation with @CoachBillick about the main man @TyMontgomery_4 at the American Bowl. Small school. Big Plays. Sky is the limit! pic.twitter.com/y26hXqDu6Q — The American Bowl (@TheAmericanBowl) January 31, 2026 Billick said that moment came during an American Bowl practice near the goal line on a fade route. “He did a Michael Jordan leap and just hung (in the air),” he said. “That was one of the most spectacular physical feats I’ve ever seen on a football field. … so you know the talent is there.” With just a few seasons of college experience to his name but tons of athletic ability, Billick believes the best is yet to come for Montgomery. “There’s this huge upside,” he said. “The curve is still going up with this kid.” JCU QB Nick Semptimphelter and Montgomery arrived in University Heights two years ago and helped the program to a 21-5 mark in two seasons. When they met, it didn’t take long for Montgomery to tell his QB the NFL was his dream. “At first, I was like ‘Wow,’ those are some pretty high ambitions for someone who hasn’t played a whole lot of football,” said Semptimphelter. “And then I got to witness to his day-to-day work ethic … He’s come a long way and his success is a great testament to his hard work.” Montgomery grew up a standout basketball player in Texas, and was good enough to make the LSU men’s basketball team as a walk-on. His last two seasons for JCU were the only two full football seasons of his career, which makes his rise as an NFL prospect all the more improbable. The last two seasons, Montgomery (who was listed a shade taller than 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds) proved any 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 was a consensus D-III All-America selection. The last JCU player selected in the NFL Draft was quarterback Larry Weinke of Benedictine. He was the last overall pick by the New York Giants in 1991. ...read more read less