Interior anchor at a program that manufactures NFL guards, returning to run it back with a healthier line in front of him. Montgomery arrived as a top-100 recruit (No. 3 at his position), won the left guard job, and enters 2026 as one of ESPN's top five guard prospects in the 2027 class — even as he admits the national conversation has not found him yet. The bet is pedigree plus a starting role in the sport's most pro-styled offensive line room, and his stated bar for the season is a bounce-back year for the whole unit. However, guard evaluations live on tape and hardware, and the resume is a returning starter's rather than a decorated one — no All-Big Ten recognition yet, no dominant season to point at. A commanding senior year in Columbus settles it. Day 2 grade in the 2027 class on trajectory, and the awards list needs to agree by December.