- Indiana
STATE CHAMPS! SCOUT TEAM: Indiana football notebook >> Montgomery makes it Mizzou, DeGraaf rolls with the Redbirds
The SEC beckons for Pike’s Grim Reaper.
Indianapolis Pike senior defensive end Kyran Montgomery committed to Missouri last weekend. He chose the Tigers over Minnesota of the Big Ten and Florida State of the ACC (among another 30 offers).
Montgomery (6-foot-4, 260 pounds), nicknamed the Grim Reaper by his teammates for putting opposing field generals in the ground, is considered a three-star recruit and has logged 20 tackles, two sacks and five hurries so far this season. Last year, he recorded 100 wrap-ups and seven sacks. Pike is 2-1 out of the gate in 2020 after a disappointing 1-9 campaign in 2019.
A Journey Through The Midwest
Center Grove senior offensive lineman Carter DeGraaf committed to Illinois State Sunday morning, allowing him to play in three different states in three straight seasons on the gridiron. DeGraaf (6-6, 310) played in Michigan last fall at Hudsonville where his club won a district title (equivalent to a sectional crown in the IHSAA) before returning in the offseason to Center Grove, where he played as a freshman and sophomore.
Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Army were all in hot pursuit of his services at the next level as well. The ISU Redbirds (10-5) appeared in the FCS Quarterfinals last year.
Cleared For Takeoff
New Palestine senior linemen Matt Brown and Ethan Sturgeon both decided to fly high for their college ball and committed to Air Force together back in the summer. Brown (6-4, 250 DE) and Sturgeon (6-4, 290 OG) helped New Palestine to repeat 5A state championships the last two seasons. Brown posted 55 tackles (11 for lost yardage), six sacks and eight hurries in 2019’s championship run.
Recent offers of note
• Indianapolis Brebeuf junior defensive end Joe Strickland snagged a Stanford offer.
• Charlestown junior offensive lineman Kiyaunta Goodwin, a Blue Chip transfer from Kentucky, just got an offer from Indiana.
• Lawrence North junior wide receiver Omar Cooper picked up his fourth star on the recruiting board and a Michigan State offer.
Brownsburg breakouts
Senior wide receiver Luke Lacey and sophomore tailback Caleb Marcus are looking mighty good for Brownsburg in its 3-0 start.
Lacey (6-1, 180 could be the most underrated pass catcher in the state. He’s the definition of surehanded, an excellent route runner and can make defenders miss in the open field. This fall, he’s caught 20 passes and four touchdowns already. Because he’s such a great student, the Ivy Leagues are his heaviest suitors. As a junior, he registered almost 600 yards receiving and hauled in nine scoring grabs.
Marcus (6-0, 175) is averaging 6 yards per carry and has three scores on the ground. Scouts like his natural elusiveness, instincts in reading blocks and ability to catch the ball in the flat and make things happen. His brother used to star in the backfield at Brownsburg and now plays at Ball State.
