PODCAST: Thoughts on the futures of Montgomery/Butler
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
- Start date
DM probably needs to go. RB careers are just too short to have him spend another year in Ames. He would be the perfect replacement for Kareem Hunt in KC and I bet the Chiefs already have their eye on him.
HB might actually be the bigger loss, but I think he is ready.
HB might actually be the bigger loss, but I think he is ready.
Think of it this way. DM going is essentially what gave us Hall and Brock. If ISU can continually put running backs in the NFL, just imagine how pissed Hawk fans will be with their talented OL every year and no great running back recruits to show for it.
I'm not one to say a player "should" go pro. That's up to the individual player. I instead focus on the marginal benefit of returning, and how the player's motive for returning affects that benefit.
Given each player's position and current scouting reports, Butler stands to improve his stock if he can come back and show he can cut down on the drops. He's probably a third or fourth rounder right now, and receivers go in the first round much more frequently than running backs these days. So there's definitely a potential NFL benefit for Butler to come back.
Montgomery, on the other hand, isn't likely to improve on his weaknesses by coming back. He's a very technically sound player, but probably lacks the athleticism to improve his stock beyond the third or fourth rounds, which is where he's already projected. NFL teams are now rarely spending first rounds picks for any but the truly prodigious talents (Gurley, Barkley, McCaffrey, Fournette, Zeke, etc.). They know they can get guys like Alvin Kamara, Tarik Cohen, Kareem Hunt, Lamar Miller, James Conner, etc. in the middle rounds. That's the kind of guy Montgomery would be in the NFL: valuable, productive, but able to be had without spending a first or second round pick.
If Montgomery wants to come back (whether it's because he wants to graduate, or he just loves the college experience, or just wants to play one more year with his guys, whatever), he should, because he can get what he wants by coming back. But he shouldn't come back under the impression that he can improve his draft stock. Because he's likely peaked in that regard, and he's just wasting a year of mileage on his legs if that's why he comes back.
Given each player's position and current scouting reports, Butler stands to improve his stock if he can come back and show he can cut down on the drops. He's probably a third or fourth rounder right now, and receivers go in the first round much more frequently than running backs these days. So there's definitely a potential NFL benefit for Butler to come back.
Montgomery, on the other hand, isn't likely to improve on his weaknesses by coming back. He's a very technically sound player, but probably lacks the athleticism to improve his stock beyond the third or fourth rounds, which is where he's already projected. NFL teams are now rarely spending first rounds picks for any but the truly prodigious talents (Gurley, Barkley, McCaffrey, Fournette, Zeke, etc.). They know they can get guys like Alvin Kamara, Tarik Cohen, Kareem Hunt, Lamar Miller, James Conner, etc. in the middle rounds. That's the kind of guy Montgomery would be in the NFL: valuable, productive, but able to be had without spending a first or second round pick.
If Montgomery wants to come back (whether it's because he wants to graduate, or he just loves the college experience, or just wants to play one more year with his guys, whatever), he should, because he can get what he wants by coming back. But he shouldn't come back under the impression that he can improve his draft stock. Because he's likely peaked in that regard, and he's just wasting a year of mileage on his legs if that's why he comes back.
I don't believe he's graduated yet, so I don't think he's eligible to transfer to Bama. Oh, you meant the NFL, my bad.
Yeah, as talented as DM is, this team NEEDS Butler back more imo. We can find guys to the run the ball. We can't necessarily replace a downfield matchup nightmare like Butler was this season.
With that said, I think both guys should declare and will declare. They were great players and representatives of ISU. Best of luck!
As a true freshman he was the guy that got the team to get to the practice facility on their own time to work. Campbell has credited other guys like Lazard, Kempt and Lanning for their leadership, he refers to DM as a culture changing player. He was the perfect player at the perfect time for this program. There have been better players at ISU than DM perhaps, but he may be the most important in terms of taking this program to places it has never been.
A lot will depend on their evaluations, workouts and potential combine performance. A “don’r go yet” recommendation should be a “no”.
I’m not sure that leaving early worked out the best for Troy Davis.
I’m not sure that leaving early worked out the best for Troy Davis.
Again, Montgomery would be dumb to not declare (I mean that with all the love and support I can). I just dont think he is going to improve his stock coming back another year.
Butler, Im not sure, he needs to go with whatever his gut tells him is best for him and his family.
Butler, Im not sure, he needs to go with whatever his gut tells him is best for him and his family.
