Mike Elston Surprises 2023 DE Luke Montgomery with Notre Dame Offer

A Notre Dame offer carries weight in the recruiting world, but sometimes it means just a little bit more to a prospect. 

 2022 Findlay (Ohio) defensive end Luke Montgomery‍ was caught off guard on Monday afternoon as Mike Elston offered him a scholarship. 

"I've talked to him a couple of times before and I really like him,” Montgomery told ISD. “He grew up about 40 minutes away from me in St. Mary's and we scrimmage them every year. It's pretty cool being from the same area. 

"He pulled the trigger and I didn't expect it. I'm super excited and it's just crazy." 

Elston’s conversation was a touch over six minutes, but it left a lasting impression on the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder. 

“We were talking about how things have been over the last few weeks,” explained Montgomery. “He was battling COVID and was out for a few weeks. 

"He told me they were building a National Championship caliber program and Coach (Marcus) Freeman getting the Notre Dame job was amazing. He loves player-coaches because of how fiery they are and that he knows he's going to do a great job, and then he just offered me. I can't really speak of it right now. I'm at a loss for words." 

Montgomery already holds offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Toledo, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Western Michigan, but Monday was a moment filled with accomplishment, emotion and more confirmation the work was paying off for Montgomery. 

Yet, it was much more as Notre Dame was a program Montgomery wanted an offer from as he’s very familiar with the program. The Ohio native has family in South Bend and took a visit to Notre Dame in the fall of 2019. 

"I've grown up watching Notre Dame my whole life,” said Montgomery. “They're definitely top five, probably top three and maybe even one. They're just up there as a Power Five school. The brand and history is so exciting with the academics. It's crazy to know they offered me." 

Notre Dame isn’t the only major program recruiting the Findlay star as he’s hearing from a few Midwest powerhouses. 

"I'm talking to Ohio State a lot,” Montgomery stated. “I talk to Penn State probably the most. I've been in contact with Northwestern, Minnesota and LSU along with a few other schools." 

One storyline in this recruitment will be what position Montgomery ends up playing in college. Notre Dame will be recruiting him as a defensive lineman, but Ohio State views Montgomery as an offensive lineman, which is a position he has yet to play. 

Montgomery is open to either as his main goal is to put his opposition in the dirt.

"I've only played tight end, but I'm transitioning over to offensive line this year,” Montgomery explained. “When I was playing tight end, it was more of blocking plays, so it's alright with me. I really like blocking and I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.

“When the spring comes, I'll get the work in on the field and start learning some different things. Either way, it will help me on either side of the ball I play." 

Different recruiting pitches at different positions are a dream for die-hard recruiting fans, but that’s perhaps not the most significant storyline. 

Montgomery and Mentor defensive end Brenan Vernon‍ have developed a good relationship over the last few months as both are two of the top players not only in Ohio, but the Midwest in the 2023 recruiting class. 

It’s extremely early in the recruiting process for both, but playing together in college has come up in conversation. 

"It comes up every once in a while and it'd be pretty cool,” said Montgomery. “I think we'd both love it and we talk a lot. I think I'm going to see if he can come down, or I go up to Mentor for a week this summer and get the work in. 

"We're going to plan on visiting a lot of schools together because I know we have some of the same interests in mind and we'll go from there." 

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