Scranton Prep graduate London Montgomery is heading to the Southeastern Conference.
The dynamic running back, who started his collegiate career at Penn State before transferring to East Carolina, entered the transfer portal and, while on a visit, announced his commitment to the University of Florida via X.
“I am really excited,” Montgomery said while watching the College Football Playoff semifinal between Miami and Ole Miss on Thursday night. “I am still down here, and I am going to get back home, and I want to get back down here as fast as I can and get to work.
“I wanted to get back to a Power 4 program eventually. I am grateful to Florida for giving me an opportunity and extending me an offer. I loved this visit. They showed me the campus and the facilities, I met all the coaches, and everyone had good things to say, and they were honest with me, so I am ready to go.
“I want to hit the ground running and get the playbook. I love competing. I know that we are going to do something special here at Florida.”
Montgomery, The Times-Tribune Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, joins Lakeland graduate Lacota Dippre as a transfer to the Gators and new coach Jon Sumrall, who led Tulane to the AAC Championship and the College Football Playoff. Dippre, who helped James Madison to the College Football Playoff this past season, made his decision official Monday.
“That’s crazy,” Montgomery said. “We actually played against each other when he was at Charlotte. Now we are together in Florida, and it’s not often that two 570 guys have a chance to play in the SEC. We are going to work together. I know him, and I am going to push him, and he will push me. It’s pretty cool because we are from the same area. He is a great player, and we are looking to make some plays here.”
Last season, Montgomery led East Carolina in rushing. He did not return to the team after the Christmas break and entered the transfer portal ahead of the Pirates’ 23-17 win over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl.
The 5-11, 197-pound sophomore ran for 742 yards on 156 carries and scored seven touchdowns. He had a season-high 125 yards on 16 carries in a 41-27 win over Tulsa and had 103 yards rushing on 27 carries in a win over Memphis.
In two seasons at East Carolina after transferring from Penn State, Montgomery ran for 1,101 yards on 227 carries and scored nine touchdowns. He also had 20 receptions for 105 yards.
A dynamic playmaker at Scranton Prep, Montgomery was a sought-after running back recruit after his junior season. A PIAA medal winner in the sprints, he put up video game-like numbers and ran for 2,356 yards, which included 373 yards on 22 carries with six touchdowns against Scranton and 353 yards on 18 carries with five touchdowns against Lake-Lehman in 2021.
In 25 career games before losing his senior year to a torn ACL, Montgomery ran for 3,986 yards and had 60 touchdowns overall. He was a Class 3A all-state player, The Times-Tribune Offensive Player of the Year and The Times-Tribune Male Athlete of the Year.