2019 NFL Draft: 5 most impactful early Big 12 declarations to Horns

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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 17: David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones is tackled by Jeffrey McCulloch #23 of the Texas Longhorns and Davante Davis #18 in the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

The shocking part about junior Iowa State Cyclones running back David Montgomery declaring early for the 2019 NFL Draft as it relates to the Horns is the lack of impact he had on the meeting between these two teams in 2018. Montgomery had an underwhelming season thanks to some lingering injury issues and a suspension, at least compared to what could have been.

The suspension dealt to Montgomery this season came after an altercation he was in the middle of in a win over the Baylor Bears at home at Jack Trice Stadium. That kept him out of the first half of the key late-season meeting against the Horns at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. He also missed some game action due to injury.

Despite some of the hurdles that Montgomery had in front of him in 2018, he still posted a career high 1,216 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He had one less rushing attempt as a junior than he did as a sophomore, but averaged 0.3 yards per carry more.

The fact that Montgomery defied some odds to have the most statistically productive year of his collegiate career in 2018 means that his 2019 NFL Draft stock should be pretty high. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller had Montgomery as his highest rated running back for the 2019 NFL Draft on his latest big board.

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