Nov 4, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back David Montgomery (32) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Iowa State star running back David Montgomery feels good.
“Great,” even.
And that’s positively buoyant news for Cyclone fans who’ve been voraciously buying up tickets to the Dec. 30 Liberty Bowl.
“We have a great training staff,” said Montgomery, a first team All-American per Pro Football Focus, who suffered a leg injury early in the 20-19 loss at Kansas State. “Nate (Postma), Shannon (Peel) , Mark (Coberley) and Meaghan (Hussey), they definitely deal with the body and making sure before I do anything I’m 100 percent, so I know that everything will be fine.”
Montgomery has rushed for 1,097 yards and 11 touchdowns this season for coach Matt Campbell‘s 7-5 Cyclones. He tallied three straight 1oo-plus yard games before the injury limited him to four carries for 14 yards in the controversial loss to the Wildcats.
Naturally, Montgomery abhors sitting out — in practice or in games, so getting a clean bill of health was important heading into ISU’s first bowl game in five years.
“I don’t like, ever, not practicing, and I don’t like, ever, not being with the team,” Montgomery said. “But I know sometimes, just with my maturity, I’ve just got to realize that I’ve got to get my body back to where it needs to be in order for me to perform the way I need to perform for this team.”
He’s there now. So bring on 10-2 Memphis … in Memphis.
“I’m great,” Montgomery said. “My body’s good. God has a hedge of protection over me, so through every situation I know I’ll be fine, I’ll be OK, because of the God I worship.”
