Georgia football's Kirby Smart shares update on injured freshman quarterback Ryan Montgomery

Georgia Bulldogs' four-star freshman quarterback Ryan Montgomery's senior season was cut short after he tore his ACL at the start of his senior season on August 12. 

Montgomery underwent successful surgery one month later, but there is no timeline as to when he will be fully healed. 

However, according to head coach Kirby Smart, Montgomery is recovering well and has been a limited participant at practice this spring. 

“I haven’t been able to see much with Ryan,” Smart said during his weekly press conference. “You know, he’s coming off an ACL. That’s not something [easy] for a kid [who’s not had] a long career to be able to do. We’re not asking him to do that. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He gets to throw some ball drills to receivers, but I can’t judge that. I mean, that’s not a real play.”

While Montgomery came to Athens one season short due to his injury, his junior 2023 year at Findlay High School is enough to know just how elite of a prospect he is. He completed 228-of-333 pass attempts for 3,018 yards and 38 touchdowns, while breaking Ben Roethlisberger's single-game yardage record from 2000. Montgomery also rushed for 257 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Montgomery, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, was the No. 12 overall quarterback in the class of 2025 and ranked 108th nationally, according to 247Sports composite. He was also the fifth-best recruiting prospect in the state of Ohio. 

With Montgomery sidelined, the Bulldogs have been leaning on projected starter Gunner Stockton and projected backup Ryan Puglisi throughout spring ball. Georgia also has walk-on Collin Drake and three-star freshman signee Hezekiah Millender taking reps. 

Georgia fans can get their first in-person look at the Bulldogs' new quarterback room without Carson Beck at G-Day on Saturday, April 12. 

The spring scrimmage will not be televised, but fans can tune in to the action on the Georgia Bulldog Radio Network.