Report: Montgomery headed to WSU

ABOUT THIS TIME three years ago, James Montgomery was high on WSU. "I like Washington State a lot," said the senior-to-be. But then offers started arriving by the bushel load and other schools climbed higher on his list. Things didn't work out at his eventual choice, Cal, and three years later, Montgomery has reportedly verbally committed to the Cougs.

The Sacramento Bee quotes Montgomery's former prep coach Max Miller that the running back has given his verbal commitment to Washington State after a visit to Pullman this past weekend. CF.C attempts to reach Montgomery (5-10, 205) on Monday night and over the past two weeks have been unsuccessful.

Left unanswered is when Montgomery would enroll at Washington State. The three summer school sessions at WSU begin May 5, June 2 and June 16. Under NCAA rules, Montgomery will sit out his first season, giving him 2-to-play-2 starting with the 2009 campaign.

Coming out of Rancho Cordova High in the class of 2006, Montgomery's speed (10.76 in the 100-meters), field vision and natural instincts made him a hot commodity. He rushed for 2,183 yards as a senior with 39 touchdowns.

His junior season, his first as the featured back, he rushed for 1,915 yards on 215 carries with 33 touchdowns. During his sophomore year he served primarily as a fullback, plowing the road for then-senior Dywan Brown on his way to Brown's 2,000 rushing yard season. For his career, Montgomery gained more than 4,900 rushing yards and scored 82 touchdowns and was named Parade Magazine All-American his senior season.

After redshirting his first year at Cal, he carried the ball 31 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns behind starter Justin Forsett this past season.

“It just basically wasn’t a good fit for me," Montgomery told Gamecockanthem.com earlier this month in explaining his decision to leave Cal. "I don’t know, it was just affecting me off the football field. It was affecting everything I was doing. So, I just talked to my family and decided it was the best thing for me (to transfer).”

Montgomery selected Washington State over Florida and South Carolina.