Liam Coen Visits With 4-Star 2025 QB Ryan Montgomery
As excitement builds around new Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary, offensive coordinator Liam Coen is working extensively to try and reel in big fish under center for the future of the program.
The transfer portal has paid off once before for the Wildcats in soon-to-be NFL'er Will Levis, and all signs point to the NC State transfer Leary being able to fill Levis' shoes in a big way. That's all well and good, but Coen and head coach Mark Stoops know that portal power isn't going to work every single time. That's why the returning OC is so adamant about grabbing a high-profile QB recruit.
Kentucky appears to be in on 4-star Lexington native Cutter Boley, but another signal-caller up the road continues to peak the interest of the Wildcats as well.
Coming out of Findlay, Ohio, 4-star Ryan Montgomery is ranked as the No. 12 QB in the 2025 class, per the On3 Consensus. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder received an offer from Kentucky on Jan. 28 while on a visit in Lexington. He was once again in the Bluegrass on March 31, visiting with Coen:
He's now taken four unofficials to Kentucky, giving the Wildcats reason to believe they have a shot at landing the pro-style slinger. There's some heavy competition, however.
Per Rivals, Montgomery holds 23 offers, but a pair of heavy-hitters appear to be early frontrunners in his recruitment. Ohio State has had the QB in Columbus nine times, while Michigan is right behind with seven unofficial visits. Georgia, Penn State and Tennessee are other teams that are in the mix.
Last week, Coen spoke with reporters about his recruiting process now that he's back in Lexington, as well as his evaluation of young quarterbacks:
“Last two months really where everyday we’re doing football. Like right now, we’ll go watch the film as a staff ... After that, at 3:30 this afternoon, we’ll get with the recruiting staff and we’re watching film. We got kids on FaceTime and we’re kind of doing it as a group together," he said about recruiting.
“Quarterback is a difficult position to evaluate at this level,” he added. “Until you get with them and work with them in person, it’s hard at times to watch a Hudl tape from like eight miles in the sky and see a kid’s motion and how he can play the game."
It's clear that Coen likes what he sees out of Montgomery as he searches for a QB of the future at Kentucky.
Devin Leary discusses his decision to transfer to Kentucky HERE.
More from Kentucky's NFL Pro Day HERE.
Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.
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