“Both teams would rather push that game back,” Shaw said. Sandwiched between UC Davis and Army is Pac-12 rival USC. The Cardinal start the season with three games at Stanford Stadium, which is half their home schedule.Shaw said junior tackle Kyle Murphy will be considered one of the best after the season while guards Josh Garnett, Johnny Caspers and Graham Shuler also are proving to be elite players. The line is led by junior tackle Andrus Peat, considered one of the country’s best. “Will we gel week two for this huge test against USC? Or week six or week eight?”

Yet, Shaw calls the current crop the best in the eight years of his tenure at Stanford.Įven with four new starters and big holes to fill.

Stanford has supplied the NFL with some of the best offensive linemen in the country since the Jim Harbaugh/Shaw era that began in 2007.

Shaw said the comparison is “completely unfair but when I look at Ty, it is what I think of.” “You’re talking about a receiver but who is built like a running back,” Shaw said in comparing the player to former NFL stars Irving Fryar and Tim Brown. Montgomery also is expected to be a force as a kickoff returner and will compete for punt return duties. He is expected to have another big season while teaming with returning quarterback Kevin Hogan. Montgomery caught 61 passes for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. “I know it’s hard, but there’s nothing better than being able to play football all day, every day.”

“I thoroughly enjoy training camp,” Montgomery said.

But as fall camp gets closer, the receiver feels the pull. The book also preached patience, something Montgomery tried to adopt. While sidelined, Montgomery discovered the book, “Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence.” The reading helped keep him grounded and focused on recovery as much as he wanted to play during spring drills. If Ty is ready to go, he’s returning kickoffs, he’s playing the game. “We’re talking about a phenomenal athlete that is unbelievably determined to get back for game one,” the coach said. Shaw said the player has been so diligent in his recovery program that he could return sooner than expected. Montgomery didn’t feel any pain when reeling in a six-foot long dolphin.īut the return to full contact and games will be determined by Stanford’s medical staff and not by a rod and reel. He tested the shoulder recently while deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys with his mom. “I will be doing everything but somewhat limited.” “I won’t say I will be sidelined,” the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Texan said.

Bound with You by Shaw Montgomery