Is Nakeie Montgomery Going To Be A Two Sport Athlete At Duke In 2021-2022? Play For Duke Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe In The Fall, Duke Lacrosse Head Coach John Danowski In The Spring?

When Nakeie Montgomery arrived at Duke he only played for the Duke Men’s Lacrosse team who’s Head Coach is John Danowski!

As a freshman at Duke in 2018,

Nakeie Montgomery played in in 19 games with five starting assignments in the midfield … Finished the season with 14 goals and two assists for 16 points … Eighth on the team in points and second among rookies … Came on strong in the NCAA postseason … Scored eight goals in the NCAA Tournament, including a hat trick in the NCAA semifinal win over Maryland (5/26) … Also recorded a hat trick in the first-round win over Villanova (5/12) … Scored twice in quarterfinal victory against Johns Hopkins (5/20) … Scored his first career point with an assist in the season-opener against Air Force (2/3) … Tallied his first career goal, netting two in the loss at Penn (2/24) … Recorded three goals and an assist in the four ACC games.
As a sophomore at Duke in 2019,

Nakeie Montgomery played in 16 games, starting 12 … USILA All-America third team … Ranked third on the team in scoring with 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points … The 18 assists were the second most on the team and ranked sixth in the ACC … Had at least one point in 15 games and at least one goal in 12 outings … Had a strong second half of the season, compiling 27 points in the final eight games … Recorded a career-high four goals in win over No. 2 Loyola (3/7) … Dished out a career-best four assists in the regular season and NCAA Quarterfinal wins over Notre Dame (4/6, 5/18) … Also had a goal in both of those outings versus the Irish to finish with five points … Recorded a hat trick and two assists for five points in NCAA First Round win over Richmond (5/12) … Registered nine multiple-point outings … ACC Academic Honor Roll.

As a junior at Duke 2020,

Nakeie Montgomery in all eight games with five starts … A preseason All-America choice by Inside Lacrosse and USILA … Registered eight goals and six assists for 14 points … Posted a hat trick and four points overall in win at No. 11 Loyola (3/7) … Had a goal and three assists in win at High Point (2/8) … Tallied two goals in road win at No. 8 Denver (2/15) … Earned a spot on the final Tewaaraton Award Watch List … ACC Academic Honor Roll.

As a senior at Duke in 2021,

Nakeie Montgomery played in 17 games with 14 starts on the first midfield line … USILA All-America first team … Inside Lacrosse Media All-America first team … All-ACC … Finished season with 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points … Ranked second on the team in assists … Had at least one point in 14 games … Recorded multiple points in 10 games and had at least three nine times … Dished four assists at Notre Dame (4/10) … Tallied three hat tricks … Notched three goals and an assist in win over Robert Morris … Registered a hat trick and four points overall in win over Notre Dame (4/22) … His first point versus the Fighting Irish was the 100th of his career, becoming the 48th Blue Devil to reach the benchmark ... Selected as Duke’s Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year for his success on and off the field.

Is Nakeie Montgomery going to be a two sport athlete at Duke in 2021-2022?

Play Football in the Fall for Head Coach David Cutcliffe , Play Lacrosse in the Spring for Head Coach John Danowski?

The answer is yes!

Why?

Growing up in Texas, football was Montgomery’s first love. “As early as I could play football, I was definitely playing football,” he said.

His father, Deandre, played at Texas Southern University alongside Michael Strahan. Nakeie committed to Duke to play lacrosse when he was 14, but that didn’t deter other suitors for football. He received several D-I offers, but he couldn’t turn down the Blue Devils.

Last winter, he reached out to Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe about his interest in joining the team. After a couple conversations, Cutcliffe told him they could talk further once the lacrosse season concluded. A week after the Blue Devils fell in the Final Four to Maryland, Montgomery followed up. His desire hadn’t waned.

I knew I wanted to do it the whole time,” he said. “I missed football.”

He had a likely advocate close by. “What can I do to help?” John Danowski first asked when Montgomery mentioned the idea.

Football also courses through Danowski’s bloodlines. His father, Ed, led the NFL in passing in 1935 and 1938 and helped guide the New York Giants to two league championships.

John Danowski ranks second all-time at Rutgers in assists (120) but also served as a backup quarterback in New Brunswick (NJ.). “And I am the all-time leading percentage passer in Rutgers football history,” he said in an interview with the 33rd Team—a website that touts itself as the ‘Premier Football Think Tank.’ “I’m 1-for-1.”

“He was a big part of obviously encouraging me to do it,” Montgomery said. “He has our best interests in mind and cares about us all way more than just as lacrosse players.”

This fall Nakeie Montgomery is going to play running for Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe!

Nakeie Montgomery will get his first opportunity to carry in a game on September 3, 2021 when Duke travels to Charlotte North Carolina where they will take on Charlotte.

Until then Nakeie Montgomery will continue to prepare for the upcoming football season which includes talking football language now,” running backs coach Calvin Magee said in a meeting the other day. Overall, though, Montgomery said the transition has been pretty smooth.

“according to an article by Nelson Rice on www.usalaxmagazine.com/college/men/nakeie-montgomery-realizing-childhood-dream-playing-football-at-duke