Listed Measurements: 6-foot-1 ½, 217 pounds
2017-18 year, eligibility: Senior with two seasons of eligibility remaining including the 2017 season.
Depth chart: Entering spring practice it was conceivable VanGorder could be Notre Dame’s second-string quarterback, but sophomore Ian Book claimed that gig as the Irish coaching staff certainly hoped he would. That leaves VanGorder as the third-stringer, a position which could become quite important should either Book or junior Brandon Wimbush suffer an injury. In that unfortunate situation, freshman Avery Davis may be an option to leapfrog VanGorder, but Notre Dame undoubtedly hopes to preserve a year of Davis’ eligibility this season.
Recruiting: The son of former Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, Montgomery walked on with Notre Dame in 2014, his father’s first season on staff. The rivals.com two-star prospect was later awarded a scholarship before the 2016 season.
CAREER TO DATE
VanGorder led the Irish scout team in 2014 and 2015 before seeing action in his sophomore season at the end of Notre Dame’s rout over Massachusetts. Last season he served as the placekick holder, and did so without incident, something Irish fans know not to take for granted.
2017 OUTLOOK
There is no reason to think VanGorder will not continue as the holder for junior kicker Justin Yoon. If nothing else, VanGorder’s even-keeled demeanor seems well-suited for the duties.
Aside from that, the odds are he will not see any other action. If Wimbush or Book were to suffer a long-term injury, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly would likely accelerate Davis’ learning curve a la Wimbush in 2015. If, however, it was a fluky situation of two short-term injuries, Kelly could turn to VanGorder to manage the game for a quarter or a half rather than burn a year of Davis’ future for such spot duty. Perhaps Wimbush sprains a knee and while he is still being evaluated by the trainers, Book takes a hit to the head necessitating concussion testing. One or both would possibly return to the game within an hour of real time. Kelly would rather bide his time with VanGorder in that plausible hypothetical than toss Davis into the fire for little gain.
DOWN THE ROAD
This should be it for VanGorder. Yes, he has another year of eligibility, but the Irish coaches would need to ask him back for a fifth year in order for him to use it at Notre Dame. It is not that they would not want him back — they probably would considering the years of praise of VanGorder as a teammate. It is that they would rather have his scholarship to offer to someone in the class of 2018.
2017’s Notre Dame 99-to-2
Friday at 4: Goodbye A-to-Z, hello 99-to-2 (May 12)
No. 99: Jerry Tillery, defensive tackle
No. 98: Andrew Trumbetti, defensive end
No. 97: Micah Dew-Treadway, defensive tackle
No. 96: Pete Mokwuah, defensive tackle
No. 95: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, defensive tackle (originally theorized as No. 92)
No. 94: Darnell Ewell, defensive tackle (originally theorized as No. 95)
No. 93: Jay Hayes, defensive end
No. 92: Jonathon MacCollister; defensive end (originally theorized as No. 46)
No. 91: Ade Ogundeji, defensive end
No. 89: Brock Wright, tight end
No. 88: Javon McKinley, receiver
No. 87: Michael Young, receiver (originally theorized as No. 84)
No. 86: Alizé Mack, tight end
No. 85: Tyler Newsome, punter
No. 84: Cole Kmet, tight end (originally theorized as No. 90)
No. 83: Chase Claypool, receiver
No. 82: Nic Weishar, tight end
No. 81: Miles Boykin, receiver
No. 80: Durham Smythe, tight end
No. 78: Tommy Kraemer, right tackle
No. 77: Brandon Tiassum, defensive tackle
No. 76: Dillan Gibbons, offensive lineman (originally theorized as No. 65)
No. 75: Josh Lugg, offensive tackle (originally theorized as No. 73)
No. 75: Daniel Cage, defensive tackle
No. 74: Liam Eichenberg, right tackle
No. 72: Robert Hainsey, offensive tackle
No. 71: Alex Bars, offensive lineman
No. 70: Hunter Bivin, offensive lineman
No. 69: Aaron Banks, offensive lineman
No. 68: Mike McGlinchey, left tackle
No. 67: Jimmy Byrne, offensive lineman
No. 58: Elijah Taylor, defensive tackle
No. 57: Trevor Ruhland, offensive lineman
No. 56: Quenton Nelson, left guard
No. 55: Jonathan Bonner, defensive lineman
No. 54: John Shannon, long snapper
No. 53: Sam Mustipher, center
No. 53: Khalid Kareem, defensive lineman
No. 48: Greer Martini, inside linebacker
No. 47: Kofi Wardlow, defensive end
No. 45: Jonathan Jones, inside linebacker
No. 44: Jamir Jones, linebacker/defensive lineman
No. 42: Julian Okwara, defensive end
No. 41: Kurt Hinish, defensive tackle (originally theorized as No. 94)
No. 40: Drew White, linebacker
No. 39: Jonathan Doerer, kicker (originally theorized as No. 52)
No. 38: Deon McIntosh, running back/receiver
No. 35: David Adams, linebacker
No. 34: Tony Jones, Jr., running back
No. 33: Josh Adams, running back
No. 32: D.J. Morgan, safety
No. 30: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, rover
No. 29: Kevin Stepherson, receiver
No. 28: Nicco Fertitta, safety
No. 27: Julian Love, cornerback
No. 26: Ashton White, safety
No. 25: Jafar Armstrong, receiver (originally theorized as No. 87)
No. 24: Nick Coleman, safety
No. 23: Drue Tranquill, rover
No. 22: Asmar Bilal, rover
No. 21: Jalen Elliott, safety
No. 20: Shaun Crawford, cornerback
No. 19: Justin Yoon, kicker
No. 18: Troy Pride, cornerback
No. 17: Isaiah Robertson, safety
No. 16: Cameron Smith, receiver
No. 15: C.J. Holmes, running back
No. 14: Devin Studstill, safety
No. 13: Avery Davis, quarterback
No. 13: Jordan Genmark Heath, safety
No. 12: Ian Book, quarterback
No. 12: Alohi Gilman, safety
No. 11: Freddy Canteen, receiver
No. 10: Chris Finke, receiver
No. 9: Daelin Hayes, defensive end
No. 8: Donte Vaughn, cornerback
No. 7: Brandon Wimbush, quarterback
No. 7: Nick Watkins, cornerback
No. 6: Equanimeous St. Brown, receiver
No. 5: Nyles Morgan, linebacker
No. 4: Te’von Coney, linebacker
TRANSFERS
No. 66: Tristen Hoge, offensive lineman, transfers to BYU
No. 50: Parker Boudreaux, offensive lineman
No. 30: Josh Barajas, linebacker, to transfer to Illinois State
INJURIES
No. 13: Tyler Luatua, tight end, career ended by medical hardship