Eagle Scouts among this year’s NFL draft class
David Montgomery credits what he learned in Scouting with leading him to this year’s NFL draft. Last week, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears.
“To become an Eagle Scout was an experience I needed for me in my life that brought me here to this point and also influenced my mindset and the way that I carry myself every day,” Montgomery says in a recent interview in STACK, an athletic lifestyle magazine.
A few picks later, the Indianapolis Colts selected Bobby Okereke, a Stanford linebacker and Eagle Scout (Class of 2013) from Troop 243 in Santa Ana, Calif., at the 89th overall pick. Pat McAfee, a former Colts punter and now football analyst, colorfully announced the pick, referring to Okereke as a “future Hall of Famer.”
While in Scouting, Okereke attended the National Jamboree in 2010, completed National Youth Leadership Training and was elected to the Order of the Arrow.
On the field, in the classroom
Okereke, a fifth-year senior at Stanford, speaks just as highly about his academic endeavors as his achievements on the football field. In 2014, he received the Watkins Award as the nation’s top African-American high school player for academic and athletic excellence.
He did two internships in college, one with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, helping with a program for underprivileged children. His major — management science and engineering with a concentration in finance and decision analysis — prepares him for a career in private investments after his playing days, he says. He’s also working on a master’s degree.
Analysts predict he could be a quality NFL player, citing his football intelligence, speed and range as strengths. He served as a team captain for the Stanford Cardinal as he led the team in tackles with 96 last season. The Cardinal went on to win the Sun Bowl.
Okereke has 162 career tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He helped his squad win the 2016 Sun Bowl and 2015 Rose Bowl titles as well.
Rushing for success
Montgomery, a junior Iowa State running back and Eagle Scout (Class of 2014) from Troop 772 in Cincinnati, Ohio, promised his mom she wouldn’t have to pay for his college education. He’d practice running drills in the front yard and in the street.
“I was pretty driven at a young age,” he says in STACK.
He was ranked as the 67th-best high school running back in the country and recruited by Iowa State, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana and Marshall.
He chose Iowa State and finished his collegiate career with 2,925 rushing yards (6th in school history), 26 rushing touchdowns (8th in school history), 15 100-yard rushing games (3rd in school history) and 3,507 all-purpose yards (6th in school history). He helped the Cyclones win the Liberty Bowl in 2017.
Analysts spoke highly of Montgomery’s vision and leadership on the field, saying he would be a good fit in the Bears’ lineup. He was taken in the third round as the 73rd overall pick.