Bengals Sign DE Sam Montgomery

May 10, 2013; Houston, Texans, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Sam Montgomery (57) works out at Methodist Training Facility at Reliant Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

The former LSU all American DT Sam Montgomery signed Friday with the Bengals to help bolster their front seven heading into training camp. It’ll also give the former tiger a chance to prove he’s worthy of an NFL roster spot.

While listed as a defensive end in a release from the organization, the 6-foot-3, 262-pound pass rusher played linebacker for the Texans, which drafted him out of LSU with the 95th overall draft selection in 2013.

Montgomery never found his groove with the Texans and was listed as a gameday inactive on the roster for Games 1-7. The team waived him and two other players Oct. 22 for an unspecified violations of team rules prior to a game in Kansas City.

Oakland Raiders signed Montgomery to its practice squad Dec. 18 but they cut him three days later.

New Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther looks to find a way to incorporate the DE/LB into a 4-3 defensive scheme that lost Michael Johnson to Tampa Bay in free agency this offseason.

While scouts considered him “tweener,” Montgomery is projected as a defensive end for the Bengals, the team indicated in its news release.

CBS Sports wrote the following about him prior to the 2013 NFL Draft.

“(He possesses) a lanky frame with long arms and plenty of room for additional muscle mass, especially considering his terrific speed. Flashes a quick burst off the snap and accelerates very smoothly for a man of his size, demonstrating the ability to track down elusive ball-carriers from behind,” according to his draft profile.

The player analysis also notes his “high effort,” ability to “play with strength” and his recovery from a knee injury in 2010.

His weaknesses are his reaction time and his ability to get off offensive linemen, as well as his inability to change direction, according to his draft profile.

“Too often is slow off the snap, ranking, in fact, as the final player to react off the ball much of the time. Struggles a bit to disengage from blocks when he’s initially contained. Flashes a quick spin back to the inside but otherwise is a bit reliant on his speed and bull rushes. He does not possess elite flexibility to dip under the reach of talented pass protectors and while possessing long, strong arms doesn’t consistently keep his hands working to break free. Too often he’s locked up and doesn’t break until the ball has passed him. Struggles changing directions due to stiffness in his hips and can be left in the dust by elusive ball-carriers who see him coming. Reacts late to cut blocks and too often is negated by them.”

Montgomery was a three-year star for LSU from 2010-12, helping the Tigers to an overall 34-6 record and a berth in the 2011 BCS National Championship game.

He recorded 19.0 sacks, tied for sixth in program history, in just 31 career games. The former college All-American (2011) also had 32.5 tackles-for-loss.